Dodge Charger (L-body)
Encyclopedia
The Dodge Charger was built by Dodge
, a division of Chrysler Corporation
. There have been a number of vehicles bearing the Charger nameplate, but the name has generally denoted a performance model in the Dodge
range. The 1983–1987 Chargers were based on the front-wheel drive
Chrysler L platform
.
Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon
called the Dodge Omni 024 and the Plymouth Horizon TC3
. The cars shared a 70 hp 1.7 L Volkswagen
I4 as the only engine under the O24/TC3 name.
In 1981, the Charger nameplate returned as a performance package on the Omni 024. Called the Charger 2.2, it cost $399 extra and came with a hood scoop, quarter-window appliques, special gearing, rear spoiler and "Charger 2.2" tape graphics and the new 84 hp 2.2 L I4 which was designed and built by Chrysler. 7,306 were built.
In 1982, the Dodge Charger returned for a second year as the performance option for the 024. Nothing was changed from 1981 except for a Pentastar emblem on its hood and the addition of a resonator to the exhaust, since the previous model had no muffler, utilizing the catalytic converter as the sole method of engine noise reduction.
In 1983, the Volkswagen engine went out of production, so a joint Chrysler/Peugeot
1.6 L engine was used instead. The Omni 024 was renamed the Charger. But the big news was that Carroll Shelby
would create a sporty version of the car later during the year (see Dodge Shelby Charger below).
The transformation continued in 1984, with quad headlights now differentiating the Charger from its Omni origins. The Plymouth Turismo would share the same front end. In fact, apart from the badging, both cars were exactly the same.
For 1985, the Shelby and Charger names were shuffled to reflect the addition of a turbocharged
engine (see Dodge Shelby Charger below). Two new colors were added for 1985 — Black and Garnet Red with silver stripes. Plymouth also got a version of the old Shelby Charger, reviving the Duster
name as the Plymouth Turismo/Duster. However, Plymouth would never get a turbocharged version of the Shelby Charger. Two turbocharged Turismos, using the Shelby front end, were paraded around Chrysler headquarters and used a famous Plymouth badge of 'Cuda
, but Carroll Shelby put a stop to any serious thought of putting them into production. He felt that having a Plymouth version of his Shelby Charger would take away from the mystique. The previous high-compression 107 hp Shelby Charger engine was now an option on regular Dodge Chargers. For 1986, the mandated center high-mounted stop light was added, and the 96 hp 2.2 L engine made its way down to the base models.
1987 was the last year for the Omni/Horizon-derived Charger and Turismo. 2,011 Chargers with the hotter 174 hp Turbo II engine were now badged the Shelby Charger Turbo (not "Dodge"). For 1987, they were replaced by the Dodge Shadow
/Plymouth Sundance, and the Belvidere plant was retooled to build the Dodge Dynasty
, which succeeded the preceding 600
at the time. These should not be confused with the real 1987 Shelby Charger
, though — Carroll Shelby
bought 1,000 of the last Chargers and packed them with the Omni GLH's
engine and suspension to be sold under this name. The Plymouth Duster name continued on the new Plymouth Sundance
line mid-year in 1992.
modified the Dodge Charger, to be sold at Dodge dealers as the Dodge Shelby Charger. Rather than focusing on speed, Shelby modified the suspension and styling. The engine compression was raised for 107 hp, and the manual transmission
had revised ratios. Shorter springs and special wheels and tires complemented stronger brakes and quicker steering. Outside, a new nose and racing stripes accented the performance image. The body kits, among other parts, were often shipped to dealerships along with the car to be put on after delivery. The reasoning behind this varied, but was said to speed delivery and compensate for ground clearance issues that the cars faced on many car carriers. Production was 8,251 for that first year.
For 1984, the Shelby Charger could be ordered with an optional automatic transmission
. 7,552 total Shelby Chargers were sold in this year. The high-output engine (now up to 110 hp) was also available in baseline Chargers and Turismos, though it was rare. These vehicles came dressed in the "Charger 2.2" and "Turismo 2.2" schemes, which included Shelby Charger side GFX, an additional, skinnier, front ground effect (different than the Shelby Charger's due to the quad-headlight fascia), "2.2" decals, and an optional hood scoop.
The MPFI/Turbocharged Turbo I engine, commonly known as a 'T1' was added for Dodge's 1985 Shelby Charger. This engine produced 146 hp and was much changed from its first appearance in the Daytona Turbo the previous year. A Garrett AiResearch
T3 turbocharger and Chrysler/Bosch multiple-point fuel injection enabled the 2.2 L engine to produce the additional horsepower. 7,709 Shelby Chargers were made that year (1985), and 7,669 were produced in 1986. 1987 was the final year, with just 1,011 produced, plus 1,000 more Shelby Chargers that were sent to Shelby's Whittier Plant in CA, at which time were modified as the 1987 Shelby GLHS
. Dodge Shelby Chargers were available in four different color combinations: Black w/silver skunk stripe (1985–87), Santa Fe Blue w/silver skunk stripe (1983–86), Silver w/Santa Fe Blue skunk stripe (1983–86), and Garnett Red w/silver skunk stripe (1984–87).
