Learn All About the 1999 Shelby SP360 Durango
Back at the turn of the millennium, Carroll Shelby built a handful of supercharged, high-performance SUVs for the street.
Years before the SRT Durango, we had the Shelby SP360 Durango – one of the first street performance SUVs. In this video from YouTube car personality Doug DeMuro, we’ll learn all about its history and its quirks.
Carroll Shelby may be best known for his Ford-powered Cobras and Shelby Mustangs. However, Mopar maniacs know him for a full line of turbocharged Dodge performance cars from the ’80s. Cars like the Shelby Daytona, CSX, and Omni GLHS gave 5.0 Mustang and IROC Camaro owners fits back in the day.
About a decade after the last Shelby CSX was built, we were blessed with this wild creation. In 1999, Carroll Shelby got his hands on 300 Durangos and added aggressive bumpers and racing stripes, a set of chrome wheels, and some carbon fiber trim.
Not Just Another Family Hauler
The most important part, though, was the supercharger bolter to the 5.9 liter V8. The rated 360 horsepower is where the SP360 got its name. Since so few were built, it’s been relegated to the most obscure annals of Mopar history. Given the recent popularity of high-performance SUVs, it’s clear that this was an idea ahead of its time.
The standard 5.9 liter 360 cubic inch V8 was rated at just 245 horsepower, so the supercharger and required tuning added an impressive 115 horsepower to the total. As a result, the SP360Durange was capable of reaching the 60 MPH mark in well under seven seconds.
That’s not a particularly impressive stat these days. However, back in ’99, it was only a second or so off the pace of a new Mustang GT. Not bad for a grocery getter.
While most SUVs of the era were still attempting to exude a rugged, trail-ready appearance, the SP360 Durango was clearly made for the streets. The ground effects, wheels, and racy paint would look at home on any stoplight warrior.
Something that has bothered us about these from the beginning, though, is the stance. Would it have killed the budget to lower it another few inches?
Regardless, we dig the concept. The interior is even cooler, with a pair of custom-embroidered racing buckets up front. We’ve never experienced the joy of combining a truck’s upright driving position with heavily bolstered seats, but we wager it’s got to be fun once you get used to it.
The Shelby SP360 Durango is a rare footnote in Mopar history. We’re thankful that this video reminded us of what made it so special in the first place.
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