History
For 1979, Chrysler brought out sporty versions of the L-body Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon called the Dodge Omni 024 and the Plymouth Horizon TC3. The cars shared a 70 hp (52 kW) 1.7 L Volkswagen I4 as the only engine under the O24/TC3 name. In 1981, the Charger nameplate returned as a performance package on the Omni 024. Called the Charger 2.2, it cost $399 extra and came with a hood scoop, quarter-window appliques, special gearing, rear spoiler, and "Charger 2.2" tape graphics, as well as the new 84 hp (63 kW) 2.2 L I4 engine that was designed and built by Chrysler. A total of 7,306 were built.
In 1982, the Dodge Charger returned for a second year as the performance option for the 024. Nothing was changed from 1981 except for a Pentastar emblem on its hood and the addition of a resonator to the exhaust, since the previous model had no muffler, utilizing the catalytic converter as the sole method of engine noise reduction. In 1983, the Volkswagen engine went out of production, so a joint Chrysler/Peugeot 1.6 L engine was used instead. The Omni 024 was renamed the Charger. The Plymouth Turismo was introduced as a companion entry for 1983, with the TC3 designation now discontinued.[1] Carroll Shelby developed a sporty version of the Charger later in the year, the Dodge Shelby Charger.
The transformation continued in 1984, with quad headlights now differentiating the Charger from its Omni origins, however the Shelby models continued to use the previous years front nose cap/bumper assembly. The Plymouth Turismo would share the same front end. Apart from the badging, both cars were exactly the same. For 1985, the Shelby (with its unique front end) and Charger names were shuffled to reflect the addition of a turbocharged engine. Two new colors were added for 1985 — Black and Garnet Red with silver stripes. Plymouth also got a version of the old Shelby Charger, reviving the Duster name as the Plymouth Turismo Duster. However, Plymouth would never get a turbocharged version of the Shelby Charger. Two turbocharged Turismos, using the Shelby front end, were seen Chrysler headquarters with a 'Cuda Plymouth badge, but they were not put into production. The previous high-compression 107 hp (80 kW) Shelby Charger engine was now an option on regular Dodge Chargers. For 1986, the mandated center high-mounted stop light was added, and the 96 hp (72 kW) 2.2 L engine made its way down to the base models.
1987 was the last year for the Omni/Horizon-derived Charger and Turismo. A total of 2,011 Chargers with the hotter 174 hp (130 kW) Turbo II engine were now badged the Shelby Charger Turbo (not "Dodge"). For 1987, they were replaced by the Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance, and the Belvidere plant was retooled to build the Dodge Dynasty, which succeeded the preceding 600 at the time. Carroll Shelby bought 1,000 of the last Chargers and equipped them with the Omni GLH's engine and suspension to be sold under this name. The Duster name was revived for a model in the Plymouth Sundance line midyear in 1992
Source: Wikipedia
Dodge Charger threads:
Dodge Charger Roadster Concept 1963
Dodge Charger II Concept 1965
Dodge Charger (B-body) 1st gen 1966–1967
Dodge Charger III Concept 1968
Dodge Charger (B-body) 2nd gen 1968–1970
Dodge Charger Daytona (B-Body) 1969
Dodge Charger (B-body) 3rd gen 1971–1974
Dodge Charger (B-body) 4th gen 1975–1978
Dodge Charger Turbo 2.2 Pace Car Concept 1982
Dodge Charger (L-body) 1983-1987
Dodge Charger Concept 1999
Dodge Charger (LX) 2005-2010
Dodge Charger (LX) 2011-2014
Dodge Charger 2015-
1. '82 Charger 2.2
2. '83 Chargers
3. '83 Shelby Charger
4. '84 Charger 2.2 and Shelby Charger
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