Mopar_®’s Beloved LX Platform Wagon: Dodge Magnum

— CONSIDERED A MODERN-ERA COLLECTIBLE
— AVAILABLE WITH POTENT HEMI V8 POWER
— JADA TOYS VERSION HIGHLIGHTED COOLNESS OF LX WAGONS

First shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2003, the Dodge Magnum SRT8 Concept showed visitors that Dodge was serious about marketing a modern-day “sports tourer” machine, complete with a factory-stock “tapered chop top” look to it, combined with a steeply raked windshield, blistered wheel arches and distinctive styling. The corporation didn’t actually call their Magnum model a “station wagon” once brought to market (starting in 2005 model year), the marketing types didn’t go down that road. “Velocity meets Versatility” were the buzzwords around Dodge dealerships for the Magnum, with buyers seeing it as as a modern-day “cool” vehicle, no matter its configuration or how it was described.

What they did was create a vehicle that can haul things and has an aggressive look to it, all in one package. Complete with a rear lift gate that opens far forward into the roof area, there’s no leaning out of the way to load/unload objects. With some over 71 cubic feet of cargo space available (by folding down the rear seats) the Magnum can carry a lot of groceries and kids, or surfboards and ice chests, plywood, a utility vehicle that overflows with style!

Function aside, perhaps the real beauty of the Magnum was what lied underneath the stylish sheet metal; it’s the powertrain and suspension layout. A RWD (rear-wheel-drive) platform is the performance highlight of this machine, and coupled with rack & pinion steering, 5-link rear suspension, power four-wheel disc ABS brakes (with four-piston calipers and large diameter rotors) and SLA (Short-and Long-Arm) front suspension, this is a well handling road machine right out of the box. Coupled with available “ESP” traction control system (“Electronic Stability Program”) and the cornering and overall handling is impressive.

YEAH MAGNUMS HAD AVAILABLE HEMI ENGINES

While the base model Magnum SE came with a 190-hp 2.7L V6, if you checked the order form for the “R/T” model you got a HEMI! 340 horsepower (5.7L) with a 6.1-second zero-to-60 mph capacity. Ran the quarter-mile in mid-14s all the while with and handling like a German sports sedan. The WA580 five-speed auto box with “AutoStick” shifter was stock. Also standard was a feature called MDS, which means “Multi-Displacement System” and it’s designed to provide better fuel mileage by shutting down (four of the eight) cylinders as you cruise. Best of both worlds is the goal Dodge has in mind.

If the R/T model didn’t offer enough grunt for your needs, there was always the SRT8 version, equipped with a 425hp 6.1L HEMI, and deliverd 420 lb/ft of torque. This version ran 13.7 in the quarter and hit 60 mph in 5.6 seconds from a standing start. Top speed was estimated at 170 mph.

In summary, the creation of incorporating the Chrysler 300 as the starting base, then designing a full roof and rear hatch door, the Dodge Magnum was a modern interpretation of a muscle car station wagon, with a sort of a sinister look about it…or that’s at least what many felt!

The Dodge Magnum was introduced to dealers at the end of 2004, as 2005 model year vehicles. The car was killed off during the days of the corporation’s bankruptcy and reorganization circa 2009. Its production was cut short with 2008 marking the last model year run for the car.

Due to the short model year life span of the Dodge Magnum, unfortunately there never was a factory-built Hellcat Magnum.

There was a good deal of love for the Magnum, including from the top management at the factory. Ralph Gilles, the Chrysler Design Chief who helped style the car shared this back in 2011: “A lot of people in the company in the company still like the car — a lot,” he said. “With the Magnum, we owned the station wagon segment. It was always a pleasure to go to car shows and trade fairs and see the number of Magnums that owners had personalized with such obvious loving care.”

Be it collectors, resto-modders, or just lovers of the “Retro Vintage” look, the run of Dodge Magnums didn’t last long, however it remains an important part of modern Mopar® muscle culture. Plus, the wagon enthusiasts are still very glad that happened.

