Owner(s) : Les Chubick
Year : 1983 1/2 Make : Dodge Model : Shelby Charger
Color: Santa Fe Blue with Silver racing stripes
Engine : High compression (10 to 1), 4 cyl, 2.2 American made, Aspirated engine
Modifications other than stock :
At Carroll Shelby’s specification these cars were already extensively modified (engine, struts, springs, steering, brake pedal, tires, wheels, sway bars, interior, etc.) from the standard Dodge Charger for the purpose of amateur racing. However I have fitted the car with the short shifter kit from LRE (Lambrose Race Engineering), to improve rpm maintenance during shifts. I have replaced the original oil filled struts with optional Monroe GP struts all around. These are the same struts the Dodge Shelby teams used when factory racing in the 80s. The car also has a free-flow cat-back exhaust system, K & N air filter, etc.
Unusual options or accessories :
Almost everything was standard. These cars came ready to race on weekends. When these cars were rushed into development in late 1982 the hottest selling pocket rocket, the Volkswagen GTI practically owned SCCA Autocross and road racing in its class. Chrysler Corporation had no sportscars and very little budget for development. Lee Iacocca brought in his old friend Carroll Shelby from Lee’s days at Ford in the 60s. The only options on these cars were silver with stripes, or blue with stripes, stereos, sun roofs, rear defroster, and basic comfort items. The faster steering, lowered chassis, heel & toe brake pedal, sway bars, stiffer struts, 50 series tires, special wheels, and more were a bargain. Chrysler practically gave these away at under $10,000 for the ready-to-race package. At the time these cars were introduced they weighed under 2500 lbs and were faster than the V-8 Mustangs, Turbo Firebirds, Turbo Saabs, etc. Add the fact that they stopped many feet shorter and out cornered anything available at that time and these cars made quite a stir without much factory advertising.
Brief description of how you came to own this car and little history on it :
In the sixties my brother and I raced his 66 Mustang GT with the Mustang club in autocross and drag racing. We did a lot of street racing as well. I was in college and could not afford the Mustang Shelby. When Carroll hooked up with Iacocca in early ’83 I knew I had to make my move. I searched the dealers and no one had them until I came across a couple of them at Raytown Dodge. After some negotiations we traded in my wife’s Pinto and bought the car. I also acquired the large factory promotional poster by refusing to sign until they gave me the poster. I still have both. Both my wife and I beat up on bigger named cars with the Shelby Dodge for a couple of years. Since then I’ve road raced the car a little, autocrossed the car a few times, cruised cross-country many times, driving it aruond the Indy- 500 track well over their 55 mph limit, raced it at Waterford Hills in Michigan, and shown the car hundreds of times. I maintain my cars as I use them. No sissy trailer queen, or garage muffin, the car still wins awards. It’s hauled lumber, my kids, furniture, and a little ass over the years. My “steel mistress” has survived fender-benders, miles of asphalt, good times, bad times, two marriages, and two divorces. Some things come and go in this life. I needed something to last and I’ve kept my car.
If low production, give the number produced :
These were limited production cars. Fewer than 10,000 of these cars were built. The Mustang, by comparison, sold 400,000 cars in its first year. There was no galvanized metal in these until 1985 so we estimate that fewer than 1500 early Shelby dodge cars are still in running/winning condition.