. Every single one was built and optioned the same way and all had special badging that marked them as Shelby, not as a Dodge. This was a continuation of the Omni GLHS from the previous year. Shelby used the Turbo I engine updated with the intercooler and plumbing of the Turbo II engine, but without the stronger forged crank, full-floating pin pistons and other durability enhancements of that engine, good for 175 hp and 175 lbft of torque. The suspension was upgraded with Koni adjustable struts/shocks and uprated Z tires. The only color was black and they were all equipped the same. A special sticker on the speedometer upped the readout to 135 mph (217.3 km/h). A special numbered Shelby Automotive badge went in place of the normal Charger badge. The cost of this special Charger was US$
12,995.
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
, a division of Chrysler Corporation
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
. There have been a number of vehicles bearing the Charger nameplate, but the name has generally denoted a performance model in the Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
range. The 1983–1987 Chargers were based on the front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
Chrysler L platform
Chrysler L platform
Chrysler's L platform was used in a family of compact automobiles produced from 1978 to 1990. It was created in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s and was a line of similar Dodge and Plymouth vehicles...
.
History
For 1979, Chrysler brought out sporty versions of the L-bodyChrysler L platform
Chrysler's L platform was used in a family of compact automobiles produced from 1978 to 1990. It was created in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s and was a line of similar Dodge and Plymouth vehicles...
Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon
Dodge Omni
The Dodge Omni and the similar Plymouth Horizon were front wheel drive cars introduced by the Dodge and Plymouth divisions of the Chrysler Corporation in North America in 1978, and were based on a European Simca-based design of the same name...
called the Dodge Omni 024 and the Plymouth Horizon TC3
Dodge Omni 024
The Dodge Omni 024 was a modified version of the popular Dodge Omni made from 1979 to 1982. Analogous to the VW Scirocco, this car was a lower, sportier version of the Chrysler/Simca Horizon, using the 4-door's floor pan and chassis as a basis....
. The cars shared a 70 hp 1.7 L Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
I4 as the only engine under the O24/TC3 name.
In 1981, the Charger nameplate returned as a performance package on the Omni 024. Called the Charger 2.2, it cost $399 extra and came with a hood scoop, quarter-window appliques, special gearing, rear spoiler and "Charger 2.2" tape graphics and the new 84 hp 2.2 L I4 which was designed and built by Chrysler. 7,306 were built.
In 1982, the Dodge Charger returned for a second year as the performance option for the 024. Nothing was changed from 1981 except for a Pentastar emblem on its hood and the addition of a resonator to the exhaust, since the previous model had no muffler, utilizing the catalytic converter as the sole method of engine noise reduction.
In 1983, the Volkswagen engine went out of production, so a joint Chrysler/Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
1.6 L engine was used instead. The Omni 024 was renamed the Charger. But the big news was that Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
would create a sporty version of the car later during the year (see Dodge Shelby Charger below).
The transformation continued in 1984, with quad headlights now differentiating the Charger from its Omni origins. The Plymouth Turismo would share the same front end. In fact, apart from the badging, both cars were exactly the same.
For 1985, the Shelby and Charger names were shuffled to reflect the addition of a turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
engine (see Dodge Shelby Charger below). Two new colors were added for 1985 — Black and Garnet Red with silver stripes. Plymouth also got a version of the old Shelby Charger, reviving the Duster
Plymouth Duster
The first Plymouth Duster was a semi-fastback version of the Plymouth Valiant automobile, produced in the US from 1970 to 1976.The Duster name was later revived for optional trim packages on certain versions of the 1979-1980 Plymouth Volare, 1985-1987 Plymouth Turismo, and 1992-1994 Plymouth...
name as the Plymouth Turismo/Duster. However, Plymouth would never get a turbocharged version of the Shelby Charger. Two turbocharged Turismos, using the Shelby front end, were paraded around Chrysler headquarters and used a famous Plymouth badge of 'Cuda
Plymouth Barracuda
The Plymouth Barracuda is a 2-door car that was manufactured by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1964-1974.The first-generation Barracuda, a fastback A-body coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant, had a distinctive wraparound back glass and was available from 1964-1966.The...
, but Carroll Shelby put a stop to any serious thought of putting them into production. He felt that having a Plymouth version of his Shelby Charger would take away from the mystique. The previous high-compression 107 hp Shelby Charger engine was now an option on regular Dodge Chargers. For 1986, the mandated center high-mounted stop light was added, and the 96 hp 2.2 L engine made its way down to the base models.
1987 was the last year for the Omni/Horizon-derived Charger and Turismo. 2,011 Chargers with the hotter 174 hp Turbo II engine were now badged the Shelby Charger Turbo (not "Dodge"). For 1987, they were replaced by the Dodge Shadow
Dodge Shadow
For 1987, Chrysler Corporation introduced two new compact cars, the Dodge Shadow and the Plymouth Sundance , intended to replace the Dodge Charger - Dodge Omni and Plymouth Turismo - Plymouth Horizon, respectively...
