Neon SRT-4 ACR Brings Insane Sale Price at Auction

With under 50,000 miles, a single owner, and growing appreciation, this Neon SRT-4 ACR just sold for over its original MSRP 20 years later.

The Dodge Neon is a car that receives no shortage of disrespect fairly universally among automotive enthusiasts. Despite the fact that the Neon SRT-4 and Neon SRT-4 ACR are actually phenomenal cars to drive, they still broadly wear a target on their backs. However, the folks who are in the know are typically folks who have spent time behind the wheel of one. Yes, we’re happy to admit that they look outright goofy and the styling has aged like milk. That said, they’re still an absolute blast to drive.

Now, though, it seems that the appreciation for the humble Neon SRT-4 is growing. This recent Bring A Trailer listing shocked us a bit. Not just because there was a Dodge Neon on Bring A Trailer, either. No, what surprised us was the price. Sure, only 1,175 examples of the ACR trim ever left Dodge’s production facility, and it only has 44,000 miles on it, but for the final bid to reach a whopping $28,750? Well, that’s an outcome we wouldn’t have predicted.

What is a Neon SRT-4 ACR?

According to the Bring A Trailer listing, only 1,175 ACR variants of the angry Neon ever came to fruition. Upgrades over the standard SRT-4 Neon include a one-inch lower ride height, 16-inch BBS wheels wrapped in BFG performance tires, five-way adjustable Tokico Illumina dampers, thicker sway bars, stiffer rear tension strut bushings, and Viper-inspired ACR seats. For those unfamiliar, ACR is an acronym for “American Club Racer.” While the trim does have its origins in the Viper family, Dodge did also produce a Neon ACR long before the turbocharged SRT-4 ever came to market.

All of these additions come as upgrades to the SRT-4, which has a 230-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission with a limited-slip differential. Dodge also offered a host of factory performance upgrades for the SRT-4s, including ECU tunes that gave the mighty little four-pot even more power. The listing reports that this example does have a tuned ECU, but does not state any power figures.

Is the Neon SRT-4 Finally Getting the Respect It Deserves?

The final bid on this car comes in at a whopping $5,500 over its original MSRP. Over the course of 20 years, that’s a pretty sound investment when it comes to the world of cars. Who would have known that buying one of the most underloved performance cars in Dodge’s history would have been such a safe financial move? Sometimes, fact is stranger than fiction. Either way, we’re glad to see the Neon SRT-4 seems to finally be getting a bit of well-deserved respect. If you’re still a hater, there’s a good chance you just haven’t driven one. It’s a good time.

Photos: Bring A Trailer 

Braden Carlson

Braden Carlson is an automotive enthusiast from Boise, Idaho. At 19 he quit his day job to pursue a career in automotive journalism, launching his Youtube channel in his own name. Today you can still find him producing DIY video content, reviews and writing for an amassment of automotive websites. His work is most frequently found on Rennlist, The Mustang Source and Corvette Forum. When not writing or driving, he's likely to be found covered in grease and oil undoubtedly from one of his gratuitous collection of questionable project cars.