Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Settle our Dispute: 6,660-mile Omni GLHS or Porsche-powered Vanagon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/settle-our-dispute-6-660-mile-omni-glhs-or-porsche-powered-vana/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/settle-our-dispute-6-660-mile-omni-glhs-or-porsche-powered-vana/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/settle-our-dispute-6-660-mile-omni-glhs-or-porsche-powered-vana/#commentsFiled under:



It's the battle of 1986: The best Shelby "Goes Like Hell" Dodge extant or a four-wheel-drive Volkswagen Vanagon powered by a flat six from a Porsche 911. Both of these awesome rides popped up in our inbox this morning, thanks to our favorite automotive classifieds site, Bring A Trailer. Argument ensued, with good cases made for both.

The Shelby Dodge is, of course, based on the Omni econobox. But with a turbocharged 2.2-liter four making 175 horsepower and a curb weight around 2,200 pounds, the GLHS was a real performance car. With a bit of tuning, the turbo Dodge engines were capable of topping 200 hp; this in an era in which V8 Ford Mustang GT's were barely pumping out 200 horses. Given that only 500 Shelby GLHS's were built, we've got to imagine you'd be hard-pressed to find a better example than this one, claimed to have just 6,600 miles on the odo. It's for sale by a Michigan dealer on eBay.

The Vanagon is the sort of project we all dream of undertaking in our backyards. With a 3.2-liter, air-cooled six pulled from an '89 911, we don't imagine this Syncro will have any problems making it up any mountain passes. Dumping the VW wasserboxer is a favorite Vanagon owner pastime, and given the historic relationship between the companies, we think it's only right to source Porsche power rather than the more common Subaru engine swap. The Syncro is for sale on TheSamba.com.

So help us resolve the Autoblog Staff Argument of the Day and vote in our poll, and click on the galleries below to see lots of photos of these two sweet vehicles.

View Poll

Settle our Dispute: 6,660-mile Omni GLHS or Porsche-powered Vanagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1986 shelby glhs1986 volkswagen vanagonbring a trailerdodgedodge omniglhsomniporscheshelbyshelby dodgesyncrovanagonvanagon syncrovolkswagenvwMon, 05 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20186138/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/05/settle-our-dispute-6-660-mile-omni-glhs-or-porsche-powered-vana/20186138/article-detail.xml 20186138 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/bat-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/bat-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Dodge Omni GLH ad brings out the child in us all]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/16/dodge-omni-glh-ad-brings-out-the-child-in-all-of-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/16/dodge-omni-glh-ad-brings-out-the-child-in-all-of-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/16/dodge-omni-glh-ad-brings-out-the-child-in-all-of-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

1984 Dodge Omni GLH commercial

The name Shelby is synonymous with high performance. The name Omni is more often recalled as a small hatchback offered by Dodge in the 1980s, and while it was practical and efficient, nobody ever thought of the little runabout as anything other than basic transportation. A funny thing happened when Chrysler got the bright idea to combine Shelby and Omni into one package, though: an iconic hot hatch was born. And darn if they didn't come up with one of the quickest production cars in America...

On second thought, "iconic" may be too lofty a word for the Dodge Omni GLH and, a few modifications later, its slightly quicker GLHS sibling. "Memorable," "noteworthy" and, above all else, "fun," on the other hand, apply perfectly. And speaking of memorable, have a look at the glorious commercial after the break, where the advertising geniuses combined an all-black Shelby Omni with a voiceover that sounds a heck of a lot like Billy Dee Williams.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, GLH stands for Goes Like Hell. GLHS stands for Goes Like Hell Some More, or so the legend goes.

Continue reading Dodge Omni GLH ad brings out the child in us all

Dodge Omni GLH ad brings out the child in us all originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carroll shelbydodge omnidodge omni glhdodge omni glhsdodge shelbyomnishelbyshelby omnivideoTue, 16 Aug 2011 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20018915/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/16/dodge-omni-glh-ad-brings-out-the-child-in-all-of-us/20018915/article-detail.xml 20018915 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/omni-glh-ad-1313511566_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/omni-glh-ad-1313511566.jpg <![CDATA[Top 10 Cars You Should Never Drive on a First Date]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/top-10-cars-you-should-never-drive-on-a-first-date/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/top-10-cars-you-should-never-drive-on-a-first-date/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/top-10-cars-you-should-never-drive-on-a-first-date/#commentsFiled under: ,



It was the Spring of '93 and I was living large in my 1988 Dodge Omni. The little hatch was white with a burgundy interior, smelled like fast food and usually carried a substantial coat of dirt and grime that held it all together. One of the black plastic bumper pieces was missing from when I backed into my dad's car and the Omni was rolling fat with four over-sized tires scored from my brother's totaled Pontiac 6000. The tires were so large that I couldn't make a tight turn without grinding the rubber against the wheel well.

For my big date, though, the Omni at least go washed. I pulled into this poor girl's driveway jamming my brand new Jackyl tape when the her dad walked up. He glared at my car and said "You guys will be going to the baseball game in my wife's Astro Van, and you're not driving."

That was my first date car, which was followed by an Escort, Ranger and GMC Sonoma. Quite an unimpressive array of vehicles with which to make a first impression, which I reckon makes me an expert on the subject. So here it is: the Top 10 Cars You Should Never Drive on a First Date.

Top 10 Cars You Should Never Drive on a First Date originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dodge OmniDodgeOmniFerrari 599 GTBFerrari599Gtbhhr panelHhrPanelLotus EliseLotusElisetop 10 cars you should never drive on a first datetop 10 worst date carsTop10CarsYouShouldNeverDriveOnAFirstDateTop10WorstDateCarsworst date carsWorstDateCarsWed, 26 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1383236/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/11/26/top-10-cars-you-should-never-drive-on-a-first-date/1383236/article-detail.xml 1383236 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/top10firstdate_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/top10firstdate_opt.jpg -1 2