Coming off my NASCAR post, I thought this would be a perfect time to post a quick spotlight of a car I came across at the Mopar Spring Fling show in Van Nuys.
From across the grass the shape of this '69 Dodge Charger Daytona was unmistakable, and I quickly found myself heading right toward this piece of Mopar history.
It was just sitting on a trailer, no one around it, no for sale sign. Nothing. All I know about it is what I saw.
There's a possibility it may have even been a replica, but it certainly looked legit to me.
This one looked like it had a competition background to it. You can see the side pipes dumping in front of the rear tires there.
A peek inside revealed a pair of bucket seats, racing gauges and mean looking shift lever.
The wheels were widened Mopar "cop wheels" with fat Goodyear tires, filling out the fenders nicely.
Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a show car.
It had a very mean, functional look to it, and that was the reason I was drawn to it.
Maybe there's a chance it will pop up sometime and one of the vintage race events here in California. How cool would that be?
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
the car looks awesome, and its backstory is probably even more interesting. I think you guys need to make up some Speedhunter cards to put on cars you find interesting, so the owners can contact you later on to give some information, or even arrange a photoshoot. That would certainly be helpful, there are plenty of times you stumble upon an awesome car at a show or in a parking lot of an event and there's no one around it...
all i can say is i hope mopar was just trolling us when they made this and the superbird...
AWESOME
Love the straight race car look going on here.
First car back in the day to do 200 mph!
One of my favorite cars. That thing looks mean as hell.
I completely agree with hushypushy. I would love to hear whether this is a replica or the real deal.
A Daytona/Superbird holds the production coupe record at Bonneville at like 245MPH.
This one has a great road race/tough look to it. Love those wide front meats! Wish we had an engine bay shot.
it looks pretty convincing even if it is a replica, a photo of the engine may have helped to answer a few more questions.. i think we should all keep our eyes peeled to see if it pops up anywhere else!! - thanks for the insight tho'. - an absolute flying machine!
Pretty hopless you couldn't find more out about it.
No roll bar or roll cage. But the rear bumper fairings say "circle track racer". Those fairings are so the cars don't hook each other when they "rub". So I don't really get what it is.
Remember me ''Cars'' hahaha, nice car
me wants...
I've never seen that one piece front nose section, normally its like a regular charger rectangular front end, with the slanted "nose" piece bolted on...this looks like its all one big front end. I'm def interested in finding out some more if possible.
beautiful. love the functional look to it.
one of the most important performance vehicles of that era
I was never a fan of the Daytona, but this one has an unspeakable aura surround it that makes me like it!
Among other things it has lexan windows n has obviously turned a wheel in anger from the gum on the rear fenders don't care if its a replica.
this thing is beautifuly mean.. replica or not that thing would be so fun to take to a track!!
I hate it when car owners use such a weak wheel offset............. HAHA, car looks good. I bet it's worth a fortune.
always loved this car as a kid and still do.. best wing ever!!
One of the greatest cars of all time.
It could be an original Daytona, but it doesnt look like the doors were ever welded shut, and it looks like the glass and window risers are still intact. It doesnt look like it was a Grand National Car back in the day. The fuel fill could have been returned from the side of the fender for fuel cell to the top of the fender, and restoring the tail lights would have been one of the easier changes. But it could have had a quarter mile or Bonneville back ground. Who knows how many times that car has been built and rebuilt since it left the show room back in 69.
I agree with JMango. Street versions never had that one piece fender/nose cone.
Joe: Joe Deertay.
Guard: Don't try to church it up, son. Don't you mean "Joe Dirt"? Naming you that, your daddy must've really hated you.
Joe: Your wrong, brother.
Guard: I have a good name for this car... "Rusty".
Joe: Shit'll buff out.
Guard: Don't bother, just drive this piece of crap off a cliff. Do us all a favor.
Anyways now that I got the Joe Dirt out of my system... great car. Always adored the Dodge Charger... well, before they turned them into "make a pimp proud" hoopties in 1975 (no offence if you own one), then horrible fwd hatch backs built with autoshops in mind in 1983 (no offence if you own one), and then into pointlessly juiced up four door family sedans in 2006 (no offense if you own one). The last real Chargers worth owning died off in 1974... and so I guess thats why dinosaurs like this 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona are considered a celebrity to auto enthusiast today, sold for nearly $100k, and deserves a post for its own...
Here's the scoop on this car:
http://autoholics.com/2011/05/09/Sean-Machado-s-Daytona-Clone-is-a-Mean-Track-Toy-529854
Not entirely sure this is the real deal, as far as I know, these NASCAR-spec Daytonas were built with a cage. I do not see one in this car.
[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij9HK2GNTbQ:600:375] Remember the Mysterious Dodge Charger Daytona