Carroll Shelby and Chrysler were on fire in the late-1980s into the 1990s, teaming up on several projects which almost nobody would have predicted a decade earlier. From small front-wheel-drive cars wearing Shelby badges to this one-year-only 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota pickup. The seller has this historic truck posted here on craigslist in historic El Paso, Texas and they’re asking $8,999 cash money on the barrelhead. I added that last part.
While not a white-knuckle crazy road-burner as with some other Shelby vehicles, the Shelby Dakota is a really interesting variation to the normal Dodge Dakota. They were only made for the 1989 model year and reportedly only 1,500 of them were made, although the color breakdown is up for debate. Some sources say that 505 were white and 995 were red, 640 were white and 860 were red, so who knows the exact numbers. I would tend to believe Hemmings so I’m going with the 640/860 version.
Truthfully, the Shelby Dakota wasn’t as all-out of an exercise in Shelby’izing a vehicle as some others were, this was more of a graphics and badging exercise but they sure are eye-catching. The black fender flares, light bar extension, and other visual goodies made these trucks unique and I’m glad that Shelby and Chrysler teamed up on so many vehicles.
The interiors were dressed up with Shelby Shelby Shelby logo seats and door panel inserts and they were all two-wheel-drive trucks with four-speed automatic transmissions and column-mounted shifters. The seller says that this one has cold air-conditioning which is a plus on a 32-year-old vehicle.
I don’t see really any flaws in this truck inside or out, other than the engine looks like another interior photo!? Yes, sadly, the seller neglected to include any engine photos even though they have a good variety of images otherwise, other than an underside photo and one showing the bed. The engine was only one choice, a Dodge 318 cubic-inch V8 which had 175 horsepower. One interesting thing about stuffing that V8 under the hood is that they had to replace the belt-driven cooling fan with an electric one to save a few inches, and that added about five horsepower. This one runs and drives great and if it’s as nice in person as it appears to be in the photos, this could be a good buy.
I would call this a straight up bargain, I don’t imagine anyone is going to lose money on this truck. Not to say it is or should be all about money, but it is an investment after all. These are cool looking trucks and I’ve only seen one in person at a campground in Conway New Hampshire, and it was well past it.
I agree a great price especially with the nice interior and exterior graphics. These trucks have recently been discovered and will continue to appreciate in value. Probably won’t last a couple days before it gets snatched up.
In this weird time we’re living in, *any* running truck with 44k miles is worth six grand, easy. 50% more for a Shelby? No-brainer, if you ask me. I’m surprised it’s still an active listing.
It’s a shame that so many people look down on all the old mopars that Shelby collaborated with
Wow! I’m in agreement with my fellow truck enthusiasts that this is a great deal.
These “bottom of the barrel” Shelby renditions, I think were the last gasp for ol’ Shel’. His Cobra glory days passed, he turned to his long time friend, Lee Iacocca, “help me out here”, I’m sure he said, as GT40 sales probably tanked too. Together they conjured up several what I feel were “cash cows”, this being one of them. A kind of “boardroom” win-win, Shelby’s name on otherwise mundane vehicles seemed like to be a hit with a changing automotive scene. Didn’t fly, as these were the last thing people thought of when Shelby was mentioned. When I see this stuff, Shelbyized pickups and econoboxes, I think, this is what the greatest car mind ever was reduced to. Apparently, we all have our price.
Probably not completely untrue, but strap yourself into a GLH-S sometime, punch the gas, then try to say what you just said with a straight face. Those flat out RAN!
True, he was helping out his old buddy Lee, but Carroll has been known to say that the Dodges were some of his favorite projects.
No doubt, he always added some excitement to whatever project he personally touched.
At the time this truck was produced, you could only get a six cylinder from Dodge. We need to give Shelby credit for putting a V8 in it.
column shift and single exhaust… eh…
Speaking from experience through a co-worker who had one if you have one get the classic car insurance on it most insurance companies see it as just a Dodge Dakota and only try to get away with paying the bottom price you will have to do a ton of research to show its obscurity and fight to get a decent amount.
And that was 10 years ago.
A guy I worked with had one new back in the day. Check the pics…I always thought these were dangerous as hell. If you got rear ended, there was no headrest to stop your head going back. CRASH! – head through the rear window. just saying…
Yes this looks like a great deal, but still no takers after 28 days?
It’s GONE now!
My old eyes see the speedometer mileage numbers do not line up. It has replacement tires. great deal of whare on the leather wrapping on the steering wheel.No engine photos. no chassis photos.This all adds up to me to seriously question the mileage.
I have a ’95 Dakota that I’d planned on keeping
until I wore it out.The other day,I noticed the steering
was getting sloppy,& decided to take it to a local shop.
When I pulled into the shop parking lot,I heard a
noise.They told me that the steering box had pulled out
from the frame due to rust.I like the truck so much that
I’m going to see if they can do some welding on the frame.
I thought about getting another vehicle,but after look-
ing at what used trucks are giong for,quickly changed my mind.
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