While former Ford Vice President Lee Iacocca could have enjoyed early retirement, his early-1980s turnaround of Chrysler Corporation remains one of the finest achievements in business history. Once Chrysler’s future was secured, Iacocca called on old friend Carroll Shelby to inject a dose of high performance and race-winning image into the company’s front-drive, 4-cylinder Omni/Horizon lines to compete head-on with the phenomenally successful VW Rabbit GTI. Starting with the comprehensively tweaked Dodge Shelby Charger in 1983, followed by the 1984-86 Dodge Omni GLH—short for “Goes Like Hell”—these potent pocket-rockets were enough of a sales success to encourage Shelby’s return to manufacturing and selling exciting new cars, the first “true” Shelbys of the 1980s.

The first was a limited 500-car run based on the Dodge Omni, dubbed “GLHS,” short for “Goes Like Hell S’More.” A fully integrated high-performance car capable of humbling many far more expensive competitors, the GLHS was available in any color you wanted as long as it was black with a gray interior and Shelby Centurion wheels mounting Goodyear Gatorback VR-rated tires. Chrysler’s trusty 2.2L SOHC inline-4 engine was upgraded to 175 HP with a bigger Garrett turbocharger, intercooler, tuned intake manifold and bigger Bosch injectors, with supporting modifications including a larger radiator and revised engine control module allowing 12psi turbo boost and shocking 6.5-second 0-60 MPH acceleration in concert with a 5-speed manual transmission. The 85-MPH speedometer was also updated, with the peg removed and stickers affixed indicating the car’s true 130-plus MPH potential, and interiors were enhanced with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and serialized Shelby dash plaque.

Already special as Car No. 86 of 500 cars built, this GLHS was personally owned by Carroll Shelby for many years. As offered, it is titled in the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust name and retains the original paint, logo stickers and interior with just 8,176 miles of use. This GLHS was a featured subject for Dennis Gage’s popular “My Classic Car” TV program in 2017 (Season 21, Episode 18), and it received the Award of Merit at the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance. Featured in the Shelby Dodge Club calendar, it rides on a set of new tires and comes with an extensive GLHS reference file. All in all, this 1986 Dodge Shelby Omni GLHS helped mark the start of the next chapter in Carroll Shelby’s amazing career as a manufacturer, and it stands today as an important part of his rich legacy.

ESTIMATE

$50,000 – $75,000

To purchase contact: info@mecum.com