Dodge Omni GLH-S Shelby
The Dodge Omni GLH-S (Goes Like Hell S'more) represents one of the most entertaining chapters in Carroll Shelby's storied career. In the mid-1980s, with the muscle car era seemingly dead and buried, Shelby turned his attention to Chrysler's most humble product, the Dodge Omni economy car, and transformed it into a giant-killing hot hatch that could run with Corvettes and Porsches at a fraction of their price.
The GLH story began in 1984 when Dodge introduced the Omni GLH (Goes Like Hell), a performance version of their economy hatchback equipped with Chrysler's turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. The GLH was a capable car in its own right, but Carroll Shelby saw even greater potential. Working from his facility in Whittier, California, Shelby's team took standard Dodge Omni GLH cars and subjected them to extensive modifications to create the GLHS.
The GLHS featured an extensively modified version of the turbo 2.2 engine with a Garrett T3 turbocharger running higher boost pressure, a revised intercooler, modified fuel injection, and a free-flowing exhaust system. The result was 175 horsepower, a remarkable figure for a 2.2-liter four-cylinder in 1986 and enough to give the lightweight Omni truly startling performance.
With a curb weight of just 2,350 pounds and 175 horsepower on tap, the GLHS had a power-to-weight ratio that embarrassed many contemporary sports cars. Road tests consistently recorded 0-60 mph times in the mid-6-second range and quarter-mile times in the low 15s. More impressively, the GLHS could achieve these figures while carrying four adults and their luggage in a practical hatchback body.
The suspension was comprehensively upgraded with Koni adjustable shocks, stiffer springs, larger anti-roll bars, and performance-oriented alignment settings. Goodyear Eagle VR50 tires on 15-inch alloy wheels provided grip far beyond what the original Omni chassis was designed to handle. The brakes were upgraded with larger front discs and improved pads.
Only 500 GLHS cars were produced in 1986, each individually numbered with a dash plaque signed by Carroll Shelby. This limited production run, combined with the car's remarkable performance and Shelby provenance, has made the GLHS highly collectible. Prices have risen dramatically in recent years as the car's significance has been recognized.
The GLHS was succeeded by the even more extreme Shelby CSX and Shelby GLHS (based on the Charger) models, but the original Omni GLHS remains the purest expression of Shelby's philosophy of making ordinary cars extraordinary. It proved that performance was not the exclusive domain of expensive sports cars and that even the most humble economy car could be transformed into a genuine driver's machine.
With only 500 produced, verify authenticity through the Shelby American Auto Club registry. Check the numbered dash plaque and Shelby serial number. The turbo 2.2 engine has been extensively modified and requires specialist knowledge. Check for boost leaks in the intercooler plumbing. The lightweight unibody can suffer from rust in the floor pans, rockers, and wheel wells. Ensure all Shelby-specific modifications are present and correct. Many standard GLH cars have been converted to GLHS spec.
Only 500 GLHS units were produced in 1986 by Shelby Automobiles at their facility in Whittier, California. Each car was based on a standard Dodge Omni GLH that was shipped to Shelby for modification. Each car received a numbered dash plaque signed by Carroll Shelby. The GLHS was only available in black.