Shelby American
CSX (Shadow-based) (1987)

Why it matters

CSX stood for Carroll Shelby eXperimental. The 1987 CSX turned the front-drive Dodge Shadow into a Shelby-badged turbo coupe, with Dodge badging removed, four-wheel disc brakes from the Daytona Shelby Z and firmer suspension. It was priced as a budget performance car.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Shelby Automobiles took turbocharged Dodge Shadows from the Sterling Heights plant in Michigan to its Whittier, California headquarters. The cars were limited to 750, had no available options and cost $13,495. Chassis changes were shortened high-rate springs, Monroe Formula GP shocks and struts and a larger solid rear anti-roll bar, with Gatorback tyres on Shelby wheels. The exterior added deeper airdams and side skirts, a larger-opening grille and CSX decals; the only paint scheme was black over silver with a blue stripe.

Sources disagree on the engine: the registry says the stock motor was converted to GLHS specification, while The Truth About Cars says the 2.2-litre Turbo II was left unmodified at 175 hp.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The 1987 CSX wears Shelby or CSX badging in place of Dodge badges, a single-slot Shelby grille with a CSX decal, a wheel design used only on the CSX, and a four-spoke sports steering wheel. The only colour scheme was black over silver with a blue stripe. Under the bonnet is the 2.2-litre Turbo II with a five-speed manual, and the front disc brakes come from the Daytona Shelby Z.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Rare Rides: The 1987 Shelby CSX, Not a Dodge Level B The Truth About Cars · 2019-09-01

   • limited to 750 examples
   • 2.2-liter Turbo II engine
   • 175 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque
   • routed through a five-speed manual

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Shelby Registry (shelbyregistry.com) – 1987 CSX Level B

   • 750 total production (165 sent to Thrifty)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   1987 CSX registered cars Level B Shelby Registry (shelbyregistry.com)

   • 255 registered (34%)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
4. 4
   Rare Rides: The 1987 Shelby CSX, Not a Dodge Level C The Truth About Cars · 2019-09-10

   • Powering all examples was the 2.2-liter Turbo II engine
   • shipped from Michigan (Sterling Heights Assembly) to Whittier, California

   Accessed 2026-11-13
5. 5
   The 1989 Dodge Shelby CSX-VNT Was the Ultimate Turbo K-Car Level C Alex Nishimoto · MotorTrend · 2020-03-26

   • First offered in 1987 with the intercooled Turbo II engine
   • intercooled Turbo II engine
   • front-wheel-drive compact hatchback based on the Dodge Shadow

   Accessed 2026-11-13
6. 6
   The Underrated Dodge Coupe You Probably Forgot Existed Level B SlashGear

   • capable of touching a robust 175 horsepower

   Accessed 2026-11-12
7. 7
   1987 CSX Level B Shelby Registry (shelbyregistry.com)

   • Monroe Formula GPs
   • larger, solid one
   • four-wheel disks adapted from the Daytona Shelby Z
   • top speed: 131 MPH
   • 0-60: 7.0 seconds
   • Quarter mile: 15.4

   Accessed 2026-11-12