There was once a time when a four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive architecture weren’t the recipe for high performance. However, cars like this 1993 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T proved what was possible when a manufacturer added a turbocharger to… more»
Daytona
Driver-Quality Exotic: 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”
In the mid-1960s, over at Pininfarina, Lionardi Fioavanti was sketching a new car. The result emerged in days and met with approval from his boss as well as Enzo Ferrari. The new two-seat grand tourer was a successor to… more»
1-of-250: 1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T
Dodge has applied the Daytona name to various models throughout its history, acknowledging the location’s importance in creating competition legends and the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” philosophy that forms part of motorsport history and its marketing strategy…. more»
Three Owners: 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Plexiglass
There’s rare, and then there’s rare. To Americans accustomed to production numbers of 1350 Mustang Boss 429s and 2326 AMC Rebel “The Machines”, a population of 385 copies feels infinitesimal. The larger set of 365 GTB/4s amounted to only… more»
Spare Engine Included: 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z
Some enthusiasts experience a form of barely concealed horror at the thought of the Daytona and Shelby names being attached to anything but a classic with a rumbling V8 under the hood. However, that was a reality in the… more»
289-Powered Compact Cruiser: 1964 Studebaker Daytona
There seem to be numerous automakers who had success stories followed by a downfall, but probably not too many with roots dating all the way back to the mid-nineteenth century, as that’s when Studebaker was founded primarily to build… more»
South Bend’s Last Days: 1964 Studebaker Daytona
The 1964 model year was a turning point for Studebaker Corp. After trying everything they could to stay competitive, sales continued to fall and Studebaker was forced to close its South Bend, Indiana manufacturing plant. That shifted all remaining… more»
Satisfyingly Quick: 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z
Compared to the numerous fine offerings the folks at Dodge have provided us with since then, the 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z may not seem like much of a performer by today’s standards, but back in the mid-eighties when… more»
Nicest One Left? 1964 Studebaker Daytona
Most of Studebaker’s production in 1964 was conducted in Hamilton, Ontario. That’s because the company shuttered its South Bend, Indiana plant due to rising costs and shrinking product demand. The Daytona convertible was one of the rarest cars built… more»
Affordable 5-Speed Survivor: 1993 Dodge Daytona IROC
I read an interview with a senior Ford executive a few years ago where he stated that the most challenging aspect of new model development was not the engineering or styling but determining what name it would carry. It… more»
29k Miles! 1975 Dodge Charger Daytona
When the subject of a Dodge Charger Daytona comes up, this one may not be the first car that enters most people’s minds. But by the mid-seventies, muscle was out and the personal luxury car was in, and for… more»
Sliding Roof! 1964 Studebaker Daytona Wagonaire
In its waning years, what Studebaker didn’t have in terms of resources, it made up for in spirit. The company kept trying “new” things, like the Hawks in the 1950s and the Avanti in the 1960s. They also introduced… more»
Daytona Edition: 1975 Dodge Charger SE
The Dodge Charger and Chrysler Cordoba were parallel mid-size offerings from 1975 to 1977. This enabled Dodge to avoid reusing the now-dated styling from 1971-74. The Charger SE was all about luxury, and if you specified the Daytona trim… more»
Big Willie’s 1969 Dodge Daytona
In automotive history, few are more recognizable than a Daytona. This particular one is a legitimate part of American drag-racing and Southern California history, and Rocco B. tells us that it is on the docket for this year’s first… more»
200 Mph Restoration: 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
The Charger Daytona was conceived to provide NASCAR teams with leverage at super-speedways like Daytona and Talladega. The lower nose clip and rear wing were all about giving the cars an aerodynamic advantage. In the process, about 500 street… more»
Daytona Round Two: 1975 Dodge Charger
A 1975 Charger Daytona, really? Yup! Most associate the Daytona name with the slope-nosed, high-tailed NASCAR terror from 1969, a one-and-done model. But unbeknownst to me, the Daytona nameplate resurfaced on the 1975 Charger SE, and for your review,… more»