/Plymouth Sundance, and the Belvidere plant was retooled to build the Dodge Dynasty
Dodge Dynasty
The Dodge Dynasty was a front-wheel drive sedan that was introduced in 1987 as a 1988 model to replace the 600 as Dodge's mid-size car. The Dodge Dynasty was related to the Chrysler New Yorker; both car lines were built on the Chrysler C platform in Belvidere, Illinois.The Dynasty is also similar...
, which succeeded the preceding 600
Dodge 600
The 600 was Dodge's version of the Chrysler E-Class luxury car of the 1980s. It was introduced in 1982, as a 1983 model, as a small mid-size car on the Chrysler E platform and was discontinued after the 1988 model year. It was Chrysler's attempt to compete with the GM A-body, whereas the M-body...
at the time. These should not be confused with the real 1987 Shelby Charger
Shelby Charger
The Shelby Charger was a modified 1980s Dodge Charger. Carroll Shelby had tuned the Dodge Omni-based Charger for Dodge from 1983 to 1987, with the resulting car sold as the Dodge Shelby Charger. When the Charger was discontinued, Shelby bought the last 1,000 and replaced the fuel intake and engine...
, though — Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
bought 1,000 of the last Chargers and packed them with the Omni GLH's
Dodge Omni
The Dodge Omni and the similar Plymouth Horizon were front wheel drive cars introduced by the Dodge and Plymouth divisions of the Chrysler Corporation in North America in 1978, and were based on a European Simca-based design of the same name...
engine and suspension to be sold under this name. The Plymouth Duster name continued on the new Plymouth Sundance
Plymouth Sundance
The Plymouth Sundance is a compact car model that was produced for model years 1987 to 1994. It was designed to compete with upmarket compacts such as the Geo Prizm, Ford Escort and the Honda Civic after the production of the Horizon was to be extended...
line mid-year in 1992.
Dodge Shelby Charger
For 1983, Carroll ShelbyCarroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
modified the Dodge Charger, to be sold at Dodge dealers as the Dodge Shelby Charger. Rather than focusing on speed, Shelby modified the suspension and styling. The engine compression was raised for 107 hp, and the manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
had revised ratios. Shorter springs and special wheels and tires complemented stronger brakes and quicker steering. Outside, a new nose and racing stripes accented the performance image. The body kits, among other parts, were often shipped to dealerships along with the car to be put on after delivery. The reasoning behind this varied, but was said to speed delivery and compensate for ground clearance issues that the cars faced on many car carriers. Production was 8,251 for that first year.
For 1984, the Shelby Charger could be ordered with an optional automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. 7,552 total Shelby Chargers were sold in this year. The high-output engine (now up to 110 hp) was also available in baseline Chargers and Turismos, though it was rare. These vehicles came dressed in the "Charger 2.2" and "Turismo 2.2" schemes, which included Shelby Charger side GFX, an additional, skinnier, front ground effect (different than the Shelby Charger's due to the quad-headlight fascia), "2.2" decals, and an optional hood scoop.
The MPFI/Turbocharged Turbo I engine, commonly known as a 'T1' was added for Dodge's 1985 Shelby Charger. This engine produced 146 hp and was much changed from its first appearance in the Daytona Turbo the previous year. A Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Company, or simply AiResearch...
T3 turbocharger and Chrysler/Bosch multiple-point fuel injection enabled the 2.2 L engine to produce the additional horsepower. 7,709 Shelby Chargers were made that year (1985), and 7,669 were produced in 1986. 1987 was the final year, with just 1,011 produced, plus 1,000 more Shelby Chargers that were sent to Shelby's Whittier Plant in CA, at which time were modified as the 1987 Shelby GLHS
Shelby GLHS
The Shelby GLHS was a limited production sport compact automobile from the mid 1980s. The main differentiator of these cars from their regular Dodge versions was their use of what would become the intercooled Turbo II engine as well as Shelby Centurian wheels and Koni Adjustable shocks/struts, and...
. Dodge Shelby Chargers were available in four different color combinations: Black w/silver skunk stripe (1985–87), Santa Fe Blue w/silver skunk stripe (1983–86), Silver w/Santa Fe Blue skunk stripe (1983–86), and Garnett Red w/silver skunk stripe (1984–87).
Charger GLHS
Carroll Shelby purchased 1,000 of the last Dodge Shelby Chargers and converted them into GLHSs in his facility at Whittier, CaliforniaWhittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
. Every single one was built and optioned the same way and all had special badging that marked them as Shelby, not as a Dodge. This was a continuation of the Omni GLHS from the previous year. Shelby used the Turbo I engine updated with the intercooler and plumbing of the Turbo II engine, but without the stronger forged crank, full-floating pin pistons and other durability enhancements of that engine, good for 175 hp and 175 lbft of torque. The suspension was upgraded with Koni adjustable struts/shocks and uprated Z tires. The only color was black and they were all equipped the same. A special sticker on the speedometer upped the readout to 135 mph (217.3 km/h). A special numbered Shelby Automotive badge went in place of the normal Charger badge. The cost of this special Charger was US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
12,995.