Dodge Charger Daytona

Dodge Charger Daytona
Overview
Manufacturer	Dodge (Chrysler)
Production	1969–1970 2006–2009
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle car
Layout	FR layout

Dodge, an American automobile brand, produced three separate vehicles with the name Dodge Charger Daytona, all of which were modified Dodge Chargers. The name is taken from Daytona Beach, Florida, which was an early center for auto racing and still hosts the Daytona 500, one of NASCAR's premier events. The first use of the Daytona name on a car was on a version of the Studebaker Lark. The Daytona was the performance model of the compact Lark and it was produced from 1963–1966.This vehicle has also starred in the BlockBuster action film, Fast and Furious 6.

1969

First generation
Overview
Production	1969
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle car and Race car
Body style	2-door coupe
Platform	Chrysler B platform
Related	Dodge Charger 500 Plymouth Superbird
Powertrain
Engine	426 Hemi 426 cu in (7.0 L) V8 440 Magnum 440 cu in (7.2 L) V8
Transmission	4-speed manual 3-speed automatic Torqueflite 727
Dimensions
Wheelbase	117 in (2,972 mm)

With the failure of the 1969 Dodge Charger 500 on the highbanks of the superspeedways (tracks of a mile, or more in length), the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was created. It was intended to be a high-performance, limited-edition version of the Dodge Charger produced in the summer of 1969 for the sole purpose of winning high profile NASCAR races. It won its first race out, the inaugural Talladega 500 in the fall, although it was a rather hollow victory as all of the top names had left the track on Saturday in a boycott of the 1969 Talladega race. Buddy Baker in the #88 Chrysler Engineering Dodge Charger Daytona was the first driver in NASCAR history to break the 200  mph mark on March 24, 1970 at Talladega. The 1969 Dodge Daytona won two races in 1969 and another four in 1970 for a total of 6. Its successor, the 1970 Plymouth Superbird, won 8 races - all in 1970. (In a bit of irony, in 1969 a Daytona won at Talladega, and a Ford Torino Talladega won at Daytona.) These compare with 29 NASCAR victories for the 1969 Ford Torino Talladega, and 8 for the 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II. The 1969 Dodge Charger 500 managed to win 22 NASCAR races over the 1969 and 1970 seasons; however, all but one of those victories came on the short tracks - several of which were still being run on dirt at the time.

One of the four famous aero-cars, the Dodge Daytona had featured special body modifications that included a 23-inch-tall (584 mm) stabilizer wing on the rear deck, a special sheet-metal "nose cone" that replaced the traditional upright front grille, a flush rear backlight (rear window area), a 'window cap' to cover the original Charger's recessed rear window, specific front fenders and hood that were modeled after the upcoming 1970 Charger, stainless steel A-pillar covers and fender mounted tire clearance/brake cooling scoops. The Daytona was built on the 1969 Charger's R/T trim specifications, meaning that it carried a heavy-duty suspension and brake setup and was equipped with a 440 CID Magnum engine as standard. Of special note to collectors is the optional 426 CID Hemi V8 engine, which only 70 of the 503 Daytonas carried. It had a corporate cousin in the "one year-only" 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

Re-creation of record-breaking #88 NASCAR Charger Daytona at the 1998 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The "Winged Warriors", as they were affectionately known, did not compete for long in NASCAR's top Cup series. Because of their exceptional speed and performance, NASCAR subsequently changed the rule book, effectively banning all five of the Aero Cars from Dodge, Ford, Mercury, and Plymouth from competition by the end of 1970. See also Plymouth Superbird, Ford Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II for additional information about the aero cars.

The Dodge Daytona is now a very rare and valuable collectible, with 440-powered Daytonas reaching into six-figure territory and 426 hemi-engined cars passing the $300,000.00 mark. The "Super Charger IV EL", which looked like a roadster prototype spin-off of the Charger Daytona minus the roof and spoiler, is seen as a pimp-mobile in the 1974 film Truck Turner. Actually, it was just an older Charger show car updated with a SuperBird nose.

A car resembling the Daytona appeared in Universal Studio's 2013 action movie Fast & Furious 6. According to the story line of the film it was an ultra-expensive original Hemi Daytona that had been modified into a pro touring super car. It was driven aggressively by the character Domenic Toretto played by Vin Diesel. In truth, the vehicles used in filming were actually regular 1968 to 1970 chargers with nose pieces and spoilers welded on. They used Chevrolet Racing crate motors and Brembo racing brakes to create a versatile stunt car. The car gets heavily damaged at the end of the film.

1975–1977

For 1975–77, the Daytona name returned on the Charger, which by this time had become a Chrysler Cordoba clone. The Daytona package of this era, however, was merely a 2-tone stripe-and-decal appearance package and although a "high performance" 400 cu. in. engine was optionally available in 1975 and 1976, its performance was nothing at all like its predecessor.^[1]

2006–2009

Second generation
Overview
Production	2006–2009
Assembly	Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle Car[2]
Body style	4-door sedan
Platform	Chrysler LX platform
Related	Chrysler 300C Dodge Magnum R/T Dodge Charger R/T Dodge Challenger
Powertrain
Engine	5.7L (345 CID) MDS Hemi V8 (2006-2008) 5.7L (345 CID) EZD, VCT, Hemi V8 (2009)
Transmission	5-speed W5A580 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120 in (3,048 mm)
Length	200.1 in (5,083 mm)
Width	74.5 in (1,892 mm)
Height	58.2 in (1,478 mm)

