This makes a total of three Dodge Shelby Daytona's (1 89, & one 91 TI, and an ultra rare 93 Shelby R/T) that I own here in Germany. Also seen on this site, is my 89 TII /5spd LeBaron GTC ragtop! Its like having a convertible Daytona! Same engine & tranny, but with cool leather interior, and Digital dash layout!
All three Daytona's were official Chrysler/Europe imports, and sold through official Chrysler dealerships.The 89 model and 91 Daytona's were marketed and sold here as
"Chrysler GS Turbo 2's". Our cars even have "Chrysler" dash plaques on the passenger side...something I quickly changed!
The Black one was an official German import,and the 93 Shelby RT was sold new in Luxembourg, and the Red 91 model was a official Chrysler Swiss import.
If you are looking for goofy "Fart cannon" exhaust, wings that came off the "Millineum Falcon" and Tires and wheels that wont fit under the fenders...then I am afraid I have to disappoint you!
My cars are visually close to stock, and this is for a reason. First, the cars need nothing visually...they are esthetically almost perfect.These Cars were for their time, a revolution in America...they were the worlds first Turbocharged front wheel drive cars, and, were priced far below the competition, yet could spank ANY 80's Trans Am or Mustang then built. (I know...I have owned 8 Trans Am's!)
What you will see, are constant, and well thought out mod's that will take place over the next 6 months or so. These mods focus on:
High speed stability, cornering, and safety. I drive the Black 89 TII at speeds reguarily in excess of 145 miles per hour...and if you are modding your Car with parts from a junk yard, or from "Home Depot", then here on Germany's Autobahns, thats the quickest way to end up "Tagged & Bagged".
I have owned well over 100 cars in my life, from Porsche911SCTarga, BMW M3,1970 Boss 302 Mustang,to 475HP/427 tri-power 1969 Corvette Convertible, 8 different Trans-Am's,and everything in between...but more fun can had with these cars, for less money, than anything else.
Take a peek at the cars, and I hope the "Shelby Dodge purist" out there will appreciate my efforts!
This is how the Euro Spec Daytona's (GS Turbo 2's) looked when sold by Chrysler Europe. Most of the Black GS Turbo II's (Shelby Daytona's)looked this way.They were Dealer modified, and sold in Germany/Austria and in Switzerland under the option GS Turbo 2 "Mad Max". These had black painted 16inch CS Shelby "Pumper wheels". When you see them all cleaned up, its pretty interesting.
Ironically, the Red 91 model you see above behind the black 89 model, I ended up buying from a guy in Switzerland off of ebay (aka "the Internet ANTI CHRIST!") a full two years after I found this picture in a European Daytona web site ! The World is small...and the European Daytona community is even smaller!
* (I hate the fascists at eBay...I will "vent my spleen" about them on a later added page!)...
The Shelby #2 on the trailer,had lace style aftermarket wheels.Bought it from a fellow American living near Frankfurt. Car had not been maintained as I like a car to be maintained, but the basics were there.Motor and Tranny were tight, as well as the complete suspension. I asked that when I bought it, that the 16inch CS Pumpers be reinstalled. They are great wheels, stable, and cool the brakes, hence the "Pumper" nickname...they "pump" air across the brake discs at speed.They just "make" the car.
The day I bought it, I slapped temporary tags on it, and drove it from Buetzbach north of Frankfurt, back to Schweinfurt where I live. Not 8 k's from Toms house (the fellow American I got the car from) the Alternator quit, and the battery ran dry! Luckily I coasted into a Gas Station on the A5.
Tom came, & switched alternators out...for one that didnt last 10 k's! ADAC (Auto help service) had to come get it.(All free of course!) THANKS ADAC!
Not a very good start! Since then, I went thru the Car with a fine toothed comb, cleaned the engine (looked like he was raising chickens under the hood!) and did a massive replacement of parts and tune-up on the car.
Below it is seen with the 16" Shelby Pumpers installed, and is for now, my "daily driver".(When the sun is out!)
Here are a few pics of the 89TII Car before I painted it. I opted for a "VNT like" 90 style monochromatic paint color...the two tone paint is too "Disco Duck" for me. I prefer the cleaner look. However, should a White T-topped 89 model (TII only) with the Grey lower sides and stripes...well, I could be tempted!
Here are a few travel pics of the 89 TII Car...before being repainted, a few w/o decals, then below the finished car as it looks today.
Here is my paint guy, Marion in Bielsko Bielo Poland...
(Not too "fit" but a nice guy, and does great bodywork!)
After the new paint job, I let the paint cure for 2 weeks, and waited to install all the new CS and Shelby decals. I got rid of the Euro "GS Turbo II" script on the back, and put the US style "Dodge" nose decals on as well.
Did the brakes as well...
Latest mods on the Black 89: Lowered (again!)FWD Perf. Silicone Vac lines, and Vac block (this cured a myriad of Vacuum problems!) add on's in the engine compartment, SCCA style rear sway bar, Poly bushings as well.
Here I am at the Dodge Ranch...
