The Dodge Aspen, which was produced during the 1976 to the 1980 model years, was a compact car which was launched as a unique-for-the-segment four-door wagon (which its Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant predecessors had cut from both their line ups, from ten years earlier, during the end of the 1966 model year), a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe. By the end of its production run, the Aspen would be considered an intermediate car.
The Dodge Aspen was introduced during the fall of 1975 as a 1976 model, and was named Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" for 1976. It was the successors to the A-body — Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant/Plymouth Duster, which concurrently were sold along with Aspen during the early part of the 1976 model year until they both were discontinued.
The Dogde Aspen was the same as the Plymouth Volaré (which replced the Plymouth Valiant). They were both offered in various body style, 2 & 4 door along with a station wagon version. Engine & transmission options included stick shift and automatic both. They were availablle with engines ranging from a 225 cubic inch in-line ('Slant 6') 6 cylinder up to a maximum size of only 360 cubic inch V-8.
The Aspen was produced in an 'R/T' version. Chrysler's attempt to keep the 'performance car' alive. They also built a Plymouth Volaré version as an attempt to save the 'Road Runner' name.
There were also international versions.:
Between 1977 and 1979, the small Swiss specialty automaker Monteverdi built a modified version of this car, called the Sierra, intended to compete in Europe's luxury car market. The Dart name (rather than Aspen) was applied to Dodge-branded F-body cars in Mexico and Colombia, corresponding to the local Chrysler-branded F-body cars badged as Valiant Volaré. The Mexican F-body Volarés were not marketed as Plymouth, because that brand was dropped after 1969. Chrysler de México also sold cheaper versions of the American K-cars -Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries- (in 1982–1987) and Plymouth Caravelle (1988) as Chrysler Volarés. As a matter of fact, the 1988 Chrysler Volaré E (an inexpensive version of the 1988 Plymouth Caravelle with a 1986–1988 Plymouth Reliant front end attached to it) served as Mexican Highway Patrol ("Policía Federal de Caminos" in Spanish) units from 1988 to 1990. They got a Chrysler Turbo II 2.2L engine and 3-speed automatic transmission (shifter on the dash, like US patrols) and were known in Mexico as "Turbo-patrols".
The Volaré also became known as the Volaré "Duster" in Canada.