Shelby! One of the most important names in American automotive performance. Also, one of the most important names in outsized automobile valuation. We’ve all seen what the Shelby name has done for the Cobra and Mustang, but how about for other marques where Mr. Shelby dabbled – like Chrysler Corp? Well, let’s see by examining this 1989 Dodge Shelby CSX (not the railroad but Carroll Shelby Enterprises). It only has 34 original miles and is considered a museum piece. Located in Edmonton, Alberta, this Dodge is available, here on eBay for an opening bid of $40,000 C (about $31,161 U.S.) with the reserve not met. There is also a BIN price of $64,900 C (about $50,559 U.S.) available too. A tip of the hat goes to Dwayne S for this discovery!
In digging around, I was surprised to find Shelby’s Chrysler connection as widespread as it is. The common connection was Lee Iacocca, the Ford executive, who first brought Shelby into the Ford fold, and then again at Chrysler where he was the CEO from ’78 until ’92. Shelby’s role at Chrysler included cars that his firm modified, cars modified using his parts, and cars modified by Shelby that bore his name instead of Dodge’s. Our subject car, known as the Shelby CSX, is actually a Dodge Shadow, one that spanned the years between ’87 and ’89. Based on the wheels and skirts, this example appears to be a CSX-VNT, one of only 500 produced in ’89.
The VNT designation means a Variable Nozzle Turbo (known as a Turbo IV) that helps the diminutive 2.2-liter in-line, four-cylinder engine develop 175 net HP. All 500 examples were equipped with a five-speed manual transaxle. With only 34 miles of experience, this example has hardly seen much action and there is no description offered as to its running and driving characteristics. Dodge/Shelby’s promotional material stated 0-60 times in under seven seconds which, today, is nothing to write home about, but it was impressive performance in ’89.
I have seen performance-oriented Dodge Shadows before, admittedly not one in many years, but I believe that this is the first Shelby CSX that I have stumbled upon. In native form, these were pretty basic cars, replete with a stubby profile and unexciting lines. But they were deemed economy cars and carried that bearing. Enter Shelby, his organization found a way to put some pizazz into the styling. The side skirts, front and rear spoilers, and lowered stance speak an entirely different language than a standard Shadow. The CSX unique wheels are Shelby composite pieces. Yes, this car looks new – it essentially is. Unfortunately, no images of the driver’s side are included in the listing.
The interior features “Shelby” patterned upholstery covering the door panels and the form-fitting seats, Recaros are said to have been an option. Additionally, a racing-style steering wheel is in place of the more mundane stock tiller. Instrumentation is the same basic, austere, but functional, black and white arrangement found on any Shadow. The interior is a typical, hard plastic, angular environment that was very commonplace in the ’80s. And yes, it looks new too.
The BIN price is approximately $50K U.S. so that gives one an idea of where the reserve is set. There’s no denying this car’s condition or its low mileage provenance, but it’s still a hopped-up Dodge Shadow. What’s your estimate, do you think these Shelby-inspired Mopars will ever reach the collectibility heights of the Cobras and Mustangs?
I wouldn’t be surprised if this car came out of Gesswein Motors in SD. They had several no mile CSX’s tucked away along with various other Turbo Shelbys for sale about 8-10 years ago.
No it was originally from Colorado and is now with me in Canada.
I really like this car, but 50 large for a k car? NFW! I mean yes it’s basically brand new but what collector will want to buy and squirrel it away for the future??
Also these should be driven!
Not when its the lowest mile CSX on the planet.
I’m hoping to sell it to a museum because that’s where it belongs .
It’s a great pocket rocket and from the composite wheels to the turbo these were new technology. Now is it worth the asking price? Not too sure but agree with prior comment these should be driven, as all cars were designed to be. Not saying a cross country road trip, but don’t hide them in a garage, just not right.
Agreed but at this point driving her would ruin the “specialness” of the car and Shelby’s legacy. It hurts me to even drive on and off the trailer lol.
I mean, this is one where you’ve really got to ask why. It’s not like it had any predictable major collector value, so you might as well have driven the snot out of it. I mean, 30 some years on, it’s not all that great from a performance standpoint. And if you drive it, as you should, you’re gonna lose that 40 ground real fast.
There’d be some predictable collector value for a limited-production model with some bleeding-edge engineering tech and actually constructed at the Shelby skunkworks in Whittier (see the manufacturer plate in the last photo) — making these a true Shelby by marque, not just a Dodge with Shelby parts/trim.
