1988-1989 Dodge Lancer Shelby

As Shelby Dodge enthusiasts know, in 1987 Carroll offered the Shelby Lancer - his own version of Dodge's popular four door. The Shelby was aimed at Europe's best touring sedans, intending to offer their level of performance at a much-lower price. Like all Shelbys, production was limited to a one-year run. Dodge wanted to offer more; they liked the image of competing with European sedans and felt that the Shelby was closer to this goal than their own Lancer ES. So it is no surprise that the factory decided to offer their own version of the Shelby Lancer. Theirs was given the name Dodge Lancer Shelby, and that subtle difference implies many changes. In other words, do not mistakenly assume that a Shelby Lancer and a Dodge Lancer Shelby are the same vehicle - far from it. How exactly did the two cars differ?

Inside, all Lancer Shelbys featured gray leather on the seats and the steering wheel. Other standard equipment included a 6-way power adjustable driver's seat, air conditioning, full instrumentation, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, rear defrost, split folding rear seat, cruise control, and tilt steering. The trick Pioneer CD system used in the Shelby Lancer was not used; Chrysler's top-of-the-line Infinity II system was substituted instead. Naturally, there was no numbered dash plaque in the Dodge; Carroll's name did not appear anywhere in the car.

Underneath, the Lancer Shelby was an in-between blend of the Shelby Lancer and the Lancer ES. Some Shelby suspension goodies that were used included the solid sway bars (1 1/16" front, 1 1/8" rear), the shorter high-rate springs (which reduced ride height by 1.5" compared to an ES), fast ratio (14.0:1) power steering with 2.2 turns lock-to-lock, and 205/60-15 Goodyear tires (which were scheduled to be Eagle GTs rather than Gatorbacks but it seems that Gatorbacks may have been used after all). The Shelby's Monroe Formula GP struts and shocks got the axe and were replaced by Chrysler units from the ES; Shelby's rear disk brakes were also dropped and replaced by the ES's standard drums. The tires were not mounted on Shelby wheels; Chrysler substituted their own. Eggshell wheels were used in 1988 and snowflakes were featured in 1989; both of these wheels were 6.0" wide rather than 6.5" as Shelby's wheels had been. The wheels were painted body color on white cars; otherwise they were polished aluminum.

The engine was one area that was better than the Shelby, assuming you had the (standard) five speed transmission. The reason is because Dodge used a true TurboII (rather than a converted TurboI) when intercooling was called for. While the true TurboII didn't offer any more power, its beefier bottom end was certainly more durable than the converted engine. Carrying a familiar 175 horsepower rating, the 5-speed Dodge would equal the 5-speed Shelby's acceleration.

Things changed when an automatic was ordered. Dodge refused to offer an automatic equipped TurboII engine in any car, any year--the TurboII made more torque than the tranny could handle. So when you wanted a slushbox, the engine was dropped to the 146 horsepower TurboI instead. Performance suffered, of course, but I don't have published dragstrip numbers; for the curious, I'd estimate a quarter mile time of 17.0 seconds.

The Dodge differed from the Shelby externally as well. Dodge offered three colors - red, black, and white. An 'intercooled turbo' graphic appeared on the side skirt but nothing was placed on the front doors; no windshield decal was applied. On the hatch, a 'Dodge' decal appeared on the left and 'Lancer Shelby' was on the right; the Shelby medallion in the center was replaced with a black pentastar. Like the Shelby, all trim was blacked out including the grill and headlight surrounds; driving lights were used also. One new exterior piece was featured, though: a second rear spoiler was attached at the top of the hatch glass. The small lip spoiler from the Shelby was used in addition to this new one; both were painted body color.

Like all Dodge offerings, production of the Lancer Shelby was not numbered or limited like the Shelbys were. For 1988, base price was $16,530. Only two options were available - the automatic transmission and a sunroof. Only 279 were produced for 1988 and but 208 were made in 1989.

Modified on 2/1/99.