Yahoo Autos Personal Pentastars: Carroll Shelby’s Own 1980s Dodges Up for Auction
To anyone who lived through the 1980s, the notion that the lowly Dodge Omni or Lancer hatchback might someday become a collectible classic would be like predicting that Fruit Roll-Ups will be a culinary chef d’oeuvre in 2045. But the surprisingly prolific partnership struck in the 1980s between Chrysler Corporation and Carroll Shelby may have given a number of otherwise craptastic Dodges a fighting chance to see their values actually rise.
Regardless of how many intact and well-preserved Dodge Shelby Chargers or Shelby Lancers or Shadow-based Shelby CSX coupes might be out there in heated, moisture-controlled garages waiting for their moment to re-arise, it seems likely that none may ever be worth as much as the ones going to auction-with no reserve-at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance on June 3. Two Chargers, two CSX coupes, and a Lancer are among 23 vehicles being sold directly from Carroll Shelby’s estate. Any car good enough for Ol’ Shel’s personal collection is collectible.
While these are arguably the very best examples of the very best versions of some of the very most marginal cars America has ever made, we kinda think that the Bonhams auction house’s estimates of $5K to $15K seem a little low. A K-car will always be a K-car, but how many have such complete documentation, so few miles, commemorative plaques inside indicating they’re the first of their kind, and Carroll Shelby’s signature? So go dig around between the couch cushions and bring what you find to Connecticut, and take home a very thin slice of automotive history.
1982 Dodge Shelby Charger Prototype (Estimate: $10,000–$15,000)
The first offspring of the Dodge/Shelby partnership was this 1982 Dodge Shelby Charger prototype, modified by Shelby, which was the running prototype for the 1983 production models. Its suspension was lowered nearly an inch and a quicker steering rack was fitted, while its naturally aspirated 2.2-liter four-cylinder was pumped up to 107 horsepower from 94, helping it hit 60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Odometer: 13,500 miles.
1987 Shelby CSX (Estimate: $10,000–$15,000)
Bonhams lists the Shelby CSX as a Dodge, but you won’t find the Dodge name or even a Pentastar logo anywhere on it, as Shelby modified and marketed his Shadow-based CSX (which stood for Carroll Shelby eXperimental) under his own brand. The K-car–based CSX used the outgoing Omni GLH-S’s 175-hp turbocharged 2.2-liter four and five-speed manual transmission and added an upgraded turbo. It rides on a suspension lowered by three-quarters of an inch and has brushed aluminum wheels. All 750 Shelby CSX coupes built for 1987 wore black over gray paint and a blue stripe, with directional wheels. The numbered plaque on this one’s dashboard says CSX 1. Odometer: 15,000 miles.
1987 Dodge Shelby Lancer (Estimate: $5,000–$10,000)
The Shelby Lancer is the luxury car of the group, the only one with more doors than gears. It uses the same 175-hp turbo 2.2-liter four as the Shelby Charger and CSX, paired to a three-speed automatic, as were half of the 800 Shelby Lancers built for 1987. Each wore bright Graphic Red paint, and as Lancer #1, this car came with the optional sport seats and thoroughly modified touring suspension, plus stylish black wheels. Odometer: under 50,000 miles.
1987 Dodge Shelby Charger GLH-S (Estimate: $10,000–$15,000)
Carroll Shelby is said to have loved these mid-’80s Chargers, and the ‘87 GLH-S was its last year in production. Fittingly, each of the 1000 cars built that year wore black and featured the 175-hp turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder from the ‘86 Omni GLH-S that also powered the CSX and Lancer in ‘87, along with a five-speed manual transmission, Koni shocks, vented front brake discs, and stiffer anti-roll bars. They got gray interiors, air conditioning, and a sunroof, too. Odometer: under 25,000 miles.
1989 Shelby Dodge CSX VNT (Estimate: $10,000–$15,000)
The Exotic Red 1989 Shelby CSX VNT not only wore refreshed styling but also featured lightweight Fiberide reinforced-plastic wheels rendered in gold. Subtle. Also new that year was an innovative variable-nozzle turbocharger that helped Shelby eke another 30 lb-ft of torque from the 2.2-liter engine, bringing the total to 205 lb-ft. It rode an inch lower on Monroe coil-overs. Only 500 were built. Odometer: under 7200 miles.
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