Believe it or not, I do have a limit when it comes to automotive weirdness. There is only so far I can go before even I stop in my tracks and utter an expletive or two under my breath as I absorb what my eyes are seeing. Such is the case here. At first glance, it’s a 1986 Plymouth Turismo…an L-body, Omni-based two-door that kind-of looks like a Shelby Charger but didn’t pack the punch, the car that was teased one year prior as a possible body that the famed Barracuda nameplate could’ve been attached to but wasn’t (save for two prototypes that are believed to still exist in a garage somewhere). In short, another 1980s stripe package two-door, another sporty-ish front-driver Chrysler product that was just a half-tick above “throwaway”. Big whoop. I don’t mind them cleaned up and looking presentable, but this poor thing is nowhere close. But stick with me for a moment…
I wouldn’t mutter, “WTF?” to myself just because I found a Turismo that hasn’t been smashed flat. No, it’s because I found one that was built to swallow up a big-block Chrysler mill, one that powers the rear wheels. In a car that weighs in at just over 2,300 stock before modifications needed to drop in an engine like the 383 that this car got near the turn of the millenium, it should go without saying what driving this little pocket rocket must’ve been like. Make no mistake, you are looking at a project. That 383 looks sketchy at best and the rest of the car could use a once-over as well, but the heavy lifting is done…there is a RWD L-body Mopar that is ready for a fresh big-block engine, fitted with an A-body 8.75″ rear axle, and everything you need to make this Plymouth something absolutely wicked. You don’t have to go all-in on a 451 stroker motor…but what’s one more step towards scaring yourself half to death?
For the price, I would take it in a heartbeat! Now this would be a fun sleeper!
The thing I love about most Rough Start features is they are all too far away from me. Not this one. Dammit McT!