Car Model History

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

1987Dodge 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)

1987 Dodge Charger — L-body front-wheel-drive hatchback, front left view

Photo: “1987 Dodge Charger, front left, 08-27-2023” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines
4offeredRegular-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter → Shelby-modified intercooled turbo 2.2-liter
Top output
175hpShelby-modified intercooled turbo 2.2-liter

Body styles3-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1987 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 1987 Charger

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

4factory 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.

4versions shown
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Dodge Charger 2.2-liter

Body
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
Regular-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (96 net hp / 119 lb-ft)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Dodge Charger High-Output 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
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
Non-intercooled Turbo I multi-port-EFI 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (146 net hp / 168 lb-ft)
Gearbox
Close-ratio 5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Shelby Charger GLH-S

Body
Three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
Turbocharged and intercooled 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (175 net hp / 175 lb-ft)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
1,000 final Dodge-built Shelby Chargers converted by Shelby Automobiles
Open exact version

The 1987 model year

Overview

The L-body Charger's final model year paired a simplified regular range with two distinct Shelby products. The base Charger used Chrysler's naturally aspirated 2.2 in regular 96-hp or optional 110-hp high-output form. Dodge-built Shelby Chargers retained the non-intercooled 146-hp Turbo I. Separately, Shelby Automobiles purchased the final 1,000 black Shelby Chargers and converted them in Whittier into serialized Charger GLH-S models with an intercooled 175-hp engine, Koni dampers, revised intake and turbo hardware, and unique branding.

Specifications

Engines
  • Regular-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter96 hp
  • High-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter110 hp
  • Turbo I multi-port-EFI 2.2-liter146 hp
  • Shelby-modified intercooled turbo 2.2-liter175 hp
Transmissions
5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic (regular-output base Charger only)
Body styles
3-door front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Dimensions
Wheelbase 96.5 in · Length approximately 174.7–174.8 in · GLH-S curb weight approximately 2,580 lb

Year over year

What changed

  • The former three-model regular range was simplified; the regular Charger used 2.2-liter power while the high-output version remained available.
  • Dodge's assembly-line Shelby Turbo continued at 146 hp with a five-speed manual.
  • Shelby Automobiles converted the last 1,000 black cars into GLH-S models rather than treating GLH-S as an ordinary Dodge trim.
  • GLH-S changes included an air-to-air intercooler, different turbocharger and intake, larger throttle body and fuel rails, 12 psi boost, Koni dampers, and serialized dash identification.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • Shelby's brochure states 175 hp from a turbocharged, intercooled, multi-port-injected 2.2-liter engine.
  • Car and Driver measured 0–60 mph in 6.7 seconds and a 14.9-second quarter-mile at 95 mph in its GLH-S test.
  • The GLH-S carried no ordinary factory options and used a four-digit serialized dash plaque.
  • After 1987 the L-body Charger ended; Dodge did not return the nameplate to production until the 2006 model year.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Do not collapse the Dodge-built 146-hp Shelby Turbo and Shelby Automobiles' 175-hp GLH-S into one application; their induction, charge cooling, boost, calibration, suspension, and identification parts differ.
  • Regular-output and high-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter Chargers also require calibration-specific engine and ignition fitment checks.
  • The archived maintenance schedule rendered below covers a Dodge 2.2-liter record and does not establish a complete Shelby GLH-S service schedule or Shelby-specific part fitment.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1987 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 1987 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: 1987 · 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 — 1987 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: 1987 · 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 — 1987 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: 1987 · United States

    Regular-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (96 net hp / 119 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: 1987 · Regular-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (96 net hp / 119 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1987 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1987 Dodge Charger 2.2-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: 1987 · High-output naturally aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (110 net hp / 129 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1987 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1987 Dodge Charger 2.2-liter application row — HP-1002 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Non-intercooled Turbo I multi-port-EFI 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (146 net hp / 168 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: 1987 · Non-intercooled Turbo I multi-port-EFI 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (146 net hp / 168 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1987 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1987 Dodge Charger 2.2-liter application row — HP-1002 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Turbocharged and intercooled 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (175 net hp / 175 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: 1987 · Turbocharged and intercooled 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four (175 net hp / 175 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1987 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1987 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. Automobile-Catalog — 1987 Dodge Charger base-model specifications
  2. CarGurus — 1987 Charger, Shelby Turbo, and final-year GLH-S roster
  3. Shelby Automobiles — 1987 Charger GLH-S factory brochure
  4. Car and Driver — 1987 Shelby Charger GLH-S instrumented evaluation
  5. 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