While there were some high performance turbocharged packages for the Dodge Shadow, converting these tiny coupes to rear wheel drive and mounting a V8 has become popular for those Mopar lovers who are looking to go very, very fast. This week’s Mopar Muscle Thursday feature takes a look at one of those rear drive converted P Body coupes roaring down the quarter mile in the mid 9 second range.
Unfortunately, this video doesn’t offer any information on what type of drivetrain is shoehorned into the diminutive engine bay of the Dodge Shadow but the few engine shots that we get have me believing that this is some variant of a Mopar Big Block V8 based on the distributor location. Regardless of what engine is tucked under the huge pro stock style hood scoop, this is one seriously fast little Dodge Shadow with a time of 9.68 seconds and a trap speed of 138.53 miles per hour.
This video also has great production value, showing the Dodge Shadow being prepped for the race and as the car rips down the quarter mile, we get a great look at this super modified and super powerful Dodge compact in action inside and out.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
