Here’s a car I had nearly forgotten about but I’m certain is destined to be a future classic. This 1991 Dodge Stealth R/T here on craigslist is a desirable twin-turbo model with all-wheel drive and a manual transmission. The seller does disclose it needs some work and it’s likely to be somewhat pricey given how many systems came together to make this car perform the way it did. But with so many examples modified beyond any semblance of a cost-feasible return to stock condition, I’d rather start with a car that just needs some basic R&R but is in original form at is core. With 300 bhp, ABS, four-wheel steering and the ability to hit 150 mph, this Stealth R/T could be a supercar on the cheap!
1985 Dodge Daytona: Turbo’d Z
Aug 4, 2015 4 Comments
The Dodge lineup in the 80s would seem like a tuner’s dream come true: liberal use of turbocharging, Carroll Shelby was a product planner, and the emphasis on air dams and wider wheels made for some sexy shapes. But rumor has it that build quality was nothing short of abhorrent, making even pocket rockets like the Shelby GLH a fairly miserable place to spend time. This 1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z found here on eBay is listed as a survivor-grade car for $4,900 and does look largely original. The 16″ wheels from the later Daytona Shelby edition are a nice OEM+ upgrade for this car, which thankfully is equipped with a manual transmission. The aero kit underneath the front lip and along the side sills looks pretty rough, so I’d probably strip that off and then get to extracting whatever is left of the engine’s 160-lbs. ft. of turbocharged torque!
1990 Dodge Dakota Convertible: Bed with a View
Mar 2, 2015 2 Comments
There are always a handful of vehicles throughout history that make you scratch your head and say, “They actually built that?” Sure, you might look at a shrunken microcar or a raucous V10 brute and consider the unlikelihood that it made it past being a mere design sketch, but when you encounter a pickup truck with a factory soft top, it really makes you shake your head. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll likely shake your head in vigorous approval of this 1990 Dodge Dakota Convertible listed here on Indiana’s craigslist for $4,500 with less than 100,000 miles on the clock. Read more »
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T: Record Holder
Feb 26, 2015 3 Comments
One of my favorite eras in automotive experimentation was the time in the mid 80s when Carroll Shelby started boosting Mopars. It was unlike him, given his history for hugely powerful, raucous vehicles, to take fairly diminutive family and economy cars and inject them with turbochargers and body kits. But enhance them he did, leading to vehicles like the Dodge Spirit R/T. Ordinarily, a Dodge Spirit wouldn’t draw even an accidental side glance from passers-by but in the case of a Shelby-enhanced R/T, you might not even catch a glimpse of it at all as it rocketed past. Check out this 1991 example on St. Louis’ craigslist for $4,000. Read more »