As to whether that prediction was actually borne out may be another matter, however. Only the market it’s sold in will tell.
Exactly. It’s past the point of driving her unfortunately.
Wheres the Shelby?
GLWS!
Running when parked ?
I doubt it
No sir, shuffled her around in my warehouse 2 weeks ago, starts and running perfectly.
This is way cooler than some knockoff cheap Hondcura, of the same era. And faster from the factory than any Japanese import made that year too
So… who is the customer here? I can’t imagine someone paying US$50K for this to drive it, and I can’t imagine someone paying US$50K for this just to store it or display it. There are far better choices at that price point to drive, store, or display (though I confess I will never understand people who buy cars just to stash them away).
And that’s while car collecting is better left to others ;)
A snail would travel at a faster pace than this 1.03 miles per year time capsule.
All this shows, is how marketing can transform a ho-hum car like this, into this magical 5 figure item, based SOLELY on that guys name. Don’t get me wrong, Shelbys achievements were many, unlike any other person, and my daughters 1st car was a Shadow, like this, and for $500 bucks, it was a nice car. It’s pretty obvious, Ol’ Shel’ did just about everything you could do to a 4 wheeled vehicle, and by this time, I’m sure ventures like this merely padded his pockets. There may have been some merits, but really, on a car like this, bound to be a flop. Aside from the Ford exploits, Mustang, GT40, I think these were some of the last Mopar examples, and for that reason, adds an alleged whopping price tag. I don’t get it,,
Time will tell. In our crazy car priced world right now, pretty much any low production, stupid low mile car will get its due. These from the 80s are getting areal cult following now.
I owned a new 1987 Plymouth Sundance turbo 4 spd. This thing had so much power in a cheaply made chassis that it torqued the engine so hard it tore the front frame. The car was two years old and I had to take it to a shop and reinforce the frame with steel plates like my stock car. I sold it with 38K on it and learned it blew up around 90K. Fun car, but not meant to last.
I have one of these and always a fan of the Shelby Dodges. A very cool car and the only one with fiberglass wheels and while these normally sell for a max of 20k in New condition, these are hard to come by in Canada. I’m eager to see if it sells.
It would be good for bragging but that is about it. The seller has two other hot vehicles with crazy low miles.
As I remember, CSX’s were never sold new in Canada due to low production #s so, this must have been imported and federalized privately. Shelby also built a few “rent a racers” for Thrifty Car Rental. All were bagged as CSX-T’s. Shelby said, in a keynote speech I attended, that he was as proud of the Chrysler Shelby’s as any car because like the early Shelby Mustangs, it met the hot rod criteria. Light car, lots of horse power, cheap to build. Can’t say I understand putting this car away for 33 years.
It has to be worth a ton since its one of the few Shelby DIDN’T sign.:)
Shelby’s PERSONAL car sold for about half of this just a few years back as did his prototype and personal Charger GLHS.
Kind of sacrilegious….Shelby name & a 4 cylinder in a Shadow, a totally forgettable car. lol
Yeah, just a bid overpriced, but the seller can ask whatever they want.
Highest sale I could find was $22,400 for a 7,200 mile example at 2018 Bonhams.
https://www.conceptcarz.com/valuation/22496/dodge-shelby-csx-shadow.aspx
This one was also a VNT model which I assume means it had an extra package that this car does not have.
This may actually be a VNT if those are the original stock wheels, which AFAICT only came equipped on Shelby CSX-VNTs.
This is definitely an original VNT car with 34 miles. Email me at cshenher@gmail.com if you’re interested in purchasing.
These cars were tin cans from the jump. Chrysler really put out some awful cars in the 80’s. They were lucky that ‘ol Shel wanted to jump back in the game. But these 4 cylinder Shelby’s were putting lipstick on a little piggy.
I bought a new ES Turbo in 88 that I beat on mercilessly, autocrossing, track days, daily driving 365 in Ontario. It was t-boned, tail ended the bumper up to the rear wheels, I was pretty lax about maintaining it in its later years and never rust proofed it. It lasted 15 years until the floor finally started to give way. Except for a head gasket under warranty, it never had a major mechanical problem. Even the upholstery was still in good shape.
Those ‘fancy’ wheels look more like gold painted plastic, to me.
Well funny you mention it, they are actually fiberglass which Shelby called Fiberride and they weigh only 5 lbs ea.