And here is my (sadly, EX) girlfriend who I will love forever, my Goofy Dagi standing near the Black 89- we were heading up to Poland to visit friends and her Family, stopping off to stretch her pretty legs!
And us up at Darlowo. me to log time in my buddies Mi-2, and vist friends, and Dagi just along as my favorite all time bestest co-pilot! (I love you Dagileini! I will love and miss you forever!)
Summer 2005!
Latest mods to the black 89 model are mostly cosmetic...I bought the rare "SHELBY" valve cover that came on the "numbered" cars, and had it professionally cleaned, sand blasted, the powder coated at a special company here in town...the results? PRICELESS!
Its finally summer now, and I was passing thru Nurnberg on the way to see a friend. No trip to "NBG" is complete without driving on the famous "Reichsparteigelaende". This is the famous Nazi tribunal, or Stadium where all of the huge Nazi party rally's took place, between 1933 and roughly 1943. (I think Germany had other worries right about then!) Today the straightaway in front of where Hitler and the Generals reviewed the troops, and all of the other NSDAP organisations, is today a race track! They race DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen meisterschaft) and many other racing classes.
The Red 1991(Shelby #3) is the "eBay special" with the 2.5liter T1 Engine in it...
a three hour train ride down to Lake Konstanz on the Swiss border, and 900 Euros, and it was mine!This car was an official Chrysler export to Switzerland.I will Intercool this car soon, as well as bump up the boost a bit.
Has recently been bumped up with FWD Performance stage II computer, been lowered, has new poly bushings, added rear SCCA style swaybar, and will this summer be "pimped out" with under car Red neons and a more lethal stereo combo.
This car is more of a cruiser than a street racer like the Black TII car.The 2.5 liter's are far more "civilized" in city traffic, and are easier to drive.It needs nothing else, and is a real head turner!
Recent changes, 2006:
After no small amount of wrangling, I was (literally!) forced by the City Government here, to change the tags on my Cars. Here in Germany, where Burocracy is practiced in a big way, they literally threatened me with Impounding the Cars, and slapping me with a 500 Euro fine, if I didnt comply! Since they have all the cards, and used tried and true GESTAPO tactics on me, I caved in. Results are for the Black 89 Shelby, new tags, and ones that dont fit! I have sworn to fight this all the way to Berlin and back! The Tags on the rear are to skinny, and they leave a gaping 40mm gap back there! Hell, a bird could build a nest behind my tag back there! I am appealing for, and will eventually get the new style, US sized tags. Besides, thats what it says in the Title that the Car requires!
One good thing came out of all this, I ended up with a "Vanity tag" of sorts. They forced me to have a one letter/one number scheme, so what better than T2 right?
UPDATE: Today I got the Red 91 off of jackstands where it had been stranded for over 6 months! I had to wait until new struts and shocks and springs arrived. Today, sunny April 16th, I installed all the new goodies, and backed her out into the sunlight! Got the car all washed up, and took it for a test drive...realising that I had TOTALLY screwed up the front end alignment! This was fixed for 39Euro's and the car tracks straight and true...Now it needs wheel bearings! Good thing I bought some as spares when I was back home last year! They cost 6 times (!!) more here than in the US!Here is how it looks now:
Now lowered 2 inches all around, it rides completely different!The lowering and the new poly bushings make it far more responsive.I have my special friend Sheela Garneu at "Wheely Cool customs" in Kamloops Canada for sending me all the suspension parts. NO one else on the otherwise helpful Turbo Dodge website (www.turbododge.com) was willing to send me these parts...so thanks again Sheela!
Latest mods on the Red 91 are the not too common Overhead console. These are seen far more often on "Pacifica" and "ES" Daytona's, with very few Shelby's getting them.I had to buy two junk/wrong fitting consoles, until I found out what I needed for this project. The good part is, now I have a lot of spare parts, should something break. The project took 1 hour of Internet/wiring diagram study, and loosely speaking, 4 hours to install (correctly!) here is how it started...a real mess!
And the finished, and correctly working overhead console:
Trip out among the Villages in Red, and with my girl Dagmara- (I miss you girl!)
Summer mods 2005: rare 6 button VNT LeBaron Navigator!
You all have seen the 12 button Travellers that came in many 84-89 Daytona's and LeBarons. Also, some 2 buttons were seen. But not too many folks know about the rare 6 button models! I saw one with a guy's 90 Model VNT he was parting out, so I took aprt the second from the bottom "cubby hole", and what did I find? A wiring harness, that was "blind" attached to a plastic clip, on the back of the cubby hole.
So, I ordered the Navigator (or Traveller as it also is known) and test fit it...voila! It slips right in that hole! I repainted the face (was very worn) with some hi-temp flat black paint, and it was ready to be tested. Here are the results!
August 2005: It has been a frustrating Summer so far.Only warm enough to go swimming maybe 8 days this year...rest, sunny/cloudy, on and off...not good summer, or go to the beach weather. During some of the cloudy days, I have been wrestling with the Red 91 Shelby. It turns out that the previous owner did very little basic maintenance on the car, and now things are failing at an alarming rate. So..I decided to grab the bull by the horns, and get things squared away. The Car stopped starting last month! I was waiting on more parts, and I had always started it to keep the battery charged. Well, it just quit.
