Vehicle Description
The early '80s could quite possibly be considered the dawn of
compact performance. The good ole days of fire-breathing muscle
cars were long gone, but enthusiasts still thrived. And a new
generation of gearheads latched onto small, easy to own hatchbacks
like this all-original Shelby Charger. The L-Body Charger, American
style with a touch of international power, was a pretty rare car;
and it made no qualms about catering directly to enthusiasts.
Because of that, most of these global featherweights were whipped
to an early grave by three or four different owners. And, as any
'80s car fan will tell you, finding a Shelby Charger that's in good
condition is becoming extremely difficult. Well, until now... This
7,970 actual mile coupe is an exceptional example of just that.
This Dodge is an impressive time capsule that'll transport you
right back to the days when performance was more than just
horsepower!
By 1983, this Belvedere-built coupe had become an established
player in America's re-invigorated compact car market. Eccentric
gearheads knew if you wanted to look cool, you bought an L-Body.
And if you wanted to look cool and go fast, you bought a Shelby
L-Body. Averaging just over 240 miles per year, this pint-size
MoPar appears to have rarely seen anything other than sunshine and
warm summer days. In fact, the first 7,900 miles of its life was
under the meticulous care of its original owner in their first 3
years of ownership. In 1986, the Shelby Charger was stowed away in
a barn for long-term storage. 2005 is when this Mopar would see
sunlight again when the original owner decided to put it up for
sale. The second owner was quick to make a deal after spotting it
online and towed the car home where he got it back to the
mechanical condition it was in 19 years prior. And with the help of
some NOS parts sourcing by the second owner, this spry sports coupe
is still a true head turner everywhere it goes!
BODYWORK/TRIM
With its low window sills, a 2.5-box proportions, and still wrapped
in 100% original paint this Shelby is a model of early '80s cool.
At the front of the car, an aggressive, Shelby-designed air dam
centers a black pentastar and clean "DODGE" script between clear
parking lamps and bright halogen headlights. At the top of that
dam, a sloped hood leads the eye to tinted and "SHELBY" branded
glass that's flanked by small mirrors and aerodynamic C-pillar
trim. At the base of that glass, a planar profile hangs black door
handles and a body-matched fuel filler above straight Shelby
stripes and pentastar-branded rocker extensions. And at the back of
that profile, a dramatic Shelby spoiler frames clean tail lights, a
full array of decklid emblems and an original dealer decal.
ENGINE
In their effort to improve the Charger, Shelby and Chrysler did not
overlook the car's mechanicals. They tweaked the engine, milling
the block 0.030 inches to raise compression to 9.6 to 1. They
changed the camshaft timing by advancing the cam a few degrees.
They also made modifications to the 2.2 liter's electronic controls
to extract optimum performance. Consequently, the Shelby powerplant
develops 13 more horsepower and 10 more lb./ft. of torque than the
standard Omni mill. These enhancements, plus a lower final drive
ratio, make the car a tick quicker than the standard Charger and
its early '80s competition. Specifically, the Shelby has a 0 to 60
time of 10 seconds flat and a 117MPH top speed. The engine
compartment in this L-Body is mostly original and in great
condition. And, decked in black and blue, it's as serious looking
as the rest of the car, with just a hint of color here and there to
add both texture and contrast.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Shelby Chargers came standard with an A525 5-speed that feeds the
front wheels. Holding that tossable drivetrain off the ground is an
original Special Sports Suspension that utilizes shorter springs,
stiffer shocks and correct power front disc and rear drum brakes to
both lower the car and improve already responsive handling. At the
center of that chassis, an original single-pipe exhaust system
snakes spent gases through a factory-correct muffler. At the
corners of that chassis, original 'pizza' wheels spin original
195/50R15 Goodyear Eagle GTs around locking lug nuts. And, still
dressed in most of its blue overspray, this Charger is a clean,
fully sorted survivor that's ready to hit the road as soon as it
rolls out of our showroom!
INTERIOR
This coupe's tri-tone cockpit, which nicely complements its 2-tone
exterior, shows hardly any signs of wear. The reclining seats keep
you as comfortable for quick blasts of speed as they do during long
road trips. In front of the driver, a pliable dash, which shows
zero defects, is packed full of gauges that work exactly as they
should. At the center of that dash, you'll find a correct AM/FM
stereo and to the right of the dash is a 'Carol Shelby' signature
that is complete with a Certificate of Authenticity. Between the
aforementioned seats, crack-free consoles prop a black shifter on
gray carpet that's protected by carpeted and color-keyed floor
mats. At the sides of that carpet, factory door panels, which are
typically faded and ballooned from heat, look good-as-new. And when
you open the car's hatch, you'll find a clean cargo area that's
showroom fresh in virtually every way.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
Original order form
Original invoice
Original window sticker and additional cost sticker
Original warranty booklet and extended warranty document
Original owners manual and related booklets
Original Title
Registrations from 1983-1985
Original VT license plates
Photos of car in the shed where it was stored for 19 years
Certificate of Authenticity for Carroll Shelby's autograph on glove
box
Sales brochures
Two boxes of original tape stripes
Whenever we post unique, low mileage survivors, they sell almost
immediately. A whole generation of buyers grew up with these
endearing coupes. And since they're becoming increasingly scarce,
the good ones get snapped up as quickly as they hit the market. If
you're an enthusiast who likes to put their hardware on the road,
few classics deliver this blend of exclusivity and practicality.
And with only 7,970 original miles, this is one MoPar that'll have
you smiling every time you slide behind its wheel!
SUMMARY
2.2 liter Shelby-tuned 4-cylinder
A525 5-speed manual transaxle
Special Sports Suspension
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Power front disc and rear drum brakes
15-inch 'pizza' wheels
Sante Fe Blue and Radiant Silver paint
AM/FM stereo
7,970-mile survivor
