1989 Hemi Dodge Shelby Dakota #545 on 2040-cars

Time to sell my baby to fund a kitchen and bath remodel.  I performed a frame off retro-restoration in 2007.  I started the project in 2005 as just an engine change but it morphed into a total restoration.  I wanted a daily driver and did just that for 3 years.  Now I take it out on sunny days and to car shows.  Except for a few very tiny rock chips, it looks as good as it did when finished.  Of course, the underside is not quite as clean but still nice. 

The engine is a 2004 5.7 Hemi with a 545RFE 5 speed auto.  The driveshaft is an aluminum unit from Inland Empire.  There were 7200 miles on the engine and 1000 miles on the trans when I installed them.  I have since put about 35,000 miles on the truck.  The rear end is an 8 3/4 with rear wheel disc brakes.  Everything in it was brand new, except for the housing itself, at the time of the restoration. 

As for the interior, the headliner has been replaced with new and better material and looks just as original.  The Shelby's only came with bench seats so I replaced it with Dakota bucket seats for safety and comfort.  I acquired some original, unused Shelby material and had the center inserts done so as to look original.  The original bench seat will go with the truck.  The dash is now all digital.  The original dash mask was used so the layout looks factory.  The original inside rear view mirror was replaced with a self dimming unit including a temperature/compass display.  All glass was replaced with new.  The rear sliding window was replaced with a one piece for a cleaner look.  The original slider goes with the sale.

Outside, I took the body completely down to bare metal and undercoated it with DP40 primer before sending it to the shop for new paint.  Coming from California, it has never had any rust.  Shelby's only came in white and red.  This one was white but I wanted something a little more modern and classy so it is now 2006 Lexus Artic Frost pearl white.  It is a factory color for easy match in the event repairs should be needed in the future.  Everything I could still buy from the factory was replaced.  Outside mirrors, grille, taillamp housings, headlight bezels, etc.  I still have the originals and they do go with the sale.  The bed is covered with a white vinyl tonneau cover as well.  Finishes off the look nicely.

The inside of the bed was coated with Line-X to replace the stock plastic liner.  In my opinion, a much better quality solution to bedlining.

A great deal of thought and research went into wheel and tire choice for the right look and stance.  The front tires are 215/70R16 and the rear are 255/60R17.  The front end is lowered 2" with Bell Tech spindles and the rear spring re-arch and 1" lowering blocks. 

I could go on and on and on but just too much to list.  I have all receipts that total nearly $40K.  I know, I know.  I got carried away but I was building it for me and wanted everything as new and exactly as my mind had imagined.

You can't buy anything Hemi powered this nice and unique for what I am asking so don't let it get away.  Speaking of getting away, I have had it down the track a couple of times and it has run a best of 13.51 at a tick over 100 mph.  Not to bad while still getting as much as 20 plus mpg on the highway.  The engine is totally stock including the original hemi truck exhaust manifolds.  With a little tuning, using a Diablo Predator, I truly believe it will dip into the 12's with no loss of gas mileage should you be so inclined.

Don't hesitate to contact me for further information if you are seriously interested in buying.  I invite you to come see it if you can and I promise you will not be disappointed.  I am sure that I am forgetting some details but, again, contact me if you have any questions about the restoration or current condition.

Thanks for looking.  Tom

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