Photo: YouTube/Indirect link
For the 1960 model year, Chrysler Corporation introduced one of the finest products ever launched by an American automaker. In case you're wondering, it's not a car, but the magnificent inline six-cylinder engine. This magnificent Slant Six plant became legendary for its resilience and endurance. The “little engine that could” was the piston equivalent of a glutton, generously outliving the cars in which it was regularly installed.
However, there are certain situations where even an unbreakable Leaning Tower of Power must bow to fate. At this point, some of you Moparheads may be wondering what it took to take a Slant Six out of business. I'll tell you what: the worst natural disaster on land in recorded U.S. history (aside from hurricanes): the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980.
The volcanic cataclysm and resulting landslide wiped out 200 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles of railroads (24 kilometers), 185 miles of roads (298 kilometers), and claimed 57 lives. It also pulled the plug on an iconic 1968 Mopar, a Dodge Coronet equipped with the base, low-end six-cylinder engine. The pyroclastic aftermath left a thick layer of ash on the Chrysler icon, and its remains have endured for more than 44 years.
In 2024, a group of wrenches from the YouTube channel Indirect Connection have thrown all patience aside. They have snatched the Dodge from its slumber. The video below reveals that the engine compartment is constantly coated with a considerable layer of superfine volcanic ash, very invasive and highly traumatic to the internals of the engine.
Photo: YouTube/Indirect link
Let the Slant Six take on a volcanic eruption and shake it off forty-four years later: the one-barrel carburetor needs a deep clean, of course, and so does the distributor, but otherwise it's in decent shape overall. Considering the amount of geology that's literally inside the engine bay, the 225 cubic inch piston group is a true survivor. I know we use that terminology to describe cars that haven't been modified since they left the factory, but how many can shake off a volcanic explosion?
The 3.7-liter engine was good for 145 hp and 215 lb-ft in 1968 (147 HP, 292 Nm). We don't know what kind of transmission this car has, but we can tell it's a Coronet Deluxe (the base model in 1968) because it was the only post coupe in the lineup. Since it has the Inclined Six engine, it's a three-speed, no matter what, either manual or Torqueflite automatic.
Some 32,000 Coronets of all body styles were given the 1968 model year straight-six engine rights out of a total production run of 213,000 badged units. We don't have any details on the history of this particular car, how the eruption affected it, and how no one has saved it so far. However, it's still a cool Mopar (even if it's not part of the high-speed Scat Pack trio), a stark contrast to its rugged looks and worn stance.
Photo: YouTube/Indirect link
As a final note on this harrowing YouTuber rescue adventure, it should be noted that the Mount St. Helens explosion in May 1980 in Skamania County, Washington is considered the largest shallow landslide in recorded history, instantly obliterating over 1,300 feet of crater elevation.
In a matter of seconds, the volcano went from 9,677 feet (2,950 m) to 8,363 feet (2,549 m) in the blink of an eye. The ash cloud rose 80,000 feet (24,400 meters) into the atmosphere in less than 15 minutes, and fallout was detected over an area of 22,000 square miles (57,000 square kilometers).
