Shelby Dakota
Encyclopedia
The Shelby
Dakota was a limited-production performance version of the Dodge Dakota
Sport pickup truck
. Offered by Shelby for 1989 only, it was his first rear wheel drive vehicle in many years.
The Shelby Dakota started with a short-wheelbase, short-bed, standard-cab pickup. The 3.9 L V6 was removed in favor of the company's 5.2 L V8 with throttle-body injection. On paper, the swap looked simple since both engines were similar, but the tight space in the Dakota's engine compartment meant removing the engine-driven fan in front and using electric ones instead. Output was just 5 hp up (to 175 hp) but torque was 270 ft.lbf.
Special wheels and trim proclaimed the car's heritage. At the time, it was the highest-performing pickup truck in existence, and would set the stage for later factory efforts like the GMC Syclone
and Ford Lightning. Just 1,500 were built.
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
Dakota was a limited-production performance version of the Dodge Dakota
Dodge Dakota
The Dodge Dakota is a mid-size pickup truck from Chrysler's Ram division. From its introduction through 2009, it was marketed by Dodge. The first Dakota was introduced in 1986 as a 1987 model alongside the redesigned Dodge Ram 50...
Sport pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
. Offered by Shelby for 1989 only, it was his first rear wheel drive vehicle in many years.
The Shelby Dakota started with a short-wheelbase, short-bed, standard-cab pickup. The 3.9 L V6 was removed in favor of the company's 5.2 L V8 with throttle-body injection. On paper, the swap looked simple since both engines were similar, but the tight space in the Dakota's engine compartment meant removing the engine-driven fan in front and using electric ones instead. Output was just 5 hp up (to 175 hp) but torque was 270 ft.lbf.
Special wheels and trim proclaimed the car's heritage. At the time, it was the highest-performing pickup truck in existence, and would set the stage for later factory efforts like the GMC Syclone
GMC Syclone
The GMC Syclone is a high-performance version of the GMC Sonoma pickup truck. Produced in 1991, the Syclone spawned the similarly powered 1992-1993 GMC Typhoon SUV. Another vehicle, the GMC Sonoma GT, offered less performance but was seen as a companion model.At the time it was introduced, the...
and Ford Lightning. Just 1,500 were built.