When the Charger returned to Dodge dealers for a fifth generation in 1981, buyers were seeing the most significant changes in the car’s history, including the first front-wheel-drive platform. Based on the Omni 024, which had appeared a couple of years earlier, the Charger was now branded as a sub-compact and for the first time featured front-wheel drive. It was fortunate that Carroll Shelby seized the opportunity to step in and create his own version, with this 1986 Dodge Shelby Charger here on Facebook Marketplace being one of the examples bearing his name. It’s a project located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and comes at an asking price of $1,700. Our thanks go out to reader Lothar… of the Hill People for spotting this one and sending us the tip!
As usual, Carroll Shelby added his custom touches to the outside, which included some extra trim moldings and a stripe on top that ran nearly the entire length of the car. Side stripes were also included, with the ones on the doors ending before proudly displaying his name on the quarter panel, assuring spectators that this was no ordinary Charger they were admiring. One of the lower moldings has become detached here, but it’s included, with the body remaining in decent condition for the most part. One dent is present on the driver’s side near the Shelby decal, but fortunately, the seller mentions that the exterior is nearly rust-free.
A turbocharged 2.2-liter four-banger was the sole engine choice for the Shelby Charger in ’86, which was good for around 146 horsepower. The bay here was emptied some 25 years ago before the seller bought the car, and there’s both good news and bad regarding the mechanical components. Thankfully, the original motor and transmission are still present, and it’s a plus that the latter is of the manual variety and stated as good. Not as enticing is that we don’t get a photo of either, plus the owner mentions that the engine should be considered a core, so it’ll likely need an extensive amount of refurbishing before being ready to go back in.
One very good area is the interior, which seems nicely-preserved overall. The dash is given a no-crack bill of health, and the seats aren’t showing any easy-to-spot tears, with the hatch section also appearing to be in fine condition. A section of rust on the driver’s floorpan will need attention, but otherwise, this one seems pretty solid overall. It would have been helpful if a picture of the engine had been provided, but for $1,700, I’m feeling that this 1986 Shelby Charger might be worth looking into. What do you think?
The 2.5 turbo is more rare, but a better engine. Winds a little slower, but has those Mitsu balance shafts and more low end grunt. Actually, the perfect engine, as per Mr Shelby himself, would be a non turbo 2.5 with a 16 valve head.
Zippo, I’m not sure what you mean by rare, but that engine was not available for this car from the factory. Maybe you mean that it is just rare in general.
Looks like the seller has several project Chargers, maybe giving up and selling them off?
True. But I figured as long as the engine was out, might be fun to try and locate one of those and have something unique. I drove a 2.5 turbo in a Daytona once (if I recall correctly), and it for me, at least, a much better engine then a 2.2 turbo. The 2.2 needed to be wound out more. Some might like that, but not me. I also drove a similar car with a Mitsu V6. Also nice, but a little heavier upfront, plus it was an auto.
good if you need a parts car that’s about it
Yes these came only with the 2.2l motor but in 3 different flavors, normally aspirated, turbo charged or the elusive Rarer GLHS with an intercooler that generated some serious FWD torque steering! I had a pair of the Turbos in the ‘90s and loved them, but both succumbed to the dreaded head warp and headgasket failure common in these hot hatches. Still, the wide eyed look of a small block Chevy guy at the next light after I blew his doors off was always priceless 😁
CHrysler K cars were probably the worse designed cars of the low quality 1980s cars.
I drove one of these and thought the shifter might fall out of the car. Long, sloppy shifts and lack of detect in each gear. Probably a decent car when new but most were thrashed because of the Shelby name.
From my own personal experience I’d have to fully disagree with that statement. I had a new Daytona turbo back in 84′ and it was a great car overall. I also had several others over the years with no serious issues. My dad had a new Omni back in 84′ and it was a great little car while he owned it.
Really? – I knew quite a few people who had Omni K-cars – including the sports version – the Charger, etc, and each and every one of them had nothing but positive opinions about them. The most common were great handling, great power to weight ratio, and very good gas mileage – as well as long term durability. I drove several of them and was equally impressed. – And – IF – you followed the recommended maintenance on them and did as it said at the mileage stated, the engine/transmission lasted as long as any other engine/tranny combo.
Lazy maintenance always leads to vehicle failure and I guess for whatever reason – some people bought and drove the K-cars as disposable cars – and then developed a bad attitude about the cars when it was actually they who caused all the problems. I was very impressed with the K-cars and would have had one if I hadn’t already had a nicely appointed ’79 Dodge Diplomat with the slant six that I really enjoyed driving – and with proper maintenance – it just kept going and going and going – giving me no reason to replace it until the odometer rolled beyond 200K miles and some seals needed replacement, and my next Mopar – a Jeep Cherokee – did equally as well.
For most cars – it’s all in how you take care of them – and I’ve found more often than not when someone doesn’t take proper care of a vehicle or outright abuse them as I’ve often seen – they always blame the vehicle when it fails – instead of themselves.
Technically the Charger was not a K car but an L car. The L being a modified/improved version. I owned a 1985 Shelby Charger for a while, it was a great car, I found it to be very well built. Now the shifter comment is fairly spot on, you had to be careful when wringing through the gears that you didn’t accidentally throw it from 2nd back into 1st on the 2-3 upshift.
I love those! My wife and I bought an Omni 024 right after getting married and that car served us well. It was cool looking, yellow and flat black. My buddy had a Shelby Charger in blue and silver, equally nice looking car. I would love to have one of these, a late 80s Chevy Cavalier and a Chevy Citation X11. I’ve owned all 3 and wish I could have them again. The late 80s produced some cool small front wheel drives.
I was aghast back in the 80’s when they put the Charger nameplate on these, me being a big lover of the 60’s era Chargers, but I’ve mellowed over the years and have come to have a certain fondness for these little cars. It seems to be a pretty solid starting point if you’re the type whose looking for a project car to bring back. The interior looks in really nice shape and if the bodies mostly rust free that’s a big plus. The asking price seems pretty fair. He’d probably take $1500 cash if you offered it to him.
Everyone keeps calling the Omni cars, K Cars. Different platform. I believe these were the L platform, based on a French Simca, if I remember correctly.
Carroll Shelby’s name should never be connected to any FWD malaise era compact car. Fortunate is that what you call it?
I guess Carroll felt differently.