While many of you have seen me go on and on about the significance of European-market vehicles – that is, those cars that are still outfitted with the trim and features our overseas siblings enjoy – it’s not often I use those words in praise of an American car. This 1991 Dodge Daytona Shelby, however, is such a vehicle, sold new in Switzerland and now residing in the U.S. after her enthusiast owner brought the Shelby back to its home country. Find it here on craigslist for $10,000.
The seller has owned a total of four Euro-spec Daytona Shelbys while he was stationed in Germany, which just sort of blows my mind. I mean, I get owning one, because you’re a fan of the car or owned one back home, but four? Especially in a land full of desirable performance cars? Consider me surprised. That being said, the seller does list all the ways the Euro Shelby is better.
This includes several performance upgrades that make the U.S. cars seem neutered by comparison: oil coolers, high capacity radiator, hi-performance alternator, hotter cam, more compression, and Euro-spec gear ratios, to name a few. The seller seems quite well-versed in the gray-market Daytona, and mentions that this particular car pulled 151 m.p.h. on the Autobahn.
The seller is only selling the red Daytona at the moment, and I’m not sure how to judge the price. Yes, it’s exclusive. Yes, it offers more than respectable performance. And yes, you’ll be the only one at the Mopar meet with a genuine European-market Daytona. For $10,000, however, I sure hope you like these rare Shelbys as much as the seller does. Find another one!
We bought a new ’86 black full up, 5 speed Shelby for wife’s “grocery cart”. Leather interior, computer, T-tops, all the engine goodies. It did have the Shelby specific gold wheels vs. the ones on these cars. Got to mid 130s a couple times on a trip we took. Turbo lag was minimal and it was fun to drive. Wife loved the big hatch.
Interesting car, I have always thought these were underappreciated for the era and were neat to drive. I do not understand why the Seller has not provided more relevant photos especially given the high price and different history. No interior shots, no engine shot, no undercarriage. Bizarre. Good luck with the sale, post some pictures and maybe you will sell this cool Dodge.
I have heard many a time from people that owned American cars like this overseas. They are hard to convert to American standards. If motor vehicles find out what the car is. You will be made to convert. For one overseas glass standards aren’t as stringing as ours. Then there is the performance issues. I’ll pass.
If it’s over 25 years old, it is exempt from federal safety and emissions standards.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/278/~/importing-classic-or-antique-vehicles-%2F-cars-for-personal-use
I owned one of the US ones. Found it behind a barn with front end damage and 31,000 miles. I found out that it had been equipped with the “Super 60 “ upgrades. It was way more impressive than the 89 version I had owned before. Thing would fly. Ashamed to say that I only gave $300.00 for it and sold it for 4K with a primered front clip on it. Lol