Most car enthusiasts have heard of Carroll Shelby, and for a very good reason. Carroll Shelby was an entrepreneur, race car driver, and had a hand in designing many of America's most iconic muscle cars. Carroll Shelby is most often known for his collaborations with Ford. But a lesser known fact about this legendary man is that he actually worked with Dodge for 10 years, from 1983 to 1993.

Dodge's line of muscle cars are just as iconic as Carroll Shelby. Red-hot steel with powerful engines underneath, and hundreds of horses waiting to hit the road – those are the characteristics that you can expect from the Dodge Challenger and the Dodge Charger.

Inviting Carroll Shelby to collaborate with Dodge on the 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger feels like a natural choice. Two legends in the American muscle car world uniting to modify a car that already has so much to say for itself. Talk about a match made in heaven.

At first glance, the 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger may be a bit unassuming. But what excitement is in store for gearheads once they are behind the wheel is surely what Shelby and Dodge had in mind when bringing the Shelby Charger to the masses. The number of Dodge Shelby Chargers put into production in 1983 was less than 8,500, making this iteration of the Charger a prize worthy of winning these days.

Let's take a step into a time machine, back to when there was nothing else representing pure American muscle better than a Dodge and Carroll Shelby alliance. We present to you, the 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger (and what you should know about it).

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A Brief History Of The Dodge Charger

1966 Dodge Charger
Via Dodge

The 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger is a somewhat lesser known car that received the Shelby name. This particular collaboration was Carroll Shelby stepping in to modify the Dodge Charger.

The Dodge Charger's muscle car reign began in 1966. The introduction of the Charger was Dodge's way of bringing a pony car into the mix that they felt was more refined than the Ford Mustang. There have since been seven generations of the Dodge Charger, with each one bringing something for everyone.

American muscle cars wouldn't be what they are today without the Charger's influence. Dodge Chargers are some of the most fun cars for gearheads to restomod, especially with Dodge's announcement that it is discontinuing the Dodge Charger and Challenger in 2023.

Now that many gas guzzlers are fading in favor of electric vehicles, we still celebrate the Dodge Charger and all the muscle car magic it embodies.

1983 Dodge Shelby Charger Specs And Features

1983 Dodge Shelby Charger Turbo Four- Cylinder Classic Car
Via: Mecum

Cars that bore the Shelby name were synonymous with speed, racing, and raw power. The 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger was different in that there was no increase in power. Instead, Shelby decided to make several modifications.

Modifications to the Dodge Charger included a suspension upgrade, general style change, engine compression, manual transmission with an adjusted ratio, power steering, and more. The 1983-year model saw 8,251 cars produced. Many models shipped to the dealerships went with the body kit and other modified parts for the dealerships to install themselves. This was to speed up times between production and delivery, and to deal with the low clearance of these vehicles, which caused issues for delivery when fully assembled.

The modification to the engine of the 1983 Dodge Shelby Charge included milling the block 0.03 inches, which raised the compression ratio from 9.0 to 9.6:1. The camshaft timing had a bit of an adjustment by advancing the camshaft a couple of degrees. The Dodge Shelby Charger had modified engine electronics to squeeze out as much performance as possible. It wouldn't be a Shelby without that aspect.

The 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine received a boost to 107 horsepower, versus the original 94 horsepower. It also gained in torque, increasing the original 117 lb-ft to 127 lb-ft. The 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger could hit 0 to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds. The modifications to the front and rear shocks meant heavier duty springs and half a foot reduction in clearance.

RELATED: 8 Cars You Didn't Know Were Built By Carroll Shelby

Carroll Shelby's Impact On The Muscle Car Industry

1983 Dodge Shelby Charger
Mecum Auctions

The Shelby name has graced Mustangs, racing cars, the 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger, and the Shelby moniker is even its own brand.

Carroll Shelby was a man of many talents (including knowing how to fly airplanes), but nothing can touch how important he has been to the American muscle car industry and the world of high-performance aftermarket motoring that Shelby himself deserves credit for. Carroll Shelby was ambitious and motivated to produce cars that were the best in the business. The lesser known 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger is just one example of the legacy Shelby has imparted on the muscle car universe.

Sources: Shelby Dodge, Road and Track, Automobile Catalog