(Photos: Brad Zeidler) What’s the basics of hot rodding? You take something nobody wanted, and you make it faster, better and desirable. It worked for old Fords in junkyards when hot-rodding became a thing, it worked for builders in every decade, and it can work for the everyday builder as well. And it works on ANY car. Case in point: meet Brad Zeidler’s 1987 Dodge Charger. Yes, 1987…it originally started life as a Shelby Charger but Brad decided to clone it into a 1981-83 Charger 2.2 for the looks. On the outside, you have pretty much the ideal car for my hair-brained Pro Commuter gig: it’s a gorgeous looking machine with the updated wheels from a later model Charger or Daytona, sitting right, with a Pistol Grip shifter stirring the gears. Be honest with yourself…you could daily drive this thing, couldn’t you? Small and light, it should knock back great MPG and you just don’t see these anymore, so you have everybody coming up to you, wanting to share stories about “back in the day”.
Look closer. The body is Mopar, but the running gear is all GM. First thing’s first: the Charger has been converted to rear-wheel drive using the independent rear suspension from an all-wheel-drive Pontiac 6000STE, and has a Ford 8.8 diff center with 3.08 gears. That Pistol Grip is hooked to a T-5 five-speed manual, and that’s hooked to an L67 3.8L supercharged V6 that you could find in plenty of GM front-wheel-drive applications. Even blown, that engine will pull upper twenties in a Buick Regal, so imagine trimming the fat of a W-body off…the mileage will be fantastic even when it’s being romped on. The steering rack had to be converted to a front-steer system, but all of the work looks worth it. Love it? Hate it? Doesn’t matter…this is hot rodding done right.
I had an 83 like this and it started my love for these,I’ve had a bunch of GLH Omni’s,Shelby Challenger’s and Daytona’s.
Of course, I loath that its got GM power. But it’s a good job, and something my brother and I have talked about over the years if we had the spare time and cash. We’ve also wanted to do two; two door Volare’s. One done to perfection, one done like it was just found in a slavage yard….I know, I know…
At the time I did the work on the car budget was a concern. Sure keeping it all Mopar was a thought but getting something to fit in this car without doing a lot of cutting is not easy. A V8 is too long and let’s be honest, chrysler V6’s aren’t the greatest and anything newer doesn’t have a manual transmission mated to it.
The 3800 is reliable, and it gets 30 mpg. A T5 bolts right to it with no modifications.
As far as changing the body, the black and silver just wasn’t my thing and the Shelby Charger front air dam always looked like an afterthought to me. The air dam fender extensions were slapped on over the top of the fenders. They should’ve modded the fender so they were a flush fit. And the older 79 Omni 024 sail panels and quarter windows are a matter of personal taste I suppose. I just never liked the 84-87 sail panels. Same for the 84-87 tail lenses, they are kind of flat and bland to me. So I like the 024 tail lenses. a little more curves to the car.
I love the conversion, is there a build thread for it somewhere? That is greatness… but the cigarette lighter doesn’t look and is there enough room for a mochachinolatte between the seat and the e-brake? kidding. That is an interesting choice of parts to put together I bet it even rides decent with IRS.
missing the word Ergonomic – the lighter is missing. Stupid browser clips words on me.
Cool car, well done and not overdone.
OK, that’s got to be one of the least expected combinations of parts swaps I’ve seen in a while. Makes me want to revive my crazy idea of turning the engine in my ’98 Regal 90 degrees and putting a manual transmission behind it.
Pretty cool, and one of my favourite engines. But I’m calling bullshit on this: “originally started life as a Shelby Charger but Brad decided to clone it into a 1981-83 Charger”
Why would somebody take a rare car an turn it into a cosmetic turd?
I have seen this car when it was still a shelby. It was a black and silver shelby. It is a first class conversion.
I like this build! when I started doing this in the late 60’s we built anything we could find that was cheap with what we could find. 53 GMC with a Buick 401, 55 sedan delivery with a 409, etc. that is the essence of our hobby I believe. Do not go buy it, build it from easily available parts. If someone gets p.o.’d because it is different so much the better!
Well done, love this car, sad to see GM power but understand the reasoning.
Miss my 87… I cloned a Shelby bodywise… wish it was a real Shelby….too bad a real one got hacked up.
Drove my share of L bodies. 81 Tourismo 2.2, 82 Charger 2.2, 83 Scamp Gt, 84 Shelby, and finally an 85 GLH turbo. Enjoyed each and everyone. Also bought a new Grand Prix GTP 2004 with the supercharged 3.8. I can imagine how that light car runs with that motor. well done !!
I want to see the white one in the garage
I have some pictures of it. Just friend request me on Facebook. …