Vehicle Description
The early 1980s 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 exclusive Shelby GLHS. Number 477 of only 500 Omnis
upfitted to "Goes Like Hell S'more" form by Shelby American, this
impressive classic was a rare car even when new, and it certainly
makes no qualms about catering directly to enthusiasts. Because of
that, most of these featherweights were whipped to an early grave
by three or four different owners. And, as any '80s car fan will
tell you, finding a GLHS that's in good condition has become beyond
difficult. Well, until now... This fully documented, 3-owner
survivor is an exceptional example of just that!
FULL OWNERSHIP HISTORY
By 1986, Dodge's honest Omni had become an established player in
America's re-invigorated compact car market. Eccentric gearheads
knew if you wanted to look cool, you bought a GLH. If you wanted to
look cool and go fast, you bought a GLHT. And if you wanted to look
cool, go fast and slay some serious sports car titans, you bought a
GLHS. Averaging just over 419 miles per year, this pint-size MoPar
appears to have rarely seen anything other than sunshine and warm
summer days. In fact, the first 18 miles of its life was under the
meticulous care of its original owner who, after purchasing this
Shelby from Canoga Park, California's Dependable Dodge, would keep
it for roughly eight years. The second owner was quick to make a
deal after spotting the car in Autotrader, and promptly relocated
it to a garage in Moorpark, California. Fast forward thirteen years
and this Dodge's third owners found their new muse on Autotrader
online, sporting roughly 8,800 miles. And in mid-2019, this highly
original head turner found its way here to RK Motors Charlotte
wearing a still paltry 13,839 miles.
With low window sills, 2.5-box proportions and 100% original paint,
this Shelby is a model of '80s cool. At the front of the car, an
aggressive air dam frames bright Bosch Pilot fog lamps beneath a
monochromatic bumper and a body-matched, Pentastar-branded grille.
At the top of that grille, a vented hood reflects "DODGE" and
"GLHS" decals opposite Shelby-branded glass that's framed in Satin
Black trim. At the base of that glass, a planar, GLHS-branded
profile hangs black door handles and matte trim spears between
stylish mirrors and aggressive, Shelby-branded rockers. And at the
back of that profile, a second monochromatic bumper frames clean
taillights, a full array of hatch decals and a small Center High
Mount Stop Lamp.
TURBO II BEFORE TURBO II WAS COOL
Naturally, in their seemingly never ending effort to improve the
Omni, Shelby did not overlook the car's mechanicals. Using many of
the components that would eventually form the basis of Chrysler's
forthcoming Turbo II powerplant, the firm created what would
predictably be known as the Turbo I. Massaging Chrysler's stalwart
2.2 liter began with quite a bit of top-end work. A Turbo II air
box was bolted in front of a larger, Turbo II throttle body and a
modified intake that was designed to complement the car's larger
turbocharger. A spliced and reconfigured wiring harness linked a
GLHS-spec sloped boost curve logic module with Turbo II fuel rails
and Turbo II fuel injectors. And tuned exhaust manifolds joined a
better radiator, a better intercooler and better fan assemblies to
manage power-robbing heat. Consequently, the Shelby powerplant
created 175 horsepower and 175 lb./ft. of torque on its way to a
6.5 second 0-60 time and a top speed of 135 MPH. Put into
perspective, that meant the GLHS was a very formidable car. Prized
for both its ability to dominate track competition and outrun many
of the day's best performance icons, this Dodge bested cars like
the Camaro, the Trans Am, Ford's Mustang and even many
Corvettes.
NOT JUST LOOKS
The GLHS came standard with an A525 5-speed that feeds the front
wheels. Holding that tossable drivetrain off the ground is a
Shelby-massaged suspension that makes excellent use of adjustable
Koni shocks. Those shocks are led by lucid power steering. Stops
come courtesy of power front disc and rear drum brakes. At the
center of that chassis, an original single-pipe exhaust system
snakes spent gases through a Chrysler-branded muffler. At the
corners of that chassis, machined wheels spin 205/50ZR15 Michelin
Pilot Exaltos. And, fully sorted and factory-spec, this hatch is a
clean, first class survivor that's ready to hit the road as soon as
it rolls out of our showroom!
1980S COZY
Between the doors, a sedate tri-tone cockpit shows hardly any signs
of wear. Cloth-lined seats keep passengers as comfortable for quick
blasts of speed as they do during long road trips. Front and
center, a pliable dash founds factory air conditioning beneath
factory telemetry that's complete with a correct 135 MPH
speedometer overlay. At the base of the dash, a boxy console frames
a short shifter that's finished with a leather-wrapped Momo knob. A
modern Kenwood head unit bumps crisp Polk Audio speakers. The
driver twists a leather-wrapped Izumi steering wheel. And
naturally, there's a prominent Shelby plaque that lists this GLHS's
sequential production number.
Whenever we post unique, low-mileage survivors, they sell almost
immediately. A whole generation of buyers grew up with these
endearing hatchbacks. 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 13,839 original miles, this is one
MoPar that'll have you smiling every time you slide behind its
wheel!
HIGHLIGHTS
Fully documented, 3-owner Dodge Shelby GLHS survivor that's
traveled only 13,839 miles
Number 477 of only 500 produced
2.2 liter Turbo I 4-cylinder
A525 5-speed manual transaxle
Factory air conditioning
Power steering
Power front disc and rear drum brakes
Shelby-tuned suspension
Modern audio system
Original Window Sticker
Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement from original
owner
Autotrader ads from 1994 and 2007 (when the car transitioned to
owners two and three)
Service records
All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point
inspection
We can arrange shipment of your purchase anywhere in the world
