Cars wearing a Shelby badge generally conjure images of classics offering impressive performance. However, even the illustrious Mr. Shelby was feeling the pinch by the 1980s, struggling to devise ways of extracting more from production cars. He turned his attention from engine enhancements to suspension tuning, developing cars that were a more “rounded” package for potential buyers. The fruits of his labor included the 1985 Dodge Shelby Charger, and this one is a gem. It presents superbly courtesy of fresh paint and would suit an enthusiast seeking a classic daily driver. The Charger is listed here on Craigslist in Spring Hill, Florida. The seller set their price at $8,800 OBO, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder PRA4SNW for spotting it.
Buyers could order their new 1985 Shelby Charger in four paint combinations, with this car’s original owner selecting the popular Black with Silver stripes. The Shelby package also included body and wheel enhancements to improve aerodynamics and handling. This car presents well, which is unsurprising considering both its paint and stripes are fresh. The Black exhibits some minor swirls, but I believe some careful work with a high-quality polish would address that shortcoming. Otherwise, there is little to criticize. The panels are straight, the plastic is free from damage, and there is no mention or evidence of rust. The alloy wheels haven’t suffered curb strikes or other physical damage, and the glass looks flawless.
Forced induction seemed the way of the future in the 1980s, although some models’ unreliability and quality control issues tainted the appeal among potential buyers. However, applying modern solutions to older cars can produce remarkable results. This Charger features a 2.2-liter turbocharged four, a five-speed manual transmission, and power assistance for the steering and brakes. In normally aspirated High Output form, this motor produced 110hp. Bolting a “hairdryer” to the engine increased power to 146hp, while torque climbed from 129 ft/lbs to 168 ft/lbs. Neither figure was close to the numbers buyers expected from Shelby offerings in the 1960s, but it still allowed the Charger to cover the ¼-mile in a respectable 15.7 seconds. Compared to the standard car’s time of 17.8 seconds, the Shelby must have felt like a jet! This Charger is in excellent mechanical health courtesy of a recent engine and transmission rebuild. The seller bolted on new tires and brakes, upgrading the shift linkage for better ratio changes. They supply no information on how the car runs or drives, but the indications are positive.
The supplied interior photos aren’t the greatest, but they paint a relatively positive picture for a car produced in the 1980s. There are a couple of seam separations on the driver’s seat and center armrest, but a competent upholsterer might be able to affect repairs. The dash wears a cover, and whether this is for protection or to hide splits or cracks is unclear. The seller indicates the Shelby received a new headliner, but it seems everything else is as it left the factory. This interior shot raises questions because I struggle to believe that someone would have the engine turning over at 3,500 rpm parked in their driveway. Still, stranger things have happened! I would place my money on there being an electrical glitch requiring attention because the photo doesn’t ring true to me. A Pioneer CD player occupies the original radio’s spot, but if the buyer lives in a warm location, the lack of air conditioning may be a disadvantage. Overall, the interior looks acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle.
The Dodge Shelby Charger received a warm reception upon its 1983 release, and despite ongoing performance improvements, sales tapered slowly in subsequent years. By 1985, 7,709 buyers handed over their cash to own one. Today, they are an affordable classic, and a healthy one represents a practical and eye-catching daily driver. That best sums up this car, with recent sales suggesting its price is pretty competitive. Of course, if potential buyers make an acceptable offer, it could be even better. Is that a thought you might entertain?
I remember when Shelby’s came into the dealership. It was a big deal back then. I remember these being intercool turbocharged. Yes the Shelby’s were very fast but they had her hell of a tork steer. I knew people who modify them and go road racing with them. They would win because they were fast. And Shelby weren’t that heavy once you remove a lot of the interior stuff. People expected a lot more out of these little 2.2’s. when you lift a hood there was a decal that read use Mobile One oil only and must use 93 octane fuel. The one I like was the four-door GLH. that was my favorite I enjoyed driving that one. But I am surprised it has no air conditioning in this one and it’s in Florida. Anyway good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Motor Trend in the early 1980s, called the Chrysler 2.2 engine the new performance engine of the future, compared it to the Chevy small block V8 . They were expecting great things from it. The same magazine gushed over the brand new Daytona/Laser and said that Chrysler had done what GM should have done with the newly redesigned Camaro/Firebird. Amazing how dropping fuel prices changed that scenario. Motor Trend was right, America should have forgotten V8s and went smaller and more efficient.
They did , They called it “The Grand National “
Thankfully America did not forget the V8. Nothing sounds as good as a rumbling V8.
My Mustang GT ate these things as a snack.
I bought it…..BACK!
Watching that thing drive down the alley with its new owner a year ago last February, I leaned up against my fence and cried like a little baby.
I actually deleted pretty much all of the photographs of it because I was so brokenhearted. “WHAT THE FXXK DID I JUST DO????” I kept asking myself.
