Yahoo Autos Future Classic | 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum
Ah, yes, the Dodge Magnum, arguably the forgotten LX. It was conceived when Detroit bean counters still held out hope for the classic American station wagon. It didn't hurt that then-DaimlerChrysler had decided to build its next round of large family sedans on a platform that was strategically seasoned with elements of the Mercedes-Benz W220 and W211, the former of which was already nearly a decade old. If anybody knows how to do a wagon, it's the Germans, right?
But there was nothing characteristically German about what showed up in Dodge showrooms in 2005. The Magnum was big, brash and unapologetically present. The exhaust note might as well have been a recording of some folks chanting "U-S-A!" at a backyard bar-b-q. Who knew the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 would live long enough that we'd forget about their long-lost sibling? The Charger and 300 both reached smoking age before being put out to pasture — and very nearly died old enough to legally drink. That makes the Magum two decades old too, technically, but it was discontinued after its 4th model year, way back in 2008.
The automotive landscape has changed quite a bit over the past two decades. Chrysler's LX models evolved too, though not nearly as much as many of their contemporaries. Despite their much-improved powertrains and top-notch infotainment systems, the 2024 Charger, Challenger and 300 were still very similar to the cars that debuted in 2004. By virtue of its early demise, the Magnum saw only modest upgrades over the course of its run, never benefiting from the comprehensive powertrain overhaul that elevated its more resiliant siblings.
Why is the Dodge Magnum a future classic?
The Magnum was not a performance car, first and foremost. Nor was it the only domestic station wagon to make a splash with enthusiasts over the past two decades; Cadillac's likewise-short-lived CTS wagon takes that nod and earns a pile of extra credit for being offered with a high-performance V variant with a manual transmission. But the Magnum's combination of looks and everyday-branded availability made it accessible to enthusiasts of virtually any budget. Sadly, due at least partially to Chrysler's cringeworthy mid-aughts build quality, many of them are now adorning junkyards. Cleaner ones are far more difficult to find and it's only a matter of time before they'll be truly scarce.
Put simply though, wagons are cool, and this wagon happened to come with not one, but two potent American V8s. As an early pioneer of Dodge's LX-led performance revival, Magnum was one of the first cars to wear the SRT-8 badge.