Every once in a while, a concept car comes along that perfectly captures the spirit of its era. The 1982 Dodge Turbo Charger Concept is one of those rare gems, and it’s now looking for a new home as part of Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy Auction this September. Coming straight out of the legendary Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum, this wild piece of Mopar history will cross the block with no reserve.
Built to turn heads and test the limits of Dodge’s design in the early 1980s, this futuristic hatchback spent its early life on the track—but not as a racer. Instead, it served as a PPG Indy Car World Series pace car in 1981 and 1982, making appearances at tracks across the country. Dodge even showed off the concept at the 1982 Chicago and Detroit Auto Shows, proving it wasn’t just a functional pace car but also a rolling vision of the brand’s turbocharged future.
Visually, this concept screams 1980s innovation. It wears a heavily reworked body featuring a slanted front end with flush headlight covers, a lower air dam, wide-body fenders, and flush-mounted windows. A rear spoiler caps off the aerodynamic upgrades, while the car’s show-stopping gullwing doors ensure it’s never mistaken for a production Dodge Charger. Originally finished in silver and red, the car was later resprayed silver and blue for its pace car duties.
Inside, the cabin is all business. The race-ready cockpit features Recaro bucket seats, RJS harnesses, black anodized aluminum door panels, a roll cage, and an onboard fire system. The aircraft-inspired VDO gauges remind you this was more than just a showpiece—it was a functional pace car.
Under the hood sits a turbocharged and blueprinted version of Dodge’s 2.2-liter inline-four, backed by a reworked suspension with a wider track front and rear, special springs, sway bars, and upgraded brakes. It all rides on three-piece SVI wheels, completing the concept’s aggressive, track-focused stance.
Today, the car shows just 1,162 miles on the odometer, making it a true time capsule from one of Dodge’s most creative periods. For collectors looking for something truly unique—part concept car, part motorsports history—this Turbo Charger Concept offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance. When it rolls across the Mecum auction stage in Chicago on Sunday, September 21st, it will represent more than just a car; it’s a piece of Dodge’s experimental past, preserved for a new chapter.
1982 Dodge Turbo Charger Concept Car Image Gallery:
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