My "new" car....sorry...still not "muscle"

[srt4eh]

Lemme know whatcha think.....all I'll say is its a 1995 Dodge Neon ACR Challenge Car #18. (they only made 20....and a handful have been crashed, etc)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/IMG_0822.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/photo-2.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/IMG_0774.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/IMG_69891.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/IMG_6988.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/IMG_6992.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/18-5.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/18-2.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/srt4eh/18-7.jpg

[Voodoo Chick]

It's really cute......but I think you should clean the snow off and get it a car cover. It'll feel more loved then, lol........

[srt4eh]

I did....lol...that was just after the big snow we had and there was a "Snowy Neon" thread on neons.org and it was the perfect opportunity. But yeah...it'll be more loved once I get back from the 'stan and I can take it auto-xing and on a few road courses. :)

[Voodoo Chick]

It really is very pretty. I like all the graphics on it.

[UnderPSI]

Bolt in cage?? Why not just put those ugly stickers on a regular neon and take the radio out? Then you have the same thing with out the gay cage.

[srt4eh]

I was waiting for a response like this. These cars were made by Dodge in 1995 for use in the Spec Neon Racing Series. Typically referred to as Neon Challenge. Everything on the car is exactly how it was when it was raced in the series. Stickers, cage, Halon fire suppression, etc. are all original. It also has Koni Adjustable Struts, no ac, no rear defrost, etc.

It's ok though...I like it and its competitive. It's not for everyone though

[Voodoo Chick]

I would leave it just as it is, if I were you. It looks very different from all the others, which makes it eye-catching. It's a real nice little car.

[Al]

Is that one of the aluminum-bodied neons?

I remember hearing that about 20 neons were made where they used aluminum instead of steel in the construction. I think the wheels were different.

[CannotPost]

It's ok though...I like it and its competitive.

Agreed, Neons make good track cars... lots of groups to race with. Nice score! What rim/tire combo does it run?

[Feature Pony]

I think that is a cool looking little car. I'm sure in the future it probably worth some coin but who knows. Didn't some celebrities race these cars on MTV back in the 90's?

[RanJer]

I'm sure Turtle will be jealous. Cool buy, only thing that really bothers me is the colorful NEON on the steering wheel :puke

[Exitspeed]

Looks like a fun track car.

You should make it look more menacing. Paint it flat black with glossy black stripes.

[nismodave]

Personally, it DOES look like a stock neon with cage and stickers.

BUT, from what you say, if you are a neon fan, its something special.

Congrats on your purchase.:headbang

[shoooo32]

I remember those cars. In the days before spec miata and spec e30 the only way to race a touring car on the cheap was a neon!

[CannotPost]

it DOES look like a stock neon with cage and stickers.

Good input captain obvious!

:goof I kidd :goof

[srt4eh]

I think that is a cool looking little car. I'm sure in the future it probably worth some coin but who knows. Didn't some celebrities race these cars on MTV back in the 90's?

Yes :) :thumbsup

As for aluminum bodies...I'm not sure about that. I do know that the 95 ACRs are the lightest of any Neons...especially with absolutely no options.

It runs the stock neon wheel size. I will probably stick with that since I have a couple sets of rims.

As for Turtle....when he helped throw the exhaust on my wifes STi I told him about it....he seemed pretty excited :headbang

[srt4eh]

Looks like a fun track car.

You should make it look more menacing. Paint it flat black with glossy black stripes.

But that would destroy the history of it.....although I may do that with my 98. :thumbsup

Yeah...the neon sticker on the steering wheel is definately not very cool...but once again...it was there when they raced it :(

[shoooo32]

keep it stock! While it doesn't seem that cool to some people on the board I promise this car could be a museum piece in 30 years. Don't you guys get exited over rare factory race cars?

[Waver]

keep it the way it is, and dont crash it....a lot of the limited edition fwd Dodge vehicles are doing well as far as resale.

[wrath]

I'd stash it in a barn somewhere and only drive it once in a while. It's going to be worth money someday. I don't like Neons but a decade ago when I saw the little domestic ricers zipping around the track I almost liked wrong wheel drive cars. But anyway, if you can afford to not drive it all the time I'd do it since it seems to be unmolested so far.

[Exitspeed]

But that would destroy the history of it.....although I may do that with my 98. :thumbsup

Yeah...the neon sticker on the steering wheel is definately not very cool...but once again...it was there when they raced it :(

Are you Jason?

[Prince Valiant]

I bought a 95 neon ACR brand new back in the day...needed a car to get me around college. Great little car.

Mine was a 4 door and had a radio and air...had to have the dealer install cruise control.

I don't know anything about the "challenge" cars, but ACR's do have the better suspension (Bigger sway bars front and rear than even the R/T's had), mine had eagle NCT2 tires, 3.94 transaxle (vs 3.55 stock), 0.81:1 5th gear ratio (R/T cars got the 0.72:1 paired with the 3.94 axle), 4 wheel disc brakes with NO abs (only latter R/T's got the rear disc...otherwise it was only an ACR deal), NO rev limiter to trip you up on the track.

What was funny was that I picked the car because it had the silver alloy wheels combined with the black exterior, the car looked fairly sharp...and a lot less "cute".

