Ok, so the 1989 Shelby Dakota isn’t going to set anyone’s pants on fire in stock form. Consider it a solid attempt at creating a sport truck and an early shot in the sport truck scene that really took off in the 1990s. Carroll Shelby had been working in the Dodge camp for years at this point, cranking out cars like the Omni GLH series, the Shelby Charger, and the Shelby Lancer sedan. But the urge to stuff a V8 where it didn’t belong must have been too strong for the chicken farmer to ignore, because for 1989 he did just that. Starting with a single cab, shortbed Dodge Dakota, the 3.9L V6 was chucked in favor of a fuel-injected 318 that was good for all of 175 horsepower and 270 ft/lbs of torque. It sounds pathetic now, but in 1989, the Shelby Dakota was a shot across the bow to many and while we can’t prove that it was responsible for trucks like the GMC Syclone, Chevrolet 454SS and Ford Lightning, it is safe to say that just appearing might have been enough for the competition to wake up and make something interesting.
Nowadays, Shelby Mopars are still vastly underrated, and this green and black Shelby Dakota, #1433 out of the 1,475, might be the poster child of the unloved. In the first season of “Fast N’ Loud”, the Shelby was donated to Gas Monkey Garage, with the former owner hoping that the crew could do something with it. Instead, the shop punted it as quickly as they could, selling it at auction for $2,500. That was in 2012…since then, the owner has been a bit busy, working the 318 into something a little more respectable than stock. We’re sure that the MSD ignition and distributor, Mopar Performance intake and Holley Avenger carb, Hooker headers and other touches have woken up the 318 into a decent street beast. We’re also sure that a snotty 408 stroker LA motor would be heaven in a hand basket for this little truck. I feel sympathy for the Dakota…it’s like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree: “I never thought it was such a bad little truck. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.
eBay Link: 1989 Shelby Dakota #1433
The Shelby Dakota’s were good looking trucks. The 318 could wake up with just a little love and attention. This thing needs a “whole-lotta-love”. Body and paint…lower it….lots a money for a throw away truck….
The Gas Monkey provenance doesn’t add value. The $5000 opening bid is a bit salty.
I to agree on the price, a little steep. Maybe $3500 since some work has been done. Change the 318 to a stroker LA engine with a set of W heads and now that would be fun!