Another one Joins the Fleet

[MyDodgeDip]

Well, had to grab up this Wagon to save it from the scrap guys, plus it matches my 86 Aries so well. 1986 Plymouth Reliant, 2.2, 5 Speed, 200K Miles. (Yes, the Bus shifter... ) Other highlights include no AC, manual steering and a fuel pacer. Has some rust that I'll clean up and paint. Needs a good cleaning inside and out and a wax.

















Headliner is still up



Rear plastic is faded and sun damaged to almost tan/yellow. Some Spray Nine and Magic Erasers should bring it back ok.













And since there seems to be a lack of pictures of the infamous "Bus Shifter" online...

[nszotovich]

WOW! 5-speeds are pretty rare. Good catch. Best of luck.

[88AriesLEwagon]

Glad to see it got saved.I am amazed Chrysler stuck with bench/manual trans combo for as long as they did.We had that shifter in the 81 Aries coupe,and it was like stirring a pot of stew.Compared to the 85 SE with console 5speed,it was night and day.And having to push down on the shifter for reverse....quite strange.
Rare combo there.Treat it well.
And 220K miles? The odo shows 30K.(230K?)

[K-CAR_WAGON]

Very nice find!

What's a fuel pacer?

[dodgeariesguy]

When the manifold pressure drop's under full throttle the light illuminates to tell you to back off to save fuel.

[nszotovich]

My 85 Caravan had 5-speed and fuel pacer. Most of the time I had to ignore it because the car was really underpowered, especially with the air on.

[88AriesLEwagon]

Does it have an upshift light? I swear the 85 had one.

[MyDodgeDip]

The fuel pacer is sorta an up shift light.

The odo. was changed at 70K when it broke. Have it in a box. Also have the sticker that says the odo was changed. Also have complete maint. records from when it was almost new.

[88AriesLEwagon]

Well,I know the long since sold off 85 had in the place of your Fuel Pacer light,the normal "Front Wheel Drive" blockoff panel in the place of the normal A/T shift quadrant.I swear though the dash had an arrow up light in the middle of the cluster when it was time to shift.
Maybe I'm dreaming?

[88AriesLEwagon]

Maybe I'm thinking of my not so lamented 89 S10 I got rid of many many moons ago....that had an upshift light,I think...