I pulled out the Chiltons manual, and started at the top...Thought it was the starter...switched it out (took 8 hrs. over 4 days!)Didnt help or start. Checked wires and relays...no good. ALl the way back into the car, where I found that a cast aluminum part had broken inside the key cylinder, and that this had been a recall item from Dodge in 1991! Well, this after I bought a new starter switch. (89 Euro's! OUCH!)
Well, the car still wont start...I am online with all the guru's at www.turbododge.com and waiting for an answer...
In the meantime, I installed my SHELBY valve cover, and the new Blitz BOV and tub set! Here are both BOV's for the Daytona's..
Got the Blitz cheap on German eBay (the ANTI CHRIST! WE HATE eBAY!) Had my BOV tube made of stainless steel, hand brazed, then powdercoated to match the Valve cover. Although not finished, and with still lots of Vac lines to re-route or plug, its getting better by the minute!
Also seen is my 93 model Daytona R/T Intercooler install. It really perked the car up nicely, and has a nice clean (although less effective) stock location.
The connecting hose we made out of Aviation grade refuelers hose, and it looks WAY better than the stock hose! Soaked it in Armor All, and this is it installed.
Shelby Daytona #1 (1st one I bought here in Europe)
Was to be converted to SCCA/IROC style street legal race car. Reality set in after a cost analysis, and my main sponsor dropped out, so it is being parted out. Paid WAY too much for the car once I decided I wanted another Daytona..but, since the motor &Tranny & Interior are in A1 shape, it's an investment for sure that will pay off. Parts sales have already almost "paid" for the Car's original cost!It's now being slowly parted out, and I will sell the engine only complete, and the Tranny as well. The rest is up for grabs if you are looking for Euro-spec goodies.
Here is how the parts Daytona looks now...sad aint it? All it needed were wheel bearings, brake pads and paint when I got it...look at it now!! Needs a whole lot more! Guy saw it on www.autoscout24.de and needed the tranny, so I pulled what I could, and he took the rest!
Ended up with 601Euros for the rolling chassis...I got to keep the Head/Turbo and the Nose! Worked out ok I would say...made all my money back on parts alone, plus scored some parts that the other 89 needed...all works out in the end!
After pulling the head and Turbo recently (MAN! What a job that was!) despite about 89,000 Miles, the pistons were clean, looked like new, and the cylinder bores still had the cross-hatching pattern in them! Thanks to constant oil changes I guess!
Note the cool "CS" logo's computer stitched to the headrests! I shot some new/better pics of this great addition. Contact me if you want this done for your car!
I caught the Daytona bug when I came home from my 1st tour in the Army overseas. One look at the then revolutionary "Daytona Turbo Z" I was hooked! 
I bought the first one in the State of Ga. and it was loaded! My first new car!
I was also selling Chryslers and Dodges when I got back to civvie life in 84, and was salesman of the month right away- the reward? Shelby Charger as a Demo!
Not the lack of hood bulge...it was the very first Shelby's that Dodge sold...were carbed, non turbo models. Was a BLAST to drive. Hated only the cheesy steering wheel, and the "oingo boingo" shift linkage, which I am told in later models has been fixed.
Also had a customer on a test drive do THIS to a Daytona...with me in the passenger seat! I looked right, and as I was turning back left and wanted to say "Watch out at thi.....BANG!" She had pulled out, and we were hit head on. What can I say? Women drivers!
I also ended up the next month with a Loaded Laser XE as a Demo...the "talking" car..."A door is ajar"! Nice at first, but got on my nerves later...I was so thrilled with that car, I put 325miles in around town cruising in just 2 days...brand new, ice cold AC, and new leather seats! All the cruising miles...something which did not thrill my then Sales Mgr!(That's my now ex-wife in the picture)
Later, after I returned to active duty, and went to Officers and Pilots school at Ft. Rucker, my graduation present was a shiny new 1988 "Shelby Z" with the then new TII engine. T-topped, and loaded, every option in the book! Ordered it, and picked it up in Birmingham Alabama. Drove up with a classmate to pick it up. Took special care with it as the engine was not broken in, driving at or near the speed limits...
Was a blast to drive, handled, had great AC, was really nice...and, was sadly totalled just a few days later...never even had the T-tops off of it!Only had about 220 miles on it!!! (Wasn't my fault...guy T-boned my wife at a 4-way stop in an old Ford Ranger pick-up. Almost broke the car in half!
These are the only two pics I have of it! The 2nd picture was taken while I was in UH-1Advanced tactics phase at Lowe Army Airfield...anyone that has been to flight school at Ft. Rucker, especially in the 80's when I went, can remember what an exciting place that was at 4:30 every afternoon! Over 400 Hueys coming in in just under an hour! Remember?
I am always looking for performance and simple replacement parts for all 3 of these cars...so dont hesitate to get in touch with me if you have anything I would need.
