Believe it or not, this is the first 1991 Dodge Shadow shown on Barn Finds. Maybe that’s because it’s newer than what we normally show here, although, it’s 33 years old now. Or, maybe it’s because it’s a 1991 Dodge Shadow, not exactly a collector car. This example is a rare convertible, so there’s that. It’s listed here on eBay in Andover, Minnesota and there’s a single bid of $500, but the reserve isn’t met.
The seller refers to this example as a Highline model, which was the mid-trim model made in 1991 and 1992. The Shadow was based on Chrysler’s P-Body (not as in Peabody from Bullwinkle), or P-platform and there was a similar Plymouth Duster and Sundance, and a hot Shelby CSX, which is the one you want. I mean, not that this convertible wouldn’t be fun for weekend drives and car shows. I’d prefer the original wheels, but that’s just me.
The Shadow was made for the 1987 through 1994 model years in a four-door, two-door, and two-door convertible such as shown here. My best friend at the time had a 1991 Shadow in the early 1990s and it was a great car, he put a couple of hundred thousand miles on it at least before it rusted to death. Speaking of that, the seller has taken dozens of great photos of everything, including some beginning stages of rust on the bottoms of the doors, so kudos to them for not hiding anything. Also, there are many underside photos. This, my friends, is how online photos should be done.
Yes, this one has an automatic rather than a manual transmission, that’s a bit of a bummer, fun-driving-wise, but a Dodge Shadow convertible could probably be considered more of a Sunday cruiser than a sporty driving car. The cloth seats look perfect both front and rear as does everything else inside that I can see. The trunk isn’t huge but it’s probably big enough for a couple of people to stash their luggage for a long weekend road trip.
In my experience, Dodge’s 2.5-liter SOHC inline-four was one of the most reliable engines I’ve ever had. I put over 300,000 miles on a 1991 Dodge Spirit with a similar engine with hardly a blip. This one should have 100 horsepower and 135 lb-ft of torque spinning through a three-speed TorqueFlite to the front wheels, and even with a 0-60 time twice as long as almost any modern vehicle, this one is said to be fun to drive with the top down. I don’t doubt that one bit. Have any of you owned a 1991 Dodge Shadow? Bonus for it being a ragtop.
Interesting, but not particularly exciting. It’s the ’90s equivalent to the Falcon convertible, Valiant convertible, and Rambler American convertible. It’s remarkable to see one in decent shape. Most of these seemed to be clapped out hoopties within a few years.
Take this to a car show and it will draw more people that the….yawn….GTOs and Mustangs.
Maybe the first time, out of curiosity, but not due to respect.
Steve R
Really? Just how many Mustangs can one oerson look at? Car shows that have a variety of cars are ALWAYS more interesting than another line of .ustangs GTOs, Camaros, and Vettes. That is pure boredom and those that find then to be the only cars of value are pure boredom, too
You’re correct. Probably wouldn’t get much respect from those who seem to enjoy disparaging most any vehicle that isn’t of the conventional muscle car variety.
Tim S, when did ignoring a car become equivalent to disparaging it? I haven’t been to a car show in years, they aren’t for me. I won’t look at any car I don’t like regardless of make, model or year unless there is something specific about it that catches my eye.
For some reason the two of you seem to think everyone has an obligation to look at any obscure car that shows up. You may want to, but don’t take some cheap shot if some one doesn’t feel the same way and is willing to say so.
Steve R
Face it, most of us had average cars. Those are where are memories are from. Plenty of people had these. Some of my fondest automotive memories are from the most modest of cars. Few people can relate to some muscle car, because usually only a select class of people had those. (rich ones when they were new, and later when they became more affordable, young people who had parents willing to lie and say they owned it so the insurance wasn’t so bad. By the time we got old enough to actually afford the insurance, we were full blooded adults with kids, mortgages, and other responsibilities. Muscle cars were not a reasonable consideration.) I will look at 100K restored muscle cars, but I really can’t relate. But, I will spend a long time with someone who brought an Omni and we can laugh about how often the flimsy door handles broke off in the cold. Shared experiences are a treasure. Only the country club set can actually converse about some show cars.
