Shelby Lancer

The Shelby Lancer is a limited-production hatchback sports sedan based on the Dodge Lancer. Modified by Shelby Automobiles in Whittier, California for 1987 and offered in Graphic Red only, the Shelby Lancer was intended to be an American counterpart to European sedans such as the BMW 3 Series and Peugeot 405. It featured many amenities not offered on the normal Lancer, including a special 10-speaker Pioneer CD audio system, one of the first Compact Disc systems offered in an American car. A total of 800 units were produced; 400 came with a 3-speed automatic transmission (A413) and leather interior, and 400 with a 5-speed manual transmission (A520) and cloth interior. Other Shelby-branded items included a numbered plaque attached to the dashboard along with Shelby 15 inch wheels, a Shelby steering wheel, and a Shelby valve cover. The various VIN plates and build labels on the car all indicated "Shelby Automobiles" instead of the typical Chrysler or Dodge labels found on normal production vehicles.

Power came from a Chrysler supplied, Shelby tuned Turbo II 2.2 Liter Intercooled SOHC I4, with 175 hp and 175 lbft of torque. Weight was just over 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) with the average driver, so performance was not as good as the lighter and lesser-equipped Shelby GLHS. Period 0-60 mph (97 km/h) tests achieved times between 7.2 and 8.0 seconds, and quarter mile times were in the mid to high 15-second range with factory boost levels peaking at about 12 PSI. Road handling was quite good for a sedan at the time, pulling an advertised 0.85 g on the skidpad. Ride comfort was stiff but not unbearable, providing a good balance between a sport suspension coupe and a touring sedan. Goodyear Gatorback tires, Monroe Formula GP struts and larger sway bars were used to provide a firmer suspension with better grip. Shelby also used an experimental (at the time) 4-wheel disc brake system to improve braking.

Dodge carried on the car for the 1988 and 1989 model years as the Dodge Lancer Shelby, which was assembled at the same Sterling Heights plant as regular Lancers. The Dodge version is actually rarer despite being factory produced, but wasn't numbered and lacked some of the Shelby-specific parts such as the shocks, wheels, and rear disk brakes. 279 Lancer Shelbys were produced in 1988 and 208 in 1989 for a total of 487 units. Additionally, a version of the Dodge Lancer Shelby was offered in Europe as the Chrysler GTS Shelby.