It was an absolute blast to drive to boot...pretty quick, especially for an economical car, and especially for the time. The car consistently returned 35-37mpg on trips with speeds up to 80mph...and a couple exceptional tanks returned 40+mpg.

I took mine to the track about a month after getting it...very first time I raced it, I finished a half-car behind a stock 86 4eyed mustang...AND I had a passenger in the car. Time on that run was 16.1...

My best time, bone stock with the SOHC 132hp engine was 15.8x @ ~85mph. A buddy of mine with an R/T consistently got the same times as me...but his traps were ~87-88mph.

But I do remember how the neon of course caused some laughter at the track...but after a few passes, it was stirring interest and inquiries. People wanted to know if I had modded it, put a turbo on, etc...It was bone stock down to the paper element. I was handily faster than all the FWD "sports compact" cars that were just begining to show up at the track in those days.

I ended up putting on over 200,000 miles on it before selling it to another college student (my dad used the car as a commuter car for about a year and half going from saukville to green bay every day...used it for it's mileage). Still ran great, paint was still in great shape, etc. In hindsight, I wish I would have kept it...I'd have loved to swap a hopped up 2.4 in it's place...alas.

I still kind of keep my eye open for real first-gen ACR cars...

[lordairgtar]

An awesome bit of Dodge race history. I remember when those made the circuits. They were of the same idea as when VW Rabbit sand Datsun 510s were available for club racing use. Basic inexpensive (for racing) car for people to get their feet wet in motorsports.

[srt4eh]

Yeah...it has 17k original miles....I'll be keeping it stock and safe. I am not Jason...in fact I am Eddie one of Jason's friends. I have 3 other cars so this car won't be seeing much besides a few track days and whatever neon meets come along.

Valiant - the challenge car is pretty much a bone stock 95 acr that they took straight off the assembly line and beefed up. its a 2 door so it got the DOHC 150hp engine making it a little more "feisty". Handles like a dream....I used to have a 98 acr and it was nothing compared to this.

[Prince Valiant]

When your back in the states and the weather's decent, I'd love to get a ride in that thing if you've ever got it out...great car. Found a pic of some '96 cars:

http://brewcitymuscle.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5853&stc=1&d=1231009515

Lutz in the days when he was really relevant.

[johnny--2k]

take the stupid colors off the steering wheel and it might be bearable to drive IN. As for the outside, it's not bad looking, just nothing special looking either. Looks like a neon with stickers to the naked eye.....

[BoosTT]

Mind if I ask how much it was?

[formul8]

Did they actually run the events with those seats?

[wikked]

what's the retail on one of those?

[Prince Valiant]

what's the retail on one of those?
I can't speak for the "challenge" ACR's...but ACR with A/C and radio was about mid-13's on the window...after haggling and having cruise control installed, I was out the door ~ 12,500 with ttl...

[srt4eh]

i paid 4k for it. They modified the stock seats to sit a little lower...with a 4 point harness you don't move ;)

[srt4eh]

For the 1995 season they built new black 1995 ACR Coupes. The cars were prepped basically the same as the 1994 season ACR sedans were: "neon" side graphics, Kirk cage, kill switch, fire system, harnesses & window net.

For the 1996-97 season, the same '95 model year ACR Coupes got new paint jobs with yellow on the top and a moustache like stripe (blue or red) on the side.

For the 1998 season, they dressed the same 1995 cars up as R/Ts and re-named the series the Neon Charity Challenge. They painted the cars in the R/T colors (red, white, blue, black) with R/T wheels & spoilers.

The Challenge ACR coupes were not raced after the 1998 season. It appears that the 1995-98 Challenge cars eventually ended up at a driving school of some sort.

[Exitspeed]

I am not Jason...in fact I am Eddie one of Jason's friends.\

Ah. I went HS with Jason. I race a 240 at the Auto-X events.

Tell him Mel said what's up and I'll see him at the track in spring. :headbang

[CAMAROJV123]

I really like the graphics! I've never seen a neon like that before

[Todd Z]

Cool affordable track car. Change the seats, most clubs won't allow any kind of harness with a factory seat. The belt has to go through the seat.

[srt4eh]

Cool affordable track car. Change the seats, most clubs won't allow any kind of harness with a factory seat. The belt has to go through the seat.

Ahh...that I did not know....I will definately be doing that. Thanks :headbang

[michelle]

Congrats! Where do you plan on running it?

[srt4eh]

Congrats! Where do you plan on running it?

roadamerica, blackhawk farms, miller park auto-x, and wherever I can find to race in KY and surrounding areas. :thumbsup

[lordairgtar]

http://cgi.ebay.com/THREE-DODGE-NEON-RACERS-3-COLORS-95-96-BROOKFIELD-PROM-_W0QQitemZ250351765020QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ2009010 4?IMSfp=TL090104112007r10436
You can get promo models of those cars

[awsomeears]

What a pile of junk, neon's suck donkey **** !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know what I think dam it !!!!

[srt4eh]

yeah...ive been looking at those models for a while...trying to get them for a good price....typically go pretty expensive for ones still with the original boxes.