If racing improves the breed, what kind of improvement is made when the aesthetics of a nearly perfect car is adjusted? That’s the story of our Pick of the Day, a Hemi-powered 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by Cars Remember When Auto Sales in Englewood, Colorado.
When Dodge introduced the redesigned Charger in the fall of 1967, it gave the brand a much-needed positive injection to its rather conservative image. While the new-for-1966 Charger was a looker, even looking like a show car of sorts, it was a niche specialty vehicle. Everything about the Charger was deluxe, though the subtly updated ’67 was decontented, (with those particular features available as options). Nonetheless, production fell precipitously by more than 50 percent.
That all changed with the 1968 Charger, which evolved from a fastback to a sleek coupe featuring a recessed rear window and flying buttresses. It didn’t initially start out that way, as Dodge design honcho Bill Brownlie had planned to continue the fastback style. However, Dodge Exterior Studio manager Charles Mitchell and B-body development manager Frank Ruff had encouraged stylist Richard Sias to develop the futuristic “double diamond” shape he had been working on. The design study from 1964-65 was never intended to become the 1968 Charger, but that’s how it ended up.
Car and Driver wrote, “Dodge stylists have shown that they can create a car in the current idiom with originality, combining just the right amount of tasteful conformity with that novelty and freshness which attracts attention.” The Steve McQueen cop movie “Bullitt” solidified the Charger’s street creds, while “The Dukes of Hazzard” gave a new generation of humans something to appreciate a decade later, with “The Fast and the Furious” doing the same thing for a newer generation.
Starting in February 1969, a more aerodynamic Charger 500 debuted at the Daytona 500. The primary modifications were the nose featuring a flush grille (borrowed from the Coronet) and backlite, both created to prevent turbulence. However, when Dearborn upped the ante with the Torino Talladega and Cyclone Spoiler Sports Special, Dodge had to do something. After more wind tunnel testing, a nose cone and tall spoiler (among other tweaks) were installed to create the Charger Daytona. With reservations, this was the first NASCAR stock car to reach 200 mph.
It is difficult to put oneself in an era and have the sensibility of the time, especially when one wasn’t alive, but it is known that the Daytona was not admired in the same way we do today. In terms of collectible cars, the Hemi-powered version of the Daytona checks several of the collectible boxes: rarity, homologation (both the aero bits and the 426 Hemi), and looks. Though it was believed 503 Daytonas were built and, of those, 70 were powered by the Hemi, more recent research suggests those numbers to be inflated—in one case, by a lot. For certain, 499 Daytonas were built, plus the test mule that’s considered the first Daytona, to meet the homologation requirement for 500 cars; it’s possible there were several more prototypes to make 503. The number 70 is more difficult to determine, but thanks to a shipping list and the efforts of enthusiasts, we know that 35 Hemis were built for the U.S. plus another five more for Canada.
It’s that shipping list that determines that this 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona is likely the only Hemi-powered one painted “B5” Bright Blue metallic (I say likely because there are three cars out of the 40 with undetermined configurations). It has been a resident of Colorado since being built (sold new in Greely), is in the hands of the original owner’s family, and shows just 43,041 miles. Features include the A32 Super Performance Axle Package (TorqueFlite and Dana 60 rear with 4.10 Sure-Grip), C16 console, N85 tachometer with clock, S77 power steering, G15 tinted windshield, and R11 Music Master AM Radio.
The Hemi Daytona is perhaps #2 in desirability in the Mopar world, after the Hemi’Cuda convertible. With that in mind, it should not be surprising that the asking price is $2,200,000.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
