Shelby CSX History
The Shadow
In 1985 Chrysler announced the Dodge Shadow and Plymouth Sundance.
The new cars were to be slightly larger, heavier, and more expensive
than the older Omni and Horizon they were intended to replace. The
popularity of those cars, however, delayed the actual introduction of
the Shadow and Sundance until the 1987 model year.
The Shadow Goes |
When first announced, Chrysler said the new AP-body (commonly
called simply the P-body) cars would have a 1.8L derivative of the
popular 2.2L four-cylinder engine. However, when they finally appeared
in the fall of 1986, Chrysler stuck with the 2.2L and 2.5L engines
already developed. The body styling was very similar to the
LeBaron GTS and Lancer (H-bodies). Although they didn't look it, the
P-bodies were hatchbacks with a large trunk space that was even larger
when the rear seat backs were folded down.
Shadow from
DaimlerChrysler's site
(click to enlarge) |
According to a press release, 1,423,068 P-body cars
were made during an eight-year production run. The last Shadow was
produced on March 11, 1994, at the Sterling Heights, MI plant. DaimlerChrysler
actually has one
picture of a Shadow
on their Web site (as of January 2001).
Shadow review
in
Car Craft |
A review of the new Shadow appeared in the August 1987 issue of Car
Craft. It mentions the CSX, not by name, but as an upcoming Shadow with
"the Shelby treatment." The 1987 Shadow's base price with the standard
2.2L throttle-body injected (TBI) engine was $7,499.
More Shadow and Sundance history can be found at Auto-Enthusiast
and at the
Allpar Web site.