MAGNUM WITH BLING, JADA BLING

Give it the “blinged out” look, that was the goal for a toy company called Jada. While it was an all-new vehicle for 2005, there was a great interest for it from the “youth market” types and the crew at Jada Toys in So Cal (City of Industry) did go all-out when they prepared their Magnum R/T for the show circuit, with a starting date at the huge SEMA Show in Vegas that year. Building an “image vehicle” has long been the norm for exhibitors to get noticed at the big trade shows, and why not start with a vehicle that already has some exciting lines built into it stock? That’s exactly what they did with this showroom stock Magnum.

ROLLIN’ ON 22s G

First thing on the list was replacing the 18-inch wheels (as delivered from factory) with some bigger rollers. The folks from Makaveli Wheels supplied a set of 22-inch “Vanquish” 3 piece  (forged centers) wheels, 22” x 9” front, 22” x 10” rear, wrapped with Toyo Proxies 4 rubber (255/35/22 front, 285/35/22 rear).

LAMBO DOOR CONVERSION

Lamborghini style doors from Vertical Doors Inc. were next on the list, then a pair of (rear) suicide style doors from Advanced Design Fabrication were fitted. If one wants to standout from the crowd at a busy place like SEMA, you need to go to the extreme! Shaved door handles (and hatch) helped clean up the appearance and a Billet Grille was provided by CarTek. Add in the tasteful 3-Tone paint scheme (House of Kolor Tangelo Orange, Sunrise Pearl and Metallic Black) and you’ve got the ingredients to make a show car that turns heads. Add the Airbrushed flame paint by Jada Toys art team, custom pinstriping, aftermarket grille, smoked taillights and it’s bling bling big time for certain, circa 2005. 

INTERIOR BLING 

Interior treats were plenty. Included in the mods were leather hides (materials provided by Classic Soft Trim) and a full-on Kicker ICE system. (Four 12” Kicker subwoofers, two Mono Kicker amplifiers, a 4 Channel Kicker amplifier, four sets of 6.5 Kicker components, a fold out 7” monitor/head unit, a 7” Widescreen JVC monitor and four 6.5” JVC monitors.) Add in a pair of Two Yellow Top Optima batteries to power all the sound system upgrades, plus a complete Magnaflow Exhaust to free up some power, and became a stylin’ ride, with cargo room to spare!

COLLECTIBLES IN SCALE

When we shot the car at Jada Toys headquarters they supplied some of their toys for photo props. They at that time frame offered 1:64, 1:24, 1:18, 1:10 and 1:6 scale miniature versions of Dodge Magnums, and today are highly cherished and sought after from diecast collectors. 

LAST OF THE BREED: 2008 MODEL YEAR

With a 2008 model year restyling up front, the final year of the Magnum had a freshed-up appearance. Inside the 2008 models received a redesigned instrument panel, gauge cluster and center console. SRT-8 versions were equipped with a 425-horsepower 6.1L HEMI V8 for power, had low production numbers (reported to be 3,845 units. Just 116 were factory equipped with the Road / Track Performance Group) and are today definitely considered true “keepers” if found.

CHRYSLER’S EUROPEAN VERSION: 300C TOURING

Sharing the sheet metal of the Magnum from the cowl rearward, the European version was a Chrysler brand, built in the Magna Steyr Manufacturing Facility, Graz, Austria. Here in the USA there’s been a number of Dodge Magnums seen where owners replace the front clip with that of a Chrysler 300, and even a more involved restyling to a Charger! It gets accomplished by morphing a Charger front end, done by installing aftermarket fiberglass front fenders, or custom modified, revised steel to blend it all together. No shortage of creativity!

One thing is for certain, the Dodge Magnum has a loyal following and when considering the Chrysler version (which ran from 2005 – 2010) these cars have in fact a worldwide following still today.

Author: James Maxwell