The Shelby Dakota is 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, and his first production pickup truck.
| Shelby Dakota | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Shelby American |
| Also called | Dodge Shelby Dakota Dodge Dakota Shelby |
| Production | 1989 (1,500 built) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size pickup truck |
| Body style | 2-door truck |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | N-body |
| Related | Dodge Dakota (first generation) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.2 L (318 ci) LA V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed A500 automatic |
The Shelby Dakota started with a short-wheelbase, short-bed, standard-cab, Sport package pickup. The 3.9 L V6 producing 125 hp (93 kW) was replaced by a 5.2 L V8 with throttle-body injection. The tight space in the Dakota's engine compartment necessitated removing the engine-driven fan in front and using electric ones instead. Removing the belt-driven fan increased the stock 5.2 L V8's output by 5 hp (3.7 kW). In total, the Shelby Dakota produced 175 hp (130 kW) at 4000 rpm and 270 ft⋅lbf (370 N⋅m) of torque at 2000 rpm, with a redline at 4,750 rpm.[1] The only transmission option was a 4-speed automatic, and the truck featured a 3.90:1 limited slip differential.[2] When tested by Motor Trend, the Shelby Dakota clocked a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 8.5 seconds and a quarter mile time of 15.6 seconds.[3]
The Shelby Dakotas featured special graphics, wheels, blacked out trim, wheelarch extensions, a sports bar behind the cab and a front air dam with integrated fog lamps.[4] On the interior, they also featured a Shelby steering wheel, seat inserts, and floormats and individually numbered dash plaques.
The total units were 1,500. 505 in white and 995 in red. One was even made in two-tone with red below the stripe and white above the stripe. List price was $15,813 plus freight.
A spiritual successor to the Shelby was introduced for the second-generation Dakota in 1998 with the Dakota R/T. Though lacking the Shelby name, it similarly featured many high performance upgrades over the standard Dakota Sport, including special wheels and tires, better suspension components and a larger more powerful V8 engine.
References edit
- ^ "Dakota Dispatch: Comin' Round the Mountain in a V-8-Powered '89 Shelby Dakota". Motor Trend. 2023-12-01.
- ^ "1989 Shelby Dakota: "rodded" pickup trucks". Allpar Forums. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ www.hemmings.com https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/carrolls-shop-truck-1989-dodge-shelby-dakota. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Miller, Robert S. (2022-04-07). "This 16k-Mile 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota Pickup Could Easily Be Restored!". MoparInsiders. Retrieved 2024-05-23.