The Dodge Charger was reintroduced for 2006 with a limited production Dodge Charger Daytona package that included a sportier interior, classic high impact exterior colors, a rear spoiler, a front chin spoiler, a blacked out grille surround, rear quarter panel striping reading "DAYTONA" on either side, a blackout decal between the taillights on the decklid, and a blackout on the hood with the word "HEMI" cut out twice. Heritage R/T badges replaced the Stock R/T's chrome badges. A performance suspension with load-leveling rear shocks was also standard, as well as unique wheels. 2006 wheels were the stock R/T 18" wheels with charcoal grey painted pockets, and lower profile wider tires. 2007 to 2009 wheels are 20" chrome clad wheels. In 2008, the rear quarter panel stripes were removed, and replaced with a strobe stripe on the lower portions of the doors that reads "DAYTONA" towards the front of the stripe. The hood decal was also modified. The 2006-2008 Daytona gains 10 hp (7 kW) over the standard Charger R/T via a freer flowing exhaust system featuring a single pass center muffler, and a larger diameter stock air cleaner giving it 350 hp. The car also had unique engine management software that removed the stock R/T speed limiter. The 2009 features the new Variable Camshaft Timing HEMI, producing 368 hp (274 kW).

Color	Year	Units
Go ManGo!	2006	4000 (US), 200 (CDN)
Top Banana		4000 (US), 250 (CDN)
TorRed		2000 (US), 200 (CDN)
Sublime	2007	1500 (US), 150 (CDN)
Plum Crazy		1400 (US), 120 (CDN)
Hemi Orange	2008	1650 (US), 100 (CDN)
Stone White	2009	400 (US), 75 (CDN)

2013

Third generation
Overview
Production	2013
Assembly	Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle Car[2]
Body style	4-door sedan
Platform	Chrysler LX platform
Related	Chrysler 300C Dodge Charger R/T Dodge Challenger
Powertrain
Engine	5.7L (345 CID) V8
Transmission	5-speed automatic with AutoStick
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.2 in (3,053 mm)
Length	199.9 in (5,077 mm)
Width	75 in (1,905 mm)
Height	58.4 in (1,483 mm)

The 2013 Dodge Charger Daytona debuted at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show as the re-introduction of the legendary Dodge Charger Daytona. Available in Charger R/T and Charger R/T Road & Track trim levels, the 2013 Dodge Charger Daytona brought back the unique style of the historic Daytona package with all the modern performance and technology offered in the 2013 Charger line-up. Only 3,000 units of the Daytona were produced in this limited-production run.

"With its 370 horsepower HEMI V-8, rear-wheel drive and iconic design, the 2013 Dodge Charger is a modern day muscle car, and the new Dodge Charger Daytona takes it to a new level by paying homage to the historic 'Daytona' nameplate," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Dodge Brand. "It starts with a legendary HEMI underfoot and one-of-a-kind interior and exterior styling enhancements that perfectly combine heritage, performance and value, starting under $33,000 MSRP."

Available in a unique color palette of Daytona Blue, Bright White, Billet Silver or Pitch Black, the Daytona package featured special dark trim that built upon the Charger's iconic muscle car design. Satin Black adorned the front crosshair grille with heritage "R/T" badge, the custom vinyl hood graphic, roof wrap, rear R/T spoiler and the "DAYTONA" graphic on the rear quarter panels. It featured exclusive 20-inch five-spoke polished aluminum wheels with Gloss Black painted pockets.

Models also included a 'Daytona Blue' engine cover, performance 3.06 rear axle ratio, high-speed engine controller, paddle shifters with sport mode and performance steering and suspension.

The Dodge Charger Daytona's interior on the Road & Track featured unique black performance Nappa leather and suede heated and ventilated seats with Daytona Blue stitching and piping. Similarly, the Daytona on the R/T offered the same appearance in a custom sport cloth seat. "DAYTONA" was embroidered in blue into the upper front seat backs. Unique dark brushed aluminum trim surrounded the 8.4-inch Uconnect Touch screen and gauges on the instrument panel, as well as the trim around the shifter and cup holders on the center console. Finishing touches included a Mopar bright pedal kit, a 552-watt 10-speaker Beats Audio System, and a special numbered "DAYTONA" badge on the instrument panel that featured the build number of that specific Dodge Charger Daytona model.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) was $32,990 for R/T and $36,495 for R/T Road & Track Daytona models.^[3]

Production

Year	Production	Base Price
1969	503	US$3,993
2006	10,000	US$33,380
2007	2,900	US$36,090
2008	1,650	US$37,065
2009	400	US$37,610
2013	3000	US$36,495

References

1. http://blog.cardomain.com/2010/04/28/the-cardomain-obscure-muscle-car-parking-lot-1977-dodge-charger-daytona-1978-79-dodge-magnum-and-1979-chrysler-300/
2. "Best Muscle Cars Rankings - U.S. News Best Cars". rankingsandreviews.com.
3. "Dodge Charger Daytona". NetCarShow.com.

External links

• Allpar Dodge NASCAR Development Extensive history of Charger Daytona development

Related content

• Plymouth Superbird
• Ford Torino Talladega
• Dodge Charger 500