The Mopar products upgraded by none other than Carroll Shelby have hung on the edges of the vintage car community for a few years, never quite becoming legitimate collector cars. Cars like this Shelby Charger seemingly have all the boxes checked with regards to being upgraded by one of the legends of motorsports and backed by a factory warranty. In addition, the Shelby-led modification efforts generally yielded improvements in the must-have categories, from better out-of-the-box speed to improved handling. Despite this, even the best examples of turbocharged Shelby products remain generally sought after compared to the likes of Ford’s Saleen division. Find this minty Shelby Charger here on Mecum.com where it opens for bidding October 13-15.
This is perhaps one of the first times I’ve looked at one of these Chargers from the rear and thought it was a good-looking car. The stance is definitely more purposeful than the plain-jane model, with an integrated rear spoiler, wider wheels and tires, and an updated exhaust system. The Shelby blue paint with the white stripe is about as iconic as it gets for driving a car with a connection to Carroll, and while it’s no Cobra, these turbocharged hot hatches could definitely hold their own back in the day. The trick is finding out that hasn’t been overly modified, and this example looks pleasingly stock.
In addition to finding one in stock condition, just finding a Shelby Charger that hasn’t been run into the ground is an achievement. That’s the down side (well, one of them) to never achieving collector car status: they don’t get cherished. So, seeing one with its memorable two-tone bucket seats with those huge bolsters still in good order is a treat, even if the steering wheel was a let-down. The Shelby Shadow was a much tidier package overall, featuring Recaro buckets and a Mom0-style steering wheel; those details alone could have given the Charger a much different vibe inside. Aside from some soiling on the armrest and the cheap aftermarket floormats, I don’t see too much here to fault.
The color-matched valve cover and airbox are nice touches, if not slightly tacky; I could live without them. The listing notes recent maintenance as including a rebuilt rack-and-pinion steering system; new master cylinder; and a general tune-up. Mileage isn’t listed, so we can’t say for sure just how tired this Shelby might be, but given the clean cosmetics and the overbuilt nature of the drivetrain, I suspect this one hasn’t been treated like just another used car. As more vehicles from the 1980s find new homes with collectors, do you think the Shelby-modified Mopars are poised for a jump? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Larry D. for the find.
Nice looking car, but a standard Charger with a non turbo 2.2 was more than adequate in my opinion. An even better bet would have been a nice 2.5 in the Charger, but that is a different topic. Okay, why not? I drove two different new Dodge Daytonas back in the day on test drives. A 2.2 turbo and the standard 2.5 non turbo. I liked the turbo, was quite a hoot, but the power came on suddenly whereas the 2.5 had a nice smooth range and good low end torque. Felt better balanced too. (later I learned it had a balance shaft, something the 2.2 did not.) I bought the much cheaper and more reliable 2.5. It was problem free for 200K miles and got 32 MPG. I drove it cross country on many trips. In the Western states where speeding was a way of life, the 2.5 had no trouble cruising at 90+ on the freeways. It had great power in the larger Daytona so that 2.5 would have been wonderful in the lighter Charger.
Great seats. A nice touring car with the 5sp manual.
I love these cars I’ve had one since I was 15 was the fastest car in the high school parking lot and I would ride all week to school and work on 20 bucks of gas.
I forgot how good those wheels were. The cool rich kids in HS had this car or the Mercury Lynx XR3.
I might be a bidder. Had one before and loved it. Torque-steer taken to a new level.
These cars were torque steer monsters, and the Goodyear Eagles were pitiful in rain and if it was snowing, don’t even try
I’m young enough to remember when these things were New on the road and being very upset with Dodge for Ruining the the charger I never thought I would see them become a desirable car that collectors wanted
Proving once again….there is a market for near everything these days.
And I guess if you were mid to late teen in the mid ’80’s….you thought these cars were the sh*t. Instead of just sh*t. lol
Came home off of a World Cruise in 1983 and brought a NEW 1984 Shelby Charger off the showroom floor. BIGGEST POS EVER OWNED. Tried to trade it on a new Dodge Pick Up in 86. The dealer didn’t even want it back.
i felt ur pain, i had been driving a triumph tr 7 from worse to bad
I had the 83 model. What a pile of junk.
I had a 84 that was the same only I called it a POS
I didn’t know if I could say that. But yes3 times
turbos always overheated and yu would have to rebuild the engine
Supercharged ones too. Not always….but a lot. Blew the engine on a brand new Supercoupe motor after the car was less than 3 years old.
Reminiscing about our old cars, is sort of like remembering old GF’s.
You only seem to remember the good attributes….sort have to force yourself to remember the horrible attributes. lol
One of the items constantly complained about was the steering wheel. It cast about $100 to replace (which I did on my 84 non-turbo) with a smaller diameter aftermarket wheel. Another complaint is about it being a cheap car with cheap performance mods. That sounds like a hot rod. Shelby was a hot rodder who preferred the “light car, big power” formula. Consider the times. My 84 non turbo was about as quick and out handled a Mustang GT of the day. Yes, the Eagle GTs were a crap tire. Anyone who autocrossed or did Solo1 events used Yokohamas. As for this one, what’s going on with the arm rest? The cam cover and air filter box should be silver and the colour is “Santa Fe blue” with silver stripes.
The Plymouth version of this little coupe was the Plymouth Turismo.
Apparently according to the internet a much rarer car to find today.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/06/junkyard-find-1984-plymouth-turismo/
Turismo is just another name for the TC3 hatchback, it was also called a Duster for a while. If its rarer today than the 843 Shelby Chargers it must be because they were, like most of the 80s econoboxes – cheap disposable cars that no one saved – they made tens of thousands of Plymouth TC3/Turismo hatchbacks ; and probably just as many Dodge 024/ Chargers , which are the same thing with different trim. Just because its on the internet doesn’t make it true !
I was in college in 1985, and one of my housemates and I, would go out once a month in good weather ( we were in Michigan ), and drive cars. It amazed me that they would let us drive by ourselves. Anyway, we got a hold of one of these, and just drove the hell out of it. I was 6′ 3″ 240 lbs back then, and the torque steer ripped my hands from the wheel. It was a fun car to drive, and was quite fast. Back then, the cheap plastic was everywhere, but we were drivers not buyers. We came back about 45 minutes later, and the salesman was out front pacing and frantic. He was pissed, but he was also stupid enough to let us have it . On our drive the magnetic dealer plate was gone and we had no idea where it went. He was mad as hell, foaming at the mouth mad. It was a very enjoyable day.
SOLD for $9,900.
I would personally hold out for a true 1987 Shelby Charger GLHS.