A 1991 Dodge Shadow convertible, eh? Seems like an unusual automobile to cover on these august web pages, but as usual, I have a reason – more on that to follow. So, reasonable mileage, good condition, top that drops, and a low price – sure that’s worth a review, and we have Rocco B. to thank for this tip. Those with a passing interest will find this curious convertible located in Los Angeles, California, where it’s available here on craigslist for $3,500.

Dodge’s Shawdon and its cousin, the Plymouth Sundance, were offered between 1987 and 1994 and built on the Chrysler “P” platform. Body styles included three and five-door hatchbacks, and in the case of the Shadow, a convertible was part of the lineup between ’91 and ’93. Our subject is one of 20K assembled in ’91 – its most popular year. Sales dropped by 84% in ’92 and then rebounded slightly in ’93. This 76 K-mile specimen shows well. The finish is bright, the folding top is sound, and there’s no indication of crash damage. The rear bumper cover is scratched in places, and it looks like a wheelcover is missing, but for a 35-year-old “throw-away” compact, this one’s in pretty fair, overall shape.

Power is provided by a 100 net HP, 2.5-liter, transverse-mounted, in-line four-cylinder engine, which in turn spins a three-speed automatic transaxle. The seller claims, “Car is running well.” The engine compartment appears to be original and unmodified, and looks about how you would expect to find it.

The interior is in surprisingly nice condition. The cloth upholstery is clean and shows no sign of rips, wear, or too much top-down time. The back seat in a Shadow convertible is really nothing more than a suggestion, or a shadow, of seating space – very small people or children only need apply. The image of the center stack isn’t too clear, but it appears that the radio is not fully attached/inserted. This is an A/C equipped car – no word on its operational capability.

So, why review a Dodge Shadow? Back in ’91, I took a two-week trip to the Bay Area and thought it would be fun to rent a convertible and take a cruise along the Pacific coast, down Highway 1, the Cabrillo Highway. I ended up with a ’91 Shadow, and it was even red, though I recall it was a darker shade. It was a fun car, a bit agrarian in its manners, but it drove well enough, handled OK, and was adequate on power – but no more than that. The workmanship was so-so, as was the quality of its materials. I wasn’t too concerned with it overall; it’s not like I was going to buy it or one similar to it. It made a trip up to Muir Woods in Marin County, and its size fit the bill on San Francisco streets, where it was easy to slip it into small parking spaces. I suppose it actually started my interest in convertibles as I’ve owned several since my spin in the Shadow, though I’ll admit, they don’t hold the charm for me that they once did. The Shadow and Sundance, while not impressive pieces of automotive machinery, did the trick for ChryCo., however, with Shadow production reaching over 650K units, while the Sundance managed an output of over a half million copies – pretty good shootin’! As for this car? Cheap wind in your hair thrills, I guess. Tell me, has anyone ever owned a Shadow, and if so, what were your impressions?