The Dodge Daytona was produced from 1984 until 1993. It was released in both turbocharged and normally-aspirated form and could be considered an American version of the 1980s hot hatch in the spirit of cars developed in Japan and Europe such as the Mitsubishi Starion, and possibly the Golf GTi. This particular car is listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Arnold, Missouri, it is offered with a clean title and a BIN of $13,400 but there is an option to submit an offer. Barn Finder Michael located this little beauty for us, so thanks for that Michael.
I have to say that I really like the color combination on this Dodge. It just adds a touch of class to the appearance of this car. The seller claims that the Dodge has traveled a mere 65,000 miles. As usual, I will always be skeptical about low mileage claims unless I see verifying documentation. Having said that, the car does look in really good condition. The paint is nice and consistent, and the panels appear to be smooth with few ripples or dings. I’m hoping that one of our Barn Finds readers will be able to confirm the shade of red for me as I’ve had real trouble trying to find a Daytona color chart.
The interior is about as close to perfect as you could possibly hope to find on an original car of this age. There may be some slight discoloring on the wheel rim and some slight creasing of the material on the driver’s seat base, but other than that it looks really good. Those wrap-around seats look wonderfully comfortable, and it’s amazing that they don’t look worn, especially along the side bolsters. It’s also amazing that they’ve remained so clean over the years considering the color that they are. For those of us who have dealt with cars from the 1980s, it’s remarkable that all of the plastic trim has remained intact for all of these years. So much plastic trim from the 1980s just became so brittle over the years with ongoing UV exposure that it would virtually crumble in your hands.
It’s also worth noting that as well as looking fantastic, this Daytona came loaded with all of the gadgetry of the era, and it all works perfectly. This includes power seats, power windows, power locks, cruise control, tilt wheel, pump up lumbar support, sunroof with cover and the onboard talking computer/monitoring system that still works and sounds perfect. As you can see, the rear seats look just as good as the fronts.
Under the hood looks just as clean as the rest of the car. The engine is the 2.2 liter 4-cylinder engine that (thanks to the turbo) pumps out a fairly respectable 146hp. This is delivered to the road via a 5-speed manual transmission. As with everything else on the car, the seller has been meticulous about maintenance. They run Mobil 1 oil in the engine, and have recently had the gas tank dropped and cleaned, new plugs, new distributor cap, new rotor, new plug wires, new tires, new radiator and thermostat, transmission oil flush and change, and a new air filter. That’s pretty comprehensive work that should hopefully provide the new owner with some peace of mind.
This is not a muscle car. There are some muscle car aficionados who will state that the Daytona badge does not belong on a 4-cylinder car. I understand that, so I’m going to ignore the badge and treat this little car for what I believe it is, a 1980s hot hatch. As I stated at the beginning, this little car would compete quite favorably with hatchback cars of the era from Japan or Europe with the letters GT, GTi or GSi after their name, or cars like the Starion. I don’t know if it’s worth the asking price, but I suspect that it would be quite good fun when the turbo comes on boost.
I have its twin, except mine’s a Matchbox car. I really like this first generation look over the restyle that came in ’87. Hidden headlights were a nice touch, but the back end was just plain ugly.
One of the nicer looking cars to come out during the 80’s, I wouldn’t turn it away if it showed up in my driveway.
Beautiful, well kept example! I wanted one of these when they came out, but never took the plunge…now, I’m also downsizing as well and there just isn’t enough room! GLWTA! :-)
I was 16 when these came out, and try as I might I couldn’t convince my father to buy one. My desire to own one of these cars grows, every time I see one in this condition. Even in this condition, I believe this one is priced a bit on the high side of reasonable.
I was thinking the same thing! I was around 16 when these came out, and it really was one of better looking cars on the road at the time. My Dad and I loved taking test drives, so we went to check it out. It seemed like it was faster than 146hp it had, so much so that my Dad said No Way! This particular one is very clean, maybe the cleanest one I’ve seen lately, although I don’t search them out. It’s going to make a fun little car for somebody!
I worked at a Chrysler dealer in 85 and i wanted one of those so bad. But it the time all i could afford was to work on them. Now that im retired im thinking about buying one just to play with and thankful with my history i take it apart blindfolded. Really miss those. When properly tuned they were fast and fun!
I owned one and was bowling one night. A friend of mine offered to start my car cause he was headed out to start his. He came back in and asked where my car was. I told him under the sign and he said nope not there. So i went outside to find it had been stolen. They were never able to recover it. 🤕
I had an 84 turbo z that color
Me too. Weren’t they all?
I believe that shade is Garnet Red. Very popular in that era.
I’d be more than happy to add it to my stable!
Too heavy and underpowered to be a hot hatch…
Obviously you never owned one 145 with pedal left !!!!!!!
