Plymouth Volare Overview: Specs, Generations and Which Version to Buy
Full Plymouth Volare specs guide: coupe built 1975–1980 with 91–198 hp, one generation, RWD, and the versions worth buying used.
The Plymouth Volare is a rear-wheel-drive coupe produced from 1975 to 1980, with engine outputs spanning 91 to 198 hp across ten modifications. If you are comparing Plymouth Volare specs, the lineup runs from an economical 3.7-liter manual to a 5.9-liter V8 automatic, so it suits both buyers wanting a simple classic American coupe and those after period V8 power.
Plymouth Volare generations
1 generation (1975–1980)
The first and only generation of the Plymouth Volare was built from 1975 to 1980 exclusively as a coupe with rear-wheel drive. It was offered with both automatic and manual transmissions across 10 modifications, with power ranging from 91 hp to 198 hp. The spread of the range is wide: the 3.7 MT (101 hp) uses a 3682 cc engine and burns 11.2 l/100km, the volume-selling 5.2 AT (122 hp) carries a 5210 cc V8 with 13.1 l/100km, and the top 5.9 AT (198 hp) gets a 5898 cc V8 consuming 14.7 l/100km. All three were available throughout the full 1975–1980 production run.
Which Plymouth Volare to buy
- 5.2 AT (122 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice, pairing a 5210 cc V8 automatic with a moderate 13.1 l/100km fuel consumption.
- 5.9 AT (198 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful Plymouth Volare at 198 hp from 5898 cc, for buyers who want the strongest version in the range at 14.7 l/100km.
- 3.7 MT (101 hp) (1 generation): the economy pick — its 3682 cc engine with a manual gearbox returns 11.2 l/100km, the lowest consumption among the notable versions.
Since every Plymouth Volare belongs to a single 1975–1980 generation, there are no cross-generation differences to weigh when buying used — the choice comes down to engine and transmission. The rear-wheel-drive layout and conventional automatic or manual gearboxes keep the mechanical package straightforward for a car of this era.
Summary
The Plymouth Volare coupe covers a broad band for a single-generation model: 91 to 198 hp, engines from 3682 cc to 5898 cc, and both transmission types, all with RWD. The 5.2 AT (122 hp) represents the typical example, the 5.9 AT (198 hp) tops the range, and the 3.7 MT (101 hp) is the most frugal at 11.2 l/100km.