The G-body series of the Dodge Daytona remains an unsung hero of the 1980s hot hatch wars. While the Volkswagen GTI and the Toyota Celica got all the glory, Dodge was actually churning out a fairly compelling sport compact fighter loaded up with both technology and high-performance components. Regardless, the market never really gave these front-drivers the respect they deserved, which means you can still pick up a very decent example for not much cash. Check out this 1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z here on craigslist for $8,500 with a few small issues noted.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find. The seller notes he snagged this clean Daytona out of a private collection in North Carolina a few years back, and I always find it interesting when certain cars are noted as having been part of a “collection.” Sure, that term is used liberally these days, and some guy’s assortment of dead project vehicles in his front yard can be called a “collection” if you squint hard enough. However, it also sometimes refers to a car that a guy with an eye for clean examples snagged off the proverbial little old lady and stuck in his warehouse simply because he had the space. This Daytona looks like it could definitely be part of the latter category based on the condition shown here.
Small details like the factory badges not being sun-faded to heck and the original dealer emblem still affixed to the rear hatch are all tell-tale signs of a car that’s been loved. The Daytona also comes with the high-end features of the day like the driver control center in the dash and the optional leather bucket seats, along with the T-top roof. The leather buckets are in good shape and the T-tops still have their factory storage bags. The Dodge obviously sports the preferred combination of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a manual gearbox as well, and the seller notes that interior issues are limited to an A/C system that has been converted to R134A and likely needs a recharge.
The Daytona features the venerable 2.2L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, good for just under 150 b.h.p. in 1986. These engines respond well to upgrades, and while later models got increasingly more exotic options including a rare and sought-after Lotus-designed DOHC head. One detail that remains unknown about this particular Daytona is whether it has the optional Carroll Shelby suspension package, which seems likely given the original owner seemingly checked all the right boxes when spec’ing this one out. Look for larger sway bars and upgraded struts if you want to confirm. This looks like a tidy example of a car that’s hard to find with the right options and in preserved condition.
Love the turbo Mopars. Nice comfortable seats, good stereo. 🎶
Bought one new. Loved it. Got into the high 140s with it on a pretty much deserted interstate but it’s real plus was the comfort on long runs. It had all the Shelby goodies which made for fun track days and autocrosses.
Wild top end bobhess. Only a bit over 2700lbs to move around. These were real featherweights. Around 900 lbs less than today’s Mustang Ecoboost wow.
I was surprised at the top speed as l thought there was a governor that limited the speed. The high top gear just let it go.
Nice, yours has the “C/S” package, as most of the ’86 Turbo Zs did. As I said below, it’s very unusual to see an ’86 without that package.
These were under my radar at the time but looking at this example I got to say, Dodge knew where the market was headed and built a nice hot hatch. Much nicer than that Omni GLH. Ughh. Fix the air and wipers and be on the lookout for that Lotus head and Shelby suspension bits.
Worked on several back in the day,so also had to test drive, be ready for turbo to spool up on wet roads when you punch it in 1st gear…
True. First autocross I turned a 180 degree turn into a 90 degree turn when the turbo kicked in. I learned that mistake real quick.
I became kind of a nerd on these awhile back. This one sticks out in that it doesn’t have the “C/S” package, which included the “bottlecap” wheels, 50 series tires, and some handling upgrades. It’s rare to see a 1986 Turbo Z Daytona without that package. Most of them seemed to have it – 7,704 per online sources. I’m not sure how many Shelby Zs were made this year though.
My sister had same car, but cloth interior. Seats were awesome and door was ajar, lol.
But…I hated that shifter look and the silly ring lift thing for reversing.
An engine swap kit is available to put a small block Mopar in and convert to rear drive. I had a 1984 Daytona Turbo Z, ultimately traded it on a Corvette but, it was a fun car. I just couldn’t get the sound of 4 barrels opening in my head. My Daytona had 7,000 miles on it when I traded it. My dad called me an idiot.
With today’s smaller engine choices it has my old school mind thinking about putting a full frame under it and figure out what small V8 will fit the engine bay. My days of putting 350 small blocks in Datsun and Chevy luv trucks is long past but it was still fun to do
I stop calling Chryslers Mopar after 74 or any malaise era cars.Nice car though.
Thank Goodness Dodge and Mopar itself didn’t. Mopar’s Direct Connection offered some really nice performance parts for these and the other cars of the era. Yeah, sucks that it wasn’t an 8 but hey, it was innovative, advanced and fun for the time frame!
Besides these, there were other offerings that helped make it through to the modern Mopars, such as the 70-80’s Roadrunners and Aspen R/T’s, which were both pretty cool, offered with V8’s and ttops.
It sure was a truly terrible time for car enthusiasts but there were a few limited bright spots from the big 3, including Chrysler/Mopar.
This car is in beautiful cosmetic condition. I had a 1986 Daytona with the 2.5 engine. It was my daily driver. It was a very nice car.
My girlfriend (at that time) had the Lazer (or Laser? Can’t remember the spelling) complete twin except hers was an automatic. Thing talked to much but otherwise was a great car! It outperformed most other stock new car offerings. She was a Night Rider fan and 19 at the time so since the car had all the talking electronic features she got a personalized license plate that read My Kitt.