This 1989 Shelby CSX-VNT is one of just 500 examples made and represents one of Carroll Shelby’s final production models as part of his relationship with Chrysler Corp. The CSX-VNT was a sophisticated factory hot rod, good for a startling top speed of 156 miles per hour. The car that is otherwise known as a Dodge Shadow featured numerous other innovations and upgrades, such as “Fiberride” wheels, a Recaro interior, and special paint and aerodynamic add-ons. The car shown here has an interesting history after being declared abandoned by a storage facility and found in a tow yard. The seller has made some improvements and used it for the summer show season, and it’s now listed here on craigslist for $12,000.

The CSX-VNT was stolen in 1991 in California and branded with a salvage title upon recovery. This same exact scenario is what gave my dearly-departed 1995 BMW M3 a California title with a big red X through it, as the original leather bucket seats were swiped and the car otherwise emerged unscathed. However, the seats taken from my car were easily sourced; you’re going to have a far harder time finding actual Recaros emblazoned with the unique Shelby script to replace the generic bucket seats that are currently installed (but a very decent match for the original backseat). I would find a set of Recaros good for recovering and try to get as close to a factory match as possible; sadly, the original Shelby fabric is very much NLA and likely rare as hen’s teeth to source. The good news is the thieves didn’t apparently take any of the other Shelby-specific bits, like the three-spoke steering wheel and dash plaque.

The VNT cars were the final year the turbocharged Shadow was offered, and it represented a fairly decent leap forward in terms of drivetrain engineering. The VNT, or variable nozzle turbo, featured “variable turbine technology” that allowed for a healthy 205 lb-ft of torque available from an incredibly low 2,100 RPM. The engine made good power all through the rev range and pulled strongly to its impressive top speed. The seller notes his car was running quite poorly when he retrieved it from the tow yard but all he notes for maintenance under his ownership is new spark plugs, an oil change, and a fresh battery. That almost seems too easy, especially given these cars required synthetic oil and premium fuel, which just seems like the sort of thing you’d stop doing if you’re the type of owner to let your rare CSX-VNT get repo’d by the storage lot.

Regardless, the seller apparently found a diamond in the rough as this CSX still presents well despite its years of neglect. There are some dings and scrapes but nothing major; being a California and Colorado car all of its life has helped keep rust to non-existent. The seller notes some panels have evidence of being repainted so it’s a mixture of original paint and resprays. The front bumper has been replaced with a new one from Kaminari, which is a common fix for the damage-prone front bumper and valence. The rear spoiler has also been painted. Overall, despite the title murkiness and the missing seats, this looks like a very decent example of a rare CSX-VNT, and it’s great to see this one escape from the tow yard relatively unscathed.