Dodge Omni GLH-S Shelby 175hp Turbo
The Dodge Omni GLH-S is one of the most unlikely performance cars ever produced — and one of the most thrilling. The letters GLH stood for 'Goes Like Hell,' and the S added 'S'more,' a name that perfectly captured the mischievous spirit of Carroll Shelby's most audacious small-car project.
The story began with the standard Dodge Omni, a humble economy hatchback derived from the Chrysler Horizon/Simca 1100 platform that was Chrysler's bread-and-butter small car throughout the 1980s. The GLH version, produced by Shelby for Chrysler beginning in 1984, added a turbocharged engine, sport suspension, and aggressive bodywork. But the GLH-S of 1986 took things to an entirely different level.
Each of the 500 GLH-S cars was assembled at Shelby's facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. The base Omni GLH was shipped from Chrysler's Belvidere, Illinois, plant to Shelby, where it was completely transformed. The 2.2-liter turbocharged engine was fitted with an intercooler, a larger turbocharger, a reprogrammed engine computer, and a high-flow exhaust, boosting output to 175 horsepower — a figure that was remarkable for a car weighing just 2,400 pounds.
The GLH-S also received Koni adjustable struts, a stiffer rear torsion beam, larger front brakes, and 15-inch alloy wheels with performance tires. The interior was fitted with Shelby-specific gauges, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a boost gauge prominently mounted on the dashboard.
The result was devastating. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 15.0 seconds — faster than many sports cars that cost three or four times as much. The GLH-S was faster to 60 than a Corvette, faster than a 944 Turbo, and faster than a BMW M3, all while costing under $11,000.
With only 500 produced, the GLH-S was rare when new and is exceedingly rare today. Many were driven hard (as Shelby intended), and attrition has been severe. Surviving examples in good condition are highly prized by both Shelby collectors and hot hatch enthusiasts, representing perhaps the purest expression of Carroll Shelby's 'more power, less weight' philosophy applied to a front-wheel-drive economy car.
Authenticity is everything with only 500 built. Verify the Shelby serial number against the Shelby American registry. Check for rust in the floor pans, strut towers, and rocker panels — the Omni body was not well-protected from corrosion. The 2.2 turbo engine is robust but check for head gasket issues, turbo shaft play, and boost leak. The A525 manual transmission is adequate but not the strongest — check for second gear synchro wear. Koni struts should be rebuilt or replaced if originals are worn. Many GLH-S cars have been modified further — originality commands a significant premium. Complete, unmodified, low-mileage examples are extremely rare and valuable.
Exactly 500 GLH-S cars were produced, all assembled at Shelby Automobiles in Santa Fe Springs, California. Each received a Shelby serial number in addition to the Chrysler VIN. The base car was a Dodge Omni GLH shipped from Chrysler's plant. All GLH-S cars were 5-door hatchbacks in Charcoal Grey with red Shelby accents. The GLH-S replaced the previous GLH Turbo and was the final evolution of the Omni performance line.