Car Model History

Fifth generation · L-body (FWD subcompact) · 1982–1987

1985Dodge Charger

A completely different car: a front-wheel-drive subcompact three-door hatchback on the Omni-based L-body. The turbocharged Shelby Charger (1983–1987) was its performance halo. Shares the Charger name only — not the muscle-era lineage.

Fifth generation · L-body (FWD subcompact)

1985 Dodge Shelby Charger — L-body front-wheel-drive hatchback, front three-quarter view

Photo: “1985 Dodge Shelby Charger” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines
3offered1.6-liter inline-four → Turbo I multi-port-injected 2.2-liter
Top output
146hpTurbo I multi-port-injected 2.2-liter

Body styles3-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1985 Dodge Charger model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1985 Charger

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

3factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

3versions shown
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Dodge Charger

Body
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
1.6-liter inline-four (62 net hp)
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Dodge Charger 2.2

Body
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
High-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (110 net hp / 129 lb-ft)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Dodge Shelby Charger Turbo

Body
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
Turbocharged and multi-port fuel-injected 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (146 net hp / 170 lb-ft)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1985 model year

Overview

The 1985 Charger range retained the base Charger and Charger 2.2, while the Shelby model made its decisive move to turbocharging. Chrysler's multi-port-injected Turbo I 2.2 produced 146 hp and 170 lb-ft through a five-speed manual. Dodge reinforced the Shelby's front structure and engine mounts, increased cooling and rear-brake capacity, strengthened the transaxle, and fitted wider 205/50VR15 tires. The naturally aspirated high-output 2.2 previously associated with Shelby moved into the regular Charger range.

Specifications

Engines
  • 1.6-liter inline-four62 hp
  • High-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter110 hp
  • Turbo I multi-port-injected 2.2-liter146 hp
Transmissions
4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
Body styles
3-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Dimensions
Length 174.8 in · Wheelbase approximately 96.5 in · Five-passenger, three-door hatchback

Year over year

What changed

  • The Shelby Charger replaced its naturally aspirated high-output engine with a 146-hp Turbo I 2.2 and multi-port fuel injection.
  • Turbo torque required reinforced front structure and engine mounts plus upgraded transaxle internals.
  • Shelby cooling, firewall heat protection, rear brakes, wiring, seats, and 205/50VR15 tires were revised for the turbo application.
  • The 110-hp naturally aspirated high-output 2.2 became available in the regular Charger range.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • Car and Driver recorded the Shelby Turbo at 146 hp, 170 lb-ft, and an estimated $9,200 base price in its contemporary evaluation.
  • Dodge's historical account identifies 1985 as the first year of multi-port fuel injection and turbocharging for the Shelby Charger.
  • The Shelby Turbo was manual-only; a regular Charger 2.2 could be ordered with a three-speed automatic.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Turbo and naturally aspirated 2.2-liter cars require different induction, fuel, ignition, cooling, exhaust, and under-hood heat-management parts; verify the engine label before ordering.
  • The Shelby Turbo's five-speed includes application-specific strengthened components, so a generic naturally aspirated Charger transaxle record is not sufficient fitment evidence.
  • The archived maintenance schedule rendered below is scoped to a naturally aspirated 2.2-liter record and must not be treated as a complete Turbo I service schedule.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1985 Charger on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1985 Dodge Charger. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
3
Factory intervals
2
Fitment-scoped
3
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1985 · Naturally aspirated 2.2L SOHC inline-four · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated 2.2L configuration; Shelby/turbo and other engine requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km · Normal service; the archive also directs annual replacement when yearly mileage is below 7,500 miles.

    Source: Dodge — 1985 Charger L4-135 2.2L SOHC factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Maintenance > Service Intervals > Normal Service — recurring 7,500-mile rows · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1985 · Naturally aspirated 2.2L SOHC inline-four · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited naturally aspirated 2.2L configuration; Shelby/turbo and other engine requirements are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km · Catalyst-equipped U.S. normal-service replacement interval.

    Source: Dodge — 1985 Charger L4-135 2.2L SOHC factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Maintenance > Service Intervals > Normal Service — 30,000-mile row and repeating rows · checked

  • Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    The order numbers below establish replacement-filter fitment only; they do not establish a service interval. Confirm the installed engine, VIN, build date, and filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1985 · United States

    1.6-liter inline-four (62 net hp)

    K&N HP-1002

    K&N publishes HP-1002 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1985 · 1.6-liter inline-four (62 net hp) · United States · Exact 1985 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1985 Dodge Charger 1.6-liter application row — HP-1002 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    High-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (110 net hp / 129 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-1002

    K&N publishes HP-1002 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1985 · High-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (110 net hp / 129 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1985 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1985 Dodge Charger 2.2-liter application row — HP-1002 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Turbocharged and multi-port fuel-injected 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (146 net hp / 170 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-1002

    K&N publishes HP-1002 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1985 · Turbocharged and multi-port fuel-injected 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (146 net hp / 170 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1985 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1985 Dodge Charger 2.2-liter application row — HP-1002 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Car and Driver — 1985 Dodge Shelby Charger Turbo instrumented evaluation
  2. CarGurus — 1985 Charger base, Charger 2.2, and Shelby Turbo roster
  3. DodgeGarage — 60 Years of the Dodge Charger, Generation 5: 1982–1987

Other Fifth generation years

All Fifth generation · L-body (FWD subcompact) years →

Browse by tag

← All Dodge Charger years