Would any of you daily drive a 1993 Dodge Shadow ES? That’s what’s on the to-do list for this car, and three or even two decades ago, most of us wouldn’t have given it another thought. In 2025, maybe not so much. The seller has this original example posted here on craigslist in Craley, Pennsylvania, and they’re asking a mere $2,600. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
Chrysler made the Dodge Shadow (and Plymouth Sundance) from 1986 for the 1987 model year until mid 1994 and they came in this two-door body style. Not to fear having to see another cheesy Photoshop creation, as they also came in a four-door sedan and a two-door convertible. I wonder what a four-door 4×4 pickup convertible wagon version may have looked like… (just kidding)
The ES models in either Raspberry Red or Electric Blue, as seen here, came with a two-tone paint scheme with Medium Quartz colored lower body panels and sills. While looking like a trunk in a great notchback profile, they were actually hatchbacks with a generous amount of storage space. The seller says this car has a dent in the right front fender and you can see it in the opening photo. The A-pillar on that side is also missing paint.
The first thing that catches my eye, after the stitched seat repair, is how nice the interior looks. Sadly, this is the only photo that shows an overall interior view, and we don’t get to see the rear seats or the cargo area. The second thing that catches my eye is the TorqueFlite automatic transmission gear selector on the console area rather than a five-speed manual. A good friend since the 1970s had a black two-door Shadow with a five-speed, and it was a really nice car. It was quiet and had a nice solid feel; it was totally different from some of the imports that were flooding into the U.S. at the time, including the Yugo and various Hyundais. Even Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas seemed louder and “tinny” compared to his Shadow. The seller mentions this car needs a headliner, just for the record.
The engine is Dodge’s 2.5-liter SOHC inline-four with 100 horsepower and 135 lb-ft of torque. I had this same engine in a 1991 Dodge Spirit and put 315,000 almost totally trouble-free miles on it before the car rusted to death. This one is backed by the aforementioned TorqueFlite sending power to the front wheels, and they say it has “new battery, belts, gaskets, water pump, air filter, spark plugs, plug wires, distributer cap, rotor, tune up, wipers….” Have any of you owned a Dodge Shadow?
Clean and tidy interior. Thrifty transportation. 👍
I agree, sir. A five-speed would be great, but this looks like a fly-in-and-drive-home car, and then just use it. You can’t get much for $2,600 anymore.
A classic “beater with a heater” until the transmission blows up.
Very clean, especially for the PA area, like you mentioned Scotty they do unfortunately rust. And Stans spot on, very clean interior.
Well, the site is doing it’s temperamental crap again, that didn’t last long. I’ll try to get this one through, and such a shame the writers great posts are marred by constant commenting issues.
My daughters 1st car, only green. After the Fiero disappointment, the old man ( grandpa) to the rescue. He had a dealer who dealt with, um, shall we say, less than desirable cars, most auction cars, and he had a car like this, $500. I think hers had a sunroof, and she loved that car. It ran great, economical, for $500, I did nothing to it and well worth it. I heartily endorse the purchase of this car, if the site allows, that is,, :(
What commenting problems are you having Howard? It looks like all your comments have gone through without issue.
I just tried posting one on another car here and it didn’t go through after trying multiple times.
Okay, seems if I try to post a brand new comment at the bottom it won’t go through but if I just reply to someone else’s comment it does. WTF??
Your comments are going through fine Paul. Just give the cache a few minutes to clear.
Hi Jesse, I know I sound like a broken record, but many are experiencing double posts, posts lost altogether, or the dreaded, not being counted on the # of comments thingy anxiety. Also, I noticed, one of our treasured members, Angel Queen, has difficulty too, and just responding to her posts, causes my post to be deleted. You know I’m one of your favorite fans, but I’ve been here over 10 years, and quite frankly it has never been right.
I honestly don’t even remember these cars.
We had one. They rebuilt the engine because of defective wrist pin clip at 88k. Then the A/C went out. I sold it for $500. And let the buyer replace the A/C Compressor. It had 115k on it.
These were big sellers when new. Good to see one this nice today. The Dodge came standard with the 2.5 litre but the Plymouth Duster had the 3.0 litre V6 standard making it the least expensive 6 cylinder car in America in 1992, $9999 +destination and fees. The V6 replaced the turbo four.
I thought Chrysler stopped using the TorqueFlite name for their transmissions in the early 80s, about the same time they forgot how to make reliable automatics (remember the UltraMatic?) Especially FWD autos. Anyway, this car looks in great shape for the $$, just give the tranny a good going over if you’re interested.
Ultradrive came out for 1990 and, yes, was a disaster. Those little 3-speed fwd units were pretty reliable.
This is where I got the TorqueFlite (A413) info from, Terrry:
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1993/683255/dodge_shadow_2_5l_automatic.html#gsc.tab=0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Shadow
I cant remember seeing one before
My wife had a 1993 Shadow ES convertible. It was red/silver 5 speed/ ac, and drove good. When it had about 140K miles we had a chance to get a low mileage PT Cruiser with automatic, so we sold the Shadow convertible to my nephew who commuted a hundred miles each way. He loved it until it finally gave up, and he parted it out. This blue Shadow looks like it’s in good condition and the price seems good to me, so GLWTS.
We had 1993 Dodge Shadow, green 4 door with the V6 and auto, sport suspension. It was a quick little car that surprised many muscle cars. Sold it to make way for a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
ARIE would you please mention the muscle cars your Shadow surprised so I can cross them off my list 📝
I remember these little cars. Never had one but I believe overall they were good vehicles from things I’ve heard. For a PA car it looks very clean and the interior looks great for being 32 years old. I don’t think you can beat the price for what cars go for nowadays. I’d only say it’s too bad it’s not a 5spd.
My first brand new car was a ’94 Dodge Shadow 2-door base model. It had the 2.2L four cylinder with the 5-speed stick, a passenger outside mirror, rear window defroster but no sound system. I don’t recall there even being an antenna! Out the door the grand total was $8,247. I forget what I spent to add an AM-FM stereo cassette player, four coaxial speakers and an antenna, but that car covered 86K miles in five years and never let me down once. I wish I still had it with me today!
I got my wife one and she loved it, good visibility easy to drive fuel economy 4 years and I don’t remember having to fix anything on the car. Bought it for 500$ sold it for 500$ I worked in a bone yard for almost 40 years and we called those early Chrysler trainy’s 727s we had a pile of them because they never broke and some of them had some big H.P. pushing them. In my opinion one of the best transmissions ever built, Ford had one that was in it’s 1956 and it was strong, had a friend who had a56 Ford and at 50mph he would jam on the brakes sift it into reverse and nail the gas and the trani would take it and the rear end would start jumping all over the road and he did this more than once, so those were pretty tuff. Forgive an old man for rambling on
This is a nice little sporty classic car that and if the AC works and the heater blows good to go back and forth to work.
I was in the salesman’s office ready to buy an ’88 ES. He pulled every shady trick that a dealer could think of. The couple in the office a couple doors down was “making and offer” on that same car. The monthly pri e he quoted on the lot price he quoted evaporated, and the manager said he wasn’t authorized to make that offer. A couple more things. I walked out.
3 days later, the call with a compromise. They’d let me pay 6 months longer for the car.
And here I thought the couple was going to buy it…
Got an Isuze Impulse Turbo instead.
Fresh timing belt and head gasket, and drive this puppy into the ground!