After the fuel crises of the 1970s, carmakers started getting serious about turbocharging. The forced induction device, which uses exhaust gasses to increase power, provides more oomph from a small, fuel-efficient engine. The shift to turbos in the ensuing decades produced a new generation of affordable performance models, like the impressive 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T recently listed on eBay.
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The Dodge Spirit R/T is a Performance Icon
The Spirit R/T’s powertrain packed a 224-horsepower, 2.2-liter, 16-valve DOHC turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood. That was good for a zero-to-60 time of under six seconds and a top speed of 142 mph. Its performance was remarkable for a car with humble K-car - opens in new window or tab. roots.
After all, the plain-Jane K-car wasn’t known for performance. It was meant to be simple transportation that saved Chrysler from ruin. The K-car evolved through the 1980s to become the basis of many Chrysler vehicles, including the Dodge Caravan - opens in new window or tab. and Plymouth Voyager minivans.
The Dodge Spirit R/T’s intercooled turbo four set the stage.
Period advertisements celebrated the R/T as the fastest sedan sold in America. But transforming the humble Spirit into a tire-shredding pocket rocket involved much more than bolting on a turbocharger - opens in new window or tab.. Britain’s Lotus Cars - opens in new window or tab.—an authority on lightweight, small high-performance cars and engines—was called in to help. It designed the cylinder head used on the Spirit R/T.
Other R/T modifications included:
- An upgraded performance suspension
- Heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission
- Four-wheel vented disc brakes
- Color-keyed 15-inch alloy wheels with oversize 60-series performance tires.
Cosmetic upgrades—including color-keyed lower body cladding and a trunk-mounted spoiler—helped set the R/T apart from lesser Spirit trims. The interior saw the addition of a standard tachometer, a trip computer, and air conditioning.
Buyers could get a Spirit in any color they liked, as long as it was red or white. Dodge also made a few silver ones in 1992.
Raves for a Rare Breed
The Spirit R/T stomped the Saab 900 Turbo and MG Maestro in the quarter-mile.
Enthusiast publications were impressed by the Spirit R/T, with some magazines picking it as a winner in comparison tests. But the kudos did not drive big traffic to dealer showrooms. Dodge sold just 1,208 in the first year of production, despite a bargain base price of just $17,820. The following year, only 191 found homes before Chrysler pulled the plug, making the Spirit R/T an extremely rare performance car.
Low production numbers make finding an example like the one that just sold on eBay nearly impossible. The bargain price meant that many R/T owners were more concerned with short-term fun than preserving their cars for future generations. One family owned this car for most of its life, registering only 68,000 miles on the odometer.
The Spirit R/T that just sold wasn’t perfect, but it’s likely one of the best examples around. It was a performance icon of the era. Any car with 224 horsepower was heady stuff in the early ‘90s. To find it under the hood of a compact domestic sedan is insane. Recently sold for $6,900, this piece of motoring history is an even better bargain now than it was when new.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.