This 1984 Chrysler LeBaron Once Did 224 MPH – And Right Now It’s Dirt Cheap

BY Sergiu Tudose | Posted on

Ever thought about owning a stock car? If you have, here’s something that may be worth a look, especially since this one is a little bit different.

By “different” we mean that it’s a 1984 Chrysler LeBaron that’s been converted from a stock car to an open road high-speed race car.

Back in 2000, it even established an average speed Guinness World Record at the Nevada Open Road Challenge with 207.8 mph (334.4 km/h). Its top speed during the run was an astonishing 224 mph (360 km/h), and if you’d like it in your garage, you can place a bid on Bring a Trailer.

Little bit of history

The car was actually built as a Buick Somerset for the Busch stock car series, where it was driven by Patty Moise-Sawyer for Hope Motorsports from 1987 through 1989. The very next year, it was purchased by a Chrysler-backed team, re-bodied as a LeBaron and fitted with a 358ci Dodge NASCAR Truck series engine that sent its power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox.

The open road conversion was performed in 1995 and required modifications to the body, suspension, gearing and safety specs. As for visuals, the exterior has a white finish, checkered flag graphics, removable windows and 15-inch wheels, while the cabin is painted orange and boasts a tubular space frame with additional crash protection bars. Also visible are the twin ButlerBuilt racing seats, Simpson racing harness, a fire suppression system, removable 3-spoke steering wheel, Hurst shifter, custom dashboard panel and more.

Last time we checked, the highest bid was a few bucks shy of $7,000. There are five days left ’till the auction ends, so if you’re interested, you could end up with a veritable rocket with a nice perigree for a very modest sum.

 

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