The Legendary Dodge Turbo Charger Concept: The Supercar That Never Reached Production

A Glimpse Into Dodge’s Forgotten Dream: The Turbo Charger Concept Car

Dodge has always been a name synonymous with American muscle, but in the early 1980s, the brand dared to dream further. The Dodge Turbo Charger concept encapsulated this spirit—a visionary sports car that was years ahead of its time, and one that still fuels "what if" debates among automotive enthusiasts worldwide. Never produced for the masses, this one-off masterpiece is now heading to auction, offering collectors a unique chance to own a piece of automotive history that was nearly lost behind the closed doors of Dodge’s design studio.

An Era of Innovation and Risk-Taking in the Auto Industry

The early 1980s marked a pivotal turning point for Detroit’s Big Three—General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler (Dodge’s parent company). The American car market was changing rapidly, driven by tighter regulations, shifting consumer preferences, and the rising challenge of Japanese imports. Amid this climate, Dodge sought not just to keep pace but to redefine the brand’s identity with cutting-edge performance technologies and styling. The result was the audacious Dodge Turbo Charger—an automotive concept car unlike anything on the road, designed to showcase the future of turbocharged American performance.

Design Language: Futuristic Looks Way Ahead of Its Time

Developed by Dodge’s Special Vehicles team, the Turbo Charger concept was instantly recognizable. Its low, sharply slanted front end, flush-mounted headlight covers, and sweeping lower air dam all served aerodynamics, reducing drag for better high-speed stability. At the rear, a dramatic wing and aggressive diffuser not only made a visual statement but also played a functional role in enhancing downforce—features commonly seen in European exotics, but rarely on American cars of the era. Compare it to the 1970s Alpine A310 and the resemblance is clear, yet the Turbo Charger carved out its own identity with muscular lines and a bold stance.

Interior: Motorsports-Inspired Cockpit

Inside, the Turbo Charger wore its racing inspiration proudly. The Recaro sport seats with RJS harnesses, integrated roll cage, and a dashboard lined with 11 individual gauges created an aircraft-inspired, cockpit-like environment. Every detail, from the instrument cluster spanning the car’s width to the minimalist, purposeful layout, added to the impression that this was no ordinary concept—it was a rolling testbed for innovations.

Performance Specs: Under the Hood

At the heart of the Dodge Turbo Charger concept was a turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, this setup drove power to the rear wheels—another departure from Dodge’s front-wheel-drive lineup at the time. The engine was good for 142 horsepower (144 metric) and 160 lb-ft (217 Nm) of torque, not ground-breaking on paper, but the car featured heavily reworked suspension, a wider track, bespoke shocks and sway bars, upgraded stopping power, and NACA ducting for optimized cooling. These chassis enhancements signaled serious performance intent.

Why It Never Made Production: Market Realities vs. Vision

Despite strong reactions and a successful debut as a pace car at the PPG Indy Car World Series in 1981 and 1982, financial and logistical roadblocks ultimately kept the Turbo Charger from reaching showrooms. The exotic features—gullwing doors, advanced suspension geometry, intricate aerodynamics—proved too costly to bring to series production, especially at a time when recession and unpredictable consumer tastes made massive investments risky. Instead, Dodge took select technological elements from the concept, such as turbocharged powertrains, and later incorporated them into their actual production cars, debuting a turbo 2.2L engine in 1984. Still, the full vision never became reality, earning the Turbo Charger concept a near-mythical status among concept cars.

Show Car Stardom and Auction Spotlight

The Turbo Charger concept wasn’t just a static showpiece. It dazzled audiences at both the Chicago and Detroit Auto Shows, instantly positioning Dodge as a serious player back in the performance car market—even if just in spirit. Its role as an Indy Car World Series pace car only further cemented its performance creds. The original concept began life in an eye-catching Silver and Red, later repainted in Silver and Blue, with a grey sport interior, SVI three-piece wheels, and unmistakable roof-mounted beacon lights that signaled its track ambitions.

The Final Curtain: Auction Details and Legacy

With the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum in Chicago closing its doors, everything from its vast collection must go, including this piece of automotive lore. The Dodge Turbo Charger concept goes up for auction with no reserve at Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy 2025 event, scheduled for Sunday, September 21. Also crossing the block: nearly 300 collector cars and more than 1,000 pieces of Road Art.

The museum closes after a preview weekend on September 13-14, offering a last chance for fans to see the Turbo Charger concept up close. The collection’s founder, Larry Klairmont, passed in 2020, and the immense costs and effort involved in caring for so many rare vehicles led to this storied collection’s final chapter.

Comparisons and Influence: A Concept That Shaped Dodge’s Future

While the Turbo Charger never saw mass production, its influence can be traced through Dodge’s later return to turbocharged performance and aerodynamic styling cues. The concept stands as a bold “what if”—a symbol of what American supercar design might have become. For collectors, automotive historians, and fans of classic concept cars, the opportunity to own the Dodge Turbo Charger is more than a purchase—it’s an invitation to steward an icon that still ignites imaginations four decades later.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to acquire one of Dodge’s most legendary and elusive concept cars—a striking blend of design, innovation, and racing passion that truly was ahead of its time.