You Need This: Dodge Spirit R/T, now good for nearly 300 horsepower

Colin
By Colin Wood
Nov 14, 2024 | Dodge, You Need This, Dodge Spirit R/T

Photography Courtesy Hagerty Marketplace

One of the fastest four-door sedans money could buy, circa early 1990s? The Dodge Spirit R/T. In Car and Driver’s testing, the 224-horsepower R/T delivered a zero-to-60 time faster than that of a Nissan 300ZX Turbo: 5.8 seconds.

That wasn’t enough for one owner, apparently, as this Spirit R/T now puts out 275 horsepower–an increase of more than 50 horses over stock.

The bump in power, according to the listing, was achieved by rebuilding the engine, porting and machining the head plus fitting a larger intercooler and upgraded turbocharger.

In addition to the restored snowflake wheels, the Spirit R/T also features several new components including a gas tank, fuel pump, suspension bushings, exhaust, radiator and tires.

Find this 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T listed for sale on Hagerty Marketplace for $19,500.

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Comments
J.A. Ackley
J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
11/14/24 12:47 p.m.

My first car was a Plymouth Acclaim with the V6. It wasn't sexy by any means, but it was surprisingly fun on the Southern State and Belt parkways when there was no traffic.

NickD
NickD MegaDork
11/14/24 1:47 p.m.

Man, these things were bitchin'. Fastest mass-produced sedan at the time they were introduced.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
11/14/24 2:10 p.m.

These cars are easily in the top 10 of mass produced sleepers ever made.

pinchvalve (Forum Supporter)
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/14/24 2:11 p.m.

Wow, sedan performance has come a long way in 30 years...hey wait a minute! 

turboshadow
turboshadow New Reader
11/14/24 3:07 p.m.

In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :

There testing is off a bit,  my 2022 Elantra N DCT runs 13.0 @107 all day.  

KSB
KSB New Reader
11/14/24 4:15 p.m.

We had a couple of guys a gew years ago driving one of these in RallyCross events, mostly Kansas region ones, and doing pretty well.

KSB
KSB New Reader
11/14/24 4:15 p.m.

We had a couple of guys a few years ago driving one of these in RallyCross events, mostly Kansas region ones, and doing pretty well.

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/14/24 6:33 p.m.

The contemporary road tests/comparos of these and the equivalent Daytona were always amusing.  It would boil down to "Wow this car is fast!  And it feels even faster because it's kinda still a K car underneath"

 

Dodge gonna Dodge smiley

brandonsmash
brandonsmash GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
11/14/24 6:37 p.m.

Boy that thing sure has an underbite, doesn't it? 

 

CyberEric
CyberEric SuperDork
11/14/24 7:23 p.m.

I have never seen one of these in the wild. Only heard about them for the first time maybe 15 years ago, and wanted one ever since. I'm can't think of a better sleeper.

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