- Seller: Matt S
- Location: Factoryville, Pennsylvania
- Mileage: 114,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 3B3XA66A8MT599674
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 2.2 4-cylinder Turbo III
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
If you came of age and were perhaps enrolled in driver’s education classes in the 1990s, this car may look familiar. Its spirit twin, the Plymouth Acclaim, was the car I drove to earn my learner’s permit, and I can tell you from experience that its 100-horsepower 2.5-liter four was less than thrilling. Wearing the same body style as that milquetoast family sedan, however, was this little-known and rarely-bought rock star on wheels, the Spirit R/T. Offered for only two model years, only 1,399 were built, this ’91 model is one of them, and you can own it. The seller is offering it and their Daytona Shelby, which you can find here, as Barn Finds Auctions!
This is what made the Spirit R/T one of the fastest sedans on the road in 1991, a twin-cam, 16-valve variant of the Chrysler 2.2. With 224 horsepower, it accelerated from zero to sixty in 5.8 seconds, according to Car and Driver. And it didn’t stop there: it dragged the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at 97 mph, which was 5.0 Mustang territory (and the Spirit might have gotten the Mustang by a fender). The Spirit you see here has had some modifications for a little extra juice and a little extra durability, just in case you needed to crack 100 in the traps: it has a Cometic head gasket, 40-lb. injectors, a stronger clutch, 2.5-inch exhaust, and a tune. The owner says it “runs excellent.”
The interior is extremely clean for a car that has seen 33 years and 114,000 miles. The seller bought the Spirit from its original owner, and both owners clearly loved this factory sleeper. The striped velour seats make me a little nostalgic for those summer days watching ’70s “rules of the road” films with the gentle clicking of a 16-mm film projector. Of course, “our” car didn’t have a manual transmission like the R/T did (or, now that I think of it, cool seats).
It also didn’t have a tach, let alone a tach with a 6,500 rpm redline. Or a 150-mph speedometer. It’s clear that Dodge put the money where it counted when it released the R/T: Its base price at the time was under $18,000, about $4,000 less than a comparable Taurus SHO (and many thousands less than a BMW or a Mercedes).
This Pennsylvania-based Spirit R/T has new shocks, struts, and no ’90s clearcoat fade. It’s a well-maintained example of a good old-fashioned American sleeper that most of us have forgotten. Maybe it’s the perfect ride for you; after all, duping some unsuspecting Fox-Body Mustangs at the strip never goes out of style.
Bid On This Auction
Kyle B bid $1,000.00 2024-10-21 12:49:09
JJ bid $600.00 2024-10-18 13:40:31
Ryan q bid $350.00 2024-10-18 13:02:08
day1rt@yahoo.com bid $100.00 2024-10-15 13:40:55
I rented one of these exactly like this one only white while in Hawaii back in 1991. The rental agent said it didn’t go out much as most folks didn’t know how to drive a stick. It was a a blast to drive once the turbo got spooled up .Nice for passing slower vehicles on two lane highways Great times
Car and Driver loved these, they said it loses steering precision above 70 😳 . Top speed was recorded at 141mph 😲
LOVE these old Mopar throw-a-ways! FOLLOWING,, 2870
“Dupe a Fox body Mustang at the strip..” Thanks for the laugh. These things weren’t even an hor’dourve for my ‘Stang.
Would easily keep pace with a 91 GT.
C was your 5.0 stock ? These little things really moved out. Drivers race for sure.
Uh huh. Unless your stang was worked significantly that’s really not likely. And honestly the likelihood that you ever even encountered a Spirit RT randomly on the street is really slim. A Spirit ES maybe (turbo 1 engine: big difference!). But stick to stock, no 5.0 was smoking an RT. They were so neck and neck it was a drivers race. I’ve owned and driven several stock versions of both cars, this isn’t hyperbole
Yeah… I also have a 94 Mustang GT 5.0 5 speed with an exhaust and headers and it won’t keep up with the RT… yours must have work done or you’re full of it. I’ll go with option 2.
Forgotten? Trust me; I’ll not forget that beast.
Barn Finds has featured several of these over the years. I enjoy it every time since these were special cars that will never get the respect they deserve.
Who knows, this exact car may have been featured here before. It is hard to tell since they all look exactly the same.
These would easily stay fender to fender with any stock Foxbody.
Why is nobody bidding on this?
A car like this has very limited appeal, and may need the attention that would be brought by a larger audience.
Having said that, listing it here at BF is a great way to get it out there and if it doesn’t work, another avenue can be tried.
I’m the owner. If it doesn’t sell it can sit in my garage . It’s not a money issue for me I just don’t drive it much . To anyone interested the reserve is $7000
Maybe because they’re the kind of car your Aunt Ethel would be proud to be seen in, arriving at the church bingo night parking lot?
Yeah .. maybe.
My daughter is looking for a decent driver that she can take on a future Power Tour. I told her this would be a VERY GOOD CHOICE (especially if she wants her Mom and I to go with her). It’s roomier than my Shelby Lancer, in all of the right places (Rear seat is about the same, but Trunk Space just doesn’t cut it!).
Question for Matt (the owner): Have the factory steel threaded plugs between the Cams, and spark plugs been changed to aluminum, so the cylinder head won’t crack due to dissimilar metal expansion rates? Please advise.
Jakespeed – yes original owner did it
Matt, this is one I’d break the bank on if I had a bank to break. I got to drive one of these new circa 1993, and it would have absolutely torched my AOD 5.0 notchback from start to finish. I gave a black Mustang GT a nice pull in the Dodge on the interstate. The salesman got a giggle out of it.
I have driven one of these and was pleasantly surprised by how quick it was
My brother had a black 5spd and I got to drive it on the Pig Trail in Arkansas. What a blast! Wish I had room, good luck, Matt.
I bought one when I came back from overseas deployment in ‘92. It was a great ride. There was a recall on the oil pump. They typically failed bf 70k miles. Any history on this one being replaced?
Oil pump not replaced. The reason they failed was due to excessive wear from incorrect timing belt tension . This car already has the titanium valve retainers which takes the excessive pressure off of the oil pump. This car was owned by a father and son that took very good care of it and I’ve owned 5 of these (4 red and 1 white)
Gotcha, I appreciate the timely response. It doesn’t seem to me that people know what this thing really is. At least based on the bidding, good luck with the auction.!
Hmm this was listed previously at 5500 on FB marketplace and now the reserve is 7000? Sounds to me like the seller was looking for a quick flip.
It went down to $6000 on FB. That ship has sailed. Seeing as I’ve owned it for years that wouldn’t be a quick flip. You don’t need to be upset with me because you can’t afford it.
To all- I lost access to my email associated with this listing . Please send any questions / contact me at simsy1990@gmail.com