I have no idea why I sold it that day. someone just offered me the right amount and I said OK!
Tuesday can’t come fast enough……She’s coming home.
[as I sit here crying like a little baby]. It’s a “Car Guy“ thing.
So u sold it last February and bought it back from the guy u sold it to ?? Talk about sellers remorse !!!! Nice car. Glad u was able to buy it back.
Congrats Mark!
Almost all of us here have felt that way at least once in their life – selling a beloved car that they wish they could have back.
I would be proud if my posting this on Barn Finds helped you to be reunited.
Mark… you’ve joined the club of us who have done the same thing. The race car we are building was bought in 2012 and sold in 2014 but bought back in 2015. We’re not fickle, just flexible.
Yep punch it in low gear on a wet road ,once turbo spools up it would put you in the neighbors yard if you weren’t careful..
Yes, lots of torque steer on these. But you got used to it and learned how to control it, same as any other performance car.
I own a PT Cruiser GT Turbo the grandson of this car. With a stage three package these cars are surprising fast. Id love to see a charger with that slipped into it.
Same engine setup in the Daytona Shelby Zs. Once we got used to the turbo lag our ’86 was fun to drive. At our first autocross I turned a 180 degree turn into a 90 degree turn. Finally got used to where the turbo came in and the fun started from there.
No thanks. I had the 83 It had the carburetor and non turbo. Total pos
You missed the fun ones then
Same engine as my ’86 GLH-T had. What a fun car that was, and shocked many a performance car with it.
I like the look of this one for the $$, but my ideal car would be the real deal Shelby: ’87 Shelby Charger GLHS.
This is essentially a two-door Omni GLH Turbo. The irony is that the GLH Turbo paid the same insurance as a base Omni while the Charger with the base engine paid the same as the Shelby Turbo. According to my insurance agent, the Omni, regardless of engine, attracted a more “nature” drive than the Charger.
Regarding torque steer. The car had strong power steering, and it would go where the front wheels were pointed. The rear wheels would obediently follow. And with a faster-than-standard steering ratio, it was easy to get to any reasonable steering angle.
Look, these were cheap but fast cars. A GLH Turbo would run heads up against a Z-28. But like the Road Runner of 15 years earlier, it allowed those of shallow pockets to play. If you don’t like that, go spend you money somewhere else. Just take more of it along with you.
These cars where kind of quick for what they were but, ultimately a product of piss poor performance Era.
Had one , was a “if only “ car
If only it was rear drive … would have been legendary.
Had a stock 87 GLHS, looked like crap but ran like a beast, raced my buddy with a modded 87 red Shelby charger around a loop one Friday night, saw nothing but his headlights in my rear view the whole time, needless to say my buddy wasn’t happy with the mods done to his ride, man I miss that car!
Watching that thing drive down the alley with its new owner a year ago last February, I leaned up against my fence and cried like a little baby.
I actually deleted pretty much all of the photographs of it because I was so brokenhearted. “WHAT THE FXXK DID I JUST DO????” I kept asking myself.
I have no idea why I sold it that day. someone just offered me the right amount and I said OK!
Tuesday can’t come fast enough……She’s coming home.
[as I sit here crying like a little baby]. It’s a “Car Guy“ thing.
So glad to have sold you back the Shelby. I loved her while I had her but glad to know she’s back in loving arms !!! I’ll look for her when I’m cruisin around the ‘Burg !!!
I’m surprised the praise these get here but each to his own I quess. I was driving a black 2 dr 77 grand lemans about the time these came out and considered these a disposable paper weight at best . I did joy drive one of these one night a non turbo and it did scat along pretty well alot like driving a K car but it was light and I put it up on 2 wheels going around sharp turn
I’d fear for my life if in any kind high speed crash in any omni and most 80s front wheel drives. It had nothing on my full frame Pontiac tho. For comfort durability and safety. I just never got into the whole front wheel drive performance cars. I still drive a rear wheel drive with posi trac every day and wouldn’t have it any other way. All wheel drive is all good too.
Kirk, Like you said, to each their own.
That should help you understand why there is a following for these, just like there is for overweight 2 doors.
Here is my GLH-T, circa 1986 – 87. Most fun on 4 wheels.
I remember an issue of Hot Rod magazine in the 80s when these cars came out. On the front cover it stated, OMNI GLH beats SHELBY GT-350. I threw the BS flag right there. I followed up on that story for awhile and found out that DODGE did tweak the numbers somehow just to get a positive story in a major magazine. Owning a OMNI to me would be like dating a fat girl. It might feel good a little bit but, you don’t want your friends to see you.
For what it’s worth, when I went to the Shelby Heritage Center in Las Vegas in 2021, I saw Cobras, Shelby Mustangs (including the Green Hornet and Little Red), Ford GTs, and a Shelby Series 1. The Chrysler Shelbys were nowhere to be found. In fact, they weren’t acknowledged at all.