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On September 4, 2003, Deyeme Racing purchased a 1990 Dodge Spirit 2.5L turbo, for use as a company car.
The purposes for this vehicle will be to run errands necessary to the daily work of the business,
and as a prototyping tool for broadening our product range. Up to this point, we offered parts for vehicles no older than the 1995 Dodge and Plymouth Neon. The AA Chassis Dodge Spirit, Chrysler LeBaron sedan, and Plymouth Acclaim, were manufactured from 1989 to 1995. Upon finding this car in a new/used dealer inventory online listing, we had to check it out. A relatively low mileage 2.5L turbo Spirit is fairly rare and, after test driving it, we thought it would make a great addition to our project vehicle lineup. Also, since many of the MoPars built during this time are similar, who knows what we could add to our products list!. Given the age of the car and the fact that it is no longer in production, we weren't expecting much. When the salesman showed us the car, a general exterior and interior inspection proved it was at least worth a test drive to determine its performance and reliability. There were no major exterior blemishes, just some scratches and door dings on the burgundy paint. The upholstry was in rather good condition for a 13-year old family sedan, with just minor fading on the doors and dsah from sun exposure. Even the factory stereo cassette, factory floor mats, and original owner's manual were included and intact! The engine bay was clean, as to be expected from a dealer. The engine parts appeared to be in good repair with no major leaks or apparent problems other than normal wear. The 2.5L turbo engine kicks in as if the car were a mere few years old, producing a very smooth ride with a little boost. The Spirit would have a long way to go before it becomes race worthy, and at this time will only be raced occasionally, to monitor performance. We'll also be tracking fuel mileage and maintenance closely. Check out the links to the right to see pictures of the car as purchased, and to see how it performs and what we've done to it. 1/1/2010: The Spirit has held up well, and continues to be modified even to this day, with the latest addition being a set of HID headlights. The crisp, brighter light improves safety, and at only 35w/ea. (vs 55w), they're less current draw as well. The Spirit will be retired as a project car this year, having been replaced by our 2009 Dodge Challenger. It's been a great car for the seven years we've owned it, and will likely be handed down for daily use. |
Pictures List Of Modifications     |