UPDATE – This 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T is listed for sale again after it was featured just over a month ago here on Barn Finds. It’s posted here on eBay and is still located in Lockport, New York. The opening bid price is the same as last time, $2,499, and there is no reserve after that. Will it sell this time?
FROM 02/02/2025 – A 0 to 60 time of 5.8 seconds is pretty quick today, but in 1991 it was awe-inspiring, even if the vehicle in question had front-wheel drive and four doors. Be the star of almost any Cars & Coffee or Radwood-like event with this 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T, it’s listed here on eBay in Lockport, New York. There is a single bid of $2,499 and no reserve so spool up and get those bids in!
Car & Driver threw out the 5.8-second 0-60 time, in case you were wondering. Other sources show different numbers, big surprise. It was advertised as the fastest sedan made in America. This is the 11th Dodge Spirit R/T that we’ve seen here on Barn Finds and all but two have been red. The other two were white, and those were the only two colors available in its first year on the market. They were made for 1991 and 1992, and in 1992, 31 buyers got to take home a silver one.
I looked at a silver R/T in a Dodge showroom in 1991, and had I known what I do now, I would have jumped on it. I was just getting a regular Spirit sedan for a college car and was heading out of state for another try at a degree. This time I’d try for a degree in architecture rather than a failed attempt at a business degree right after high school… when I was still in rock bands. Yeah, bad timing. The second attempt worked, and my ’91 Spirit lasted for 315,000 miles. It was one of the best cars I’ve owned and I was one of the most understated architects of all time, driving a gray Dodge Spirit. My cape never once got stuck in the door! (kidding)
My Spirit wasn’t an R/T, it was a base model but it did have power windows and power locks. There were just under 1,400 Spirit R/Ts made in 1991 and ’92 and they’re rare to see on the street today. I can’t remember the last time I saw one, other than the nice example auctioned here on Barn Finds fairly recently. The interior looks great in this car, I don’t really see a flaw anywhere inside or out, other than the typical faded clear coat. The rear seatbacks have a nice feature where you can fold the seatbacks forward for trunk access, and the trunk looks great as well. The seller says this one came from Georgia in 2018 and they’ve included a few underside photos.
The engine is a Dodge 2.2-liter DOHC inline-four turbo with 224 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque when new. Sadly, this one needs a new turbo, so even though it has an incredible number of new parts, it’s not currently driveable because the seller can’t get the turbo off to replace it with a new one that’s included. When it is fixed, sending power through that five-speed manual to the front wheels would be a fun experience. I know that most Barn Finds readers could have this car on the road in no time. Who’s in?
I messed around with these Chrysler Turbo cars back then. Bought and sold, and enjoyed them. I know of this thing, and yes, it’s really more impressive than some of us think. Unique engine, special tuning that, in that time, was cutting edge stuff. They just packaged it in a Spirit/Acclaim body, which is what they had. Probably not super valuable, but I can’t think of a better one to bring back. Looks good. No one will ever respect you, but the thing will be a blast to drive around!
Fast cars. Wild top end too 🏁
It’s very encouraging when sellers include pictures also of problem areas, it’s usually a sign of an honest seller.
But no doubt that turbo is going to require lots of cursing to come off. Tight space, badly rusted bolts, nowhere to get big enough tools in… I haven’t worked on one of these, but not too long ago I installed a turbo on an Audi A4 and it was not a project I have fond memories of!
Great engine. If this can be had for 3 or 4K, might be a great buy. One would prefer this engine in a Shelby Daytona from that year, but in that car, 3K would never fly.
Nice car if I could find one like that in Canada where I live.
Then you mentioned turbo. FORGET IT
I believe this version of the 2.2 had a head designed by Lotus.
Nice F.L.W. reference Scotty!!!
Sorry. Only the MOPAR faithful got juiced by this box on wheels.
I guess some people are only “juiced” by cars with an image.
Interesting that Scotty has experience (315k miles worth!) with this R/T’s less-dramatic sibling. The R/T was actually a pretty good effort, but never caught on, and doesn’t get much respect today either. But for someone who likes them and wants to tackle the turbo, here you go. Even has a manual transmission.
Overall, sounds like an honest seller who has done other work and has kept the car up, but just has gotten completely frustrated with it.
Only way these hot RTs came was w manual Bob.
Auction update: this Spirit R/T sold for $3,050, a great price in today’s market.
Someone just bought a whole ton of FUN (in all caps) for pocket change.
I guess not!
Its to far away and to much money I don’t know how hard fixing the turbo on this would be if I had it I would just donate it to Union gospel mission in Spokane and take the write off so I’m writing a smaller check to the government next year.
Cars are no longer the panacea of the tax write off world. Blame the 2017 tax law changes. Actually, you used to get a nice write off for mediocre cars, but not any more. That law ruined a lot for many of us.
It appears he has sold it. Good for him. Dad used to always say a good deal is where both parties are happy.
Dad was a wise man . Hopefully both parties were happy. That price sounds fair. Not a big price for some fun. Great sleeper car for the uninformed. They will say, “damn, what’s in that thing.”
I’m glad to see it is no longer available and hopefully moving onto someone who will give it a second life and appreciate what this car truly is.
Fastest generally refers to top speed, quickest to acceleration. I didn’t make that up. .
You know, I think you’re absolutely right! Dodge itself touted the Spirit R/T as the “fastest sedan”, and some other sources say it was the quickest. Nice catch on that!
Sold them new. My demo had a v6 and power equipment. I’m 6’5 and I fit in it. Plenty of room. Nice car.
A pretty nice one just went off on BaT for $8000 recently. If you can find someone to replace the turbo (good luck there) for I dunno, $2500? and shine it up a bit then you’ve got a decent value play here. I think the ’91 Taurus SHO had 1 more HP but it being a bigger car wasn’t quite as quick off the line. Depends who is doing the 0-60 testing I guess. Did GM have the Lumina LTZ in a stick and 4 doors? Maybe the Grand Am Quad 4? A neat little segment that is basically kaput these days. Basically Civic Sport/Si/R? Unless the Hyundai Elantra N has a stick.
Daniel, I’ve owned both an ’86 GLH-T and a ’91 SHO. Seat of the pants feel = GLH-T was a quicker car and a lot more fun to drive. So would this Spirit.
But once you had that SHO moving, it was a rocket.
To be fair, the GLH-T was a very light hatchback by comparison, I was trying to compare apples to apples with 4 door sedans with a manual. Sounds like they certainly did Go Like Hell!