The early 1980s was a dark time for fans of domestic high performance cars. Yes, the automotive world was gradually pulling itself out of the performance abyss known as the 1970s, but the rollicking days of the 1960s were still fresh in minds of hot rodders and 150hp V8s weren’t getting it done. Chrysler enlisted the help of Carroll Shelby to help revive its moribund image by introducing a line of warmed up small and mid-size cars.
In this line, there wasn’t a V8 in sight (unless you account for the odd convertible Dakota truck that had a 318 in it). Turbocharged four bangers provided the umph and when they worked right, had enough to handle most all their counterparts of the day.
The Omni GLH and GLHS are the most remembered and celebrated of the line, but there were four different models that got the turbo treatment. The commercial below is from 1984 and shows Shelby and his four little turbo critters flying through the desert at what looks to be El Mirage.
