The amount of Shelby-modified Dodge products from the 1980s that continue to pop up for sale reminds me how popular these turbocharged econoboxes once were. When you think about how few Dodge Neon ACRs or SRTs ever come up for grabs, the original Mopar hot hatches seemed to survive at a much higher rate. The seller of these two cars listed here on craigslist is offering a 1986 Dodge Shelby Charger and a 1987 Shelby CSX for the combo price of $8,500 or best offer, and both cars come with a significant assortment of spare parts and upgrades.
The Charger is equipped with a desirable Turbo II engine conversion, along with that appears to be a very clean interior. The interior condition is believable when you note that it has under 70,000 original miles, but it still has plenty of cosmetic needs. The Turbo II upgrade came when Dodge unveiled the GLH-S version of the Charger (may the Mopar gods strike me down if I have that wrong) and upped the ante to 175 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The seller notes this car will also come with a brand new gas tank, which suggests there’s plenty of additional work to do to get it running again.
As someone who never quite warmed up to the looks of the Charger, the CSX is much more my speed. The CSX came in two varieties, not unlike the Charger and Omni, but the CSX was labeled the VNT with its unique “Variable Nozzle Turbo” set up. The seller’s car is the standard issue CSX, and it has certainly been in project-car status for some time. The original wheels are missing and the rear bumper has been removed and carefully stored to prevent damage. The seller doesn’t tell us much about the mechanical health of this car, but does note it comes with “..$3,000 in specialized, rare vintage engine and trim parts meticulously saved for these specific cars.”
As you can see, the engine has been mothballed for some time. What’s curious about both of these cars is that a prior owner was clearly planning for big things when it came to putting them back on the road. The assortment of spare parts and the tracking down of components for restoration like the spare gas tank are the trappings of someone who wanted to put these Shelby-built hot rods back on the road. Sadly, they either lost interest or never got the chance, but it looks like a great opportunity for someone with the time to get them running again. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.
Leave A Comment