I agree with all the above ! Price is a bit too high, yet I’d be hard pressed to say a buyer willing to pay would be disappointed with it. The 2.2 Chrysler is strong and reliable. These ran good quality Garrett turbos as well. Wish this was rear drive to compete with Mustang/Firebird/Camaro in the day. Such a great looking body. Well, 2018 is nice !!! Love seeing hot American pony cars as good as they have ever been !
I don’t associate the words strong and reliable with the 2.2.
I associate rod knock with that engine. Maybe it is a top end knock, but it is a knock all the same.
Looks like the car Frank SInatra drove in the Cannonball Run II.
If it was that car, maybe it would be worth about half of the asking on this one.
It looks like the filming car from HUNTER. Where are “The Brass Cupcake” and “Head Hunter”?
I had a Shelby Z Turbo and it was NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS!
The turbo went three times and it would occasionally conk out and not restart for hours or days.
Took it into my Dodge dealer numerous times and they couldn’t find the problem yet charged me for diagnostic testing each time and it was still UNDER WARRANTY!
Called Chrysler themselves and they said that was policy!
I got fed up and left it at the dealership for three months with them taking it out for test drives supposedly and nothing was found.
Picked it up and it died on the way home, the dealership was closed, surprise surprise.
Finally used it as a trade in and got a 1993 Mazda MX6, one of the best cars I ever owned.
Anytime ANYTHING went wrong, I got a loaner, no diagnostic charges and it actually got fixed right the first time!
Stay away from these 2.2 litre turbos, nothing but trouble!
My family owned other Chrysler Dodge priducts and all were nothing but problems.
I have not, nor will I ever own another Chrysler or Dodge product!
They do not stand behind their vehicles and couldn’t give a rats a** about their customers.
Especially now since they have Fiat engines.
They went from bad to worse.
Well, even under Daimler the quality didn’t get better (like Mercedes were a benchmark of quality at anytime in from the ’90’s up). But not to worry, FIAT owns them now, so you know…
Does Sgt. McCall come with the car?
I got that reference.
Dee-Dee is on her way!
These garnered a lot of attention from a teenage me when they were new. The spoilers and skirts were all the rage. I believe the design has aged well — as has this example of the breed.
How do you flush a manual transmission? That’s reserved for automatics.🙄🙄
I recently picked up on a 1989 Daytona, I just got it because it was in such nice shape! All documents from new with the car including original Dealership paperwork! I am confused about this one stating that it has a 2.2 engine in it! Mine has the 2.5 self asparated engine! It will also list a 2.5 turbo available also! Surely people are or have made a mistake and not noticed the 2.2? Or was that also available in these cars? Again my information says that this body style went from 84 to 90?
They started out with 2.2, then in 87-88 they bumped up to 2.5. your 89 should also be a turbo 2 with the intercooler. The turbo 2 was much stronger and more responsive in stock form.
These were nice looking cars. Marketed at the time to be more of a “pony car” than a “hot hatch”. It competed directly with the camaro/firebird/Mustang. Not as fast, but it handled pretty good.
Fiat has been making engine’s for over a hundred year’s. Fiat is a world wide auto company. A great company.
Thanks Joey. I needed a laugh today. A great company. Thanks.
Fix It Alla Time, Fix It Again Tony. Horribly unreliable crapboxes. To This Day.
The color scheme looks correct, I recently had a 87 Dodge Aires in this color. I am not sure on the exact paint code, I would have to do the research. I ran a Collision shop for 23 years opened in 1986 and bought thousands of 80’s vintage K-Cars over the years. The guys @ the local auctions (salvage and whole) dubbed us the K-Car kings .Believe it or not back in 1986 Popular Mechanics or Mechanic Illustrated did a comparison of a K-Car to many Japanese cars and rated it very highly as an easy and inexpensive vehicle to maintain and it even ranked better than the thin tinned Honda’s .Reliability improved when Chrysler went to Fuel injection and the head gasket problem seemed to lesson in a later 2.2 and became nil on the 2.5’s (it only took 45 minutes to do a head gasket any way not a big deal) and if a timing belt went the motor didn’t explode either like its competitor the civic ! Yes they ran like a timex not a rolex ! but the taxi companies ran K- Cars forever !
I know this is long but this Daytona Appears to be a very nicely preserved survivor.
Civics are non interference
I did a belt on the side of the road back in the day
That is the first time I’ve ever heard that particular claim.
I had two Daytona’s, I LOVED them so much and for me they both were pretty reliable.
Bought my first 1994 Daytona Aug16/1993..Auto, Grey int/ext w/Turbo & stickers on the bottom of both doors. Beautiful fond memories I
an that car shared and traveled often in. After maqny miles only the water pump needed replacing.
2nd Daytona, Oct/1997, my ‘Almost’ dream Black 1986 Daytona
Turbo Z ..this car was a tad less reliable, fuel door was finicky and the push/pull shifter cable broke leaving me stranded one time.
Now, I am looking for a final 1985 Dream Turbo Z, Black, lower mile aged,3 piece spoiler on the back(not that other wing-thing) loaded, AUTO (no