Sharing the LX platform with the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Magnum was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year and was on Car and Driver’s 10Best list for 2005. The R/T version shown here was the top of the line in 2005, powered by the new 340-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine with a Mercedes-Benz derived 5-speed Auto/Stick® automatic transmission. Additional standard features for the Magnum R/T included leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Boston Acoustics 6-speaker sound system with 288-watt digital amplifier, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, fog lamps and stainless steel dual exhaust with bright tips. It was also available with Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive system with unique 18-inch aluminum wheels.
These assorted vehicles were displayed in the lobby of the Oregon Convention Center during the 2006 Portland International Auto Show in Portland, Oregon.
This pair of Chevrolet Camaros were representing the Portland Police Bureau. The unmarked one in the background even had standard-issue Oregon license plates for extra stealth.
Here is a customized version of Chrysler's Hemi-powered, rear-wheel drive sedan, the 300, made to resemble a Bentley. It was even placed with the Bentleys out in the lobby. Pretty convincing.
Here is another customized Daimler-Chrysler product from the lobby, a Dodge Magnum.
This Lotus Elise was representing Dream Cars Northwest, Inc., a Portland company that rents luxury and exotic cars.
This customized Willys Jeep was in the lobby and may have been the oldest vehicle in the show. Its exact year is hard to determine, both due to the customizing and the fact that Jeeps do not change much from year to year, but it appears to be a CJ-3B.
This model of Jeep was introduced in 1953 and was built into the late 1960s.
Also on display in the lobby was this preview of NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett's next #88 car: a Ford Fusion, replacing the Taurus.
My parents purchased this 1985 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon in Sand Beige with a Clove Brown interior from Columbia Ford in Longview Washington, on August 19, 1992, with 72,577 miles on the odometer for $3,999.00, trading in their 1985 Mercury Marquis for $1,500.00.
Photo by Cliff West
It is powered by a standard 140-horsepower electronically fuel-injected 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 250 ft-lbs of torque with Electronic Engine Control IV and a 4-speed Automatic Overdrive Transmission.
Photo by Cliff West
Ford had introduced the new LTD on the brand-new Panther platform in 1979, and introduced the LTD Crown Victoria 2-door and 4-door sedans in 1980 as a top-of-the-line trim featuring a brushed aluminum trim band over the B-pillars.
Photo by Cliff West
With the 1983 introduction of a smaller LTD on the Fox platform, all the Panther platform models became LTD Crown Victorias, including the wagons which never had the B-pillar trim.
Photo by Cliff West
Wagons with woodtone exterior paneling were called Country Squire, but those without were simple LTD Crown Victoria Wagons.
Photo by Cliff West
Just 4 inches longer than the sedans, LTD Crown Victoria Wagons feature 89.5 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded down, plus a 2 cubic foot lockable side storage compartment, and another lockable storage compartment under the rear load floor that measures 9.9 cubic feet in a car without the dual facing rear seats like this one.
Photo by Cliff West
The LTD Crown Victoria Wagon also features a 3-way doorgate, which opens like a door with its power window up or down, or lowers like a tailgate.
Photo by Cliff West
Standard equipment included power steering, power front disc & rear drum brakes, concealed windshield wipers with fluidic washer system, power ventilation system, conventional spare tire, Super Luxury sound insulation, quad rectangular halogen headlamps, front and rear bumper guards, left-hand remote-control mirror, vinyl insert bodyside moldings, bright wheelslip moldings, rocker panel moldings, hood & bodyside accent stripes, courtesy lights in glove box, front ashtray & cargo area, day/night rearview mirror, fold-down rear seat, and removable color-keyed load floor carpet.
Photo by Cliff West
New for 1985 were a redesigned dashboard and steering wheel and gas-pressurized shock absorbers.
Photo by Cliff West
This well-equipped example also features an electronic AM/FM stereo search radio with cassette tape player including Dolby® Noise Reduction, auto-reverse and program search features, leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, pivoting vent front windows, rear window defroster, Tripminder® computer, cornering lamps, illuminated entry system, speed control, tilt steering wheel, right-hand remote convex mirror, interval windshield wipers, deluxe luggage rack, heavy-duty trailer towing package, 6-way power driver seat adjustment, bumper rub strips, cast aluminum wheels, power side windows, the Power Lock Group with power door locks and doorgate lock, the Interior Luxury Group including reclining split bench seats with seat back map pockets, optional leather upholstery with special sew style, luxury door panels with assist straps, full length armrest and power side window controls, 18-ounce cut-pile floor carpeting, additional woodtone appliques on instrument panel, electronic digital clock, trip odometer, low oil level and low fuel warning lights, dual illuminated visor mirrors, automatic parking brake, and the Light Group including dual beam map light, headlamps-on warning chime, engine compartment light, and dual instrument panel courtesy lights.
Photo by Cliff West
For 1986, the Interior Luxury Group would become its own trim line: the LTD Crown Victoria LX.
Photo by Cliff West
The LTD Crown Victoria would receive a facelift for 1988, with slightly more aerodynamic styling.
Photo by Cliff West
This generation of LTD Crown Victoria would continue through 1991. A new aerodynamic 4-door sedan would emerge for 1992, though no 2-door or wagon would be offered. With the Fox-platform LTD having been discontinued after 1986 in favor of the new Taurus, the LTD name was dropped entirely in 1992 and Ford's full-size sedan was simply called the Crown Victoria until it was finally discontinued in 2012.
Video by Cliff West
Here is a video my dad made about this car in 2010.
While Ford and Plymouth had all-new cars for 1957, the now-iconic 1957 Chevrolet was simply a substantial facelift, the last year of what is now known as the “Tri-Five” models introduced in 1955. The 1957 Chevrolet added two more engine options not available in 1956, for a total of seven, including five versions of the Chevrolet 283-cubic-inch V8 ranging from 185 to 283 horsepower, the most powerful featuring Ramjet mechanical fuel injection. Chevrolet offered a variety of station wagons for 1957, but the Bel Air line had only the exclusive 2-door hardtop Nomad and the 4-door 6-passenger Townsman shown here at the 2004 Clatskanie Heritage Days Car Show.