FYI, this is the 4th time the seller has run it through an eBay auction. The first time the high bid was $1,525, the second time it was bid to $2,025, the third time $710, none of which met the sellers reserve. Those results highlight a distinct lack of interest in this car.
Steve R
Did I mention you in particular? No I did not. As a matter of fact I agreed with you.
Steve R you have no “obligation” to do anything. But your stance on cars is no different from the person who refuses to ever listen to other music or try new foods…. tremendously shallow
ALL cars are a part of automotive history. If youre not interested in cars, just say so.
JDC, and your stance that every car should be left as it was when it left the factory, without exception, is open minded. That the pot calling the kettle black.
Steve R
Sounds like the “J” in JDC stands for judgmental.
Right again !
I prefer to see regular cars at a show, something us regular guys can relate to.
Affordable sight-seeing convertibles 😎
The Big 3 all offered a variant. ⛱️
Too bad no pictures of the trunk area. Chrysler in the 80’s-90’s was notorius for having very small trunk space, even when the convertible top is UP!
i worked for Mopar Parts Division as An Account Executive in 1986. I ordered a new Doge Shadow Es white with a blue interior. I was headed out of townfor a Supplier trip west to Illinois .Iowa, and Indiana. I was travelling on M 60 west into Spring Arbor, Mi. As I approached the east city loimot I had to slow down to 35 MPH.. Al of a sudden I see coming from my left side a big Buck deer. I hit him but he just kept running across the road. I did not stop because it was dark. I watched my heat gauge on the dashboard but it did not go up. I still had a headlight on the passenger side so I kept going. i stopped driving when I got to the Michigan/Indiana state line. I inspected the car in the morning and the deer messed up the hood,fender, grille and front fascia but the car was till running as if nothing happened. No damage to the radiator. I continued mybtrip and on Friday on my return I stopped at Spring Arbor to file a Police Report about the accident. I asked if they had a report about a hit deer, but there was no such report. I was lucky that there was not more damage, and the deer was lucky as well! As far as a 2.5-litre engine, the owner had to replace the head gasket at about 60,000-mile intervals. That has been my experience.
This was a factory offering?
I have never seen or heard of a drop top Shadow.
They must have not sold well. Too bad, it is great to know that this segment had several convertibles to choose from.
Another car that brings back memories of a past girlfriend. Rented a Shadow for a fun day date. Then some “Paradise by the dashboard lights” evening time. Not too much room for amorous activities inside. But trusty transportation and frugal with gas as well.
Another great write up from Scotty! I always hope for one of his patented artist’s renditions of the vehicle w a different layout / stretched / extra doors / 4WD drivetrain / etc. Maybe next time, Scotty. :)
I owned a somewhat beat-down 1991 Shadow Convertible. I replaced little stuff like a blower motor myself, I replaced a head gasket w/ lot of help from a friend w/ all the tools (RIP Bryan!) and unfortunately, I had the transmission rebuilt by the pros. The tranny was an iffy investment in a car w/ limited value but I think after all was said and done, I didn’t lose much overall, once I sold it and I got some miles out of it.
When it was working well, it was a lot of fun to drive. In the car’s defense, it had a lot of miles and I drove that one kind of hard at times. Zoom!
Had an 89 coupe with the 2.5 turbo and was a great car. Had a few miles on it so I thought I’d upgrade to a new 91 turbo convertible. Worst car I ever owned. Learned after I bought it that they were all made as couple’s and sent out and roof’s cut off and made into convertibles. Quality issues were very bad. Top either leaked or had so much wind noise you couldn’t hear the person next to you talking. After 28 times in for warranty work in 8 months I traded it in on a twin turbo 300zx
A great car for its time. Family had a ’93 drop top in green with the gold trim (the go to trim of the time) with the 3.0 V-6. Was a fun car in high school with just enough power to think you had something but not enough to get you into real trouble.
We had a 91 Dodge Shadow ES convertible. It had the 3.0 v6. Yes, the one with the soft valve seals, so it had to have the top end rebuilt. It also had the 4 speed overdrive auto, so yes, it had to be rebuilt. BUT, it was a blast!!! to drive. My sons ended up with it and for some reason… I couldn’t figure out why the front tires were bald after only 10,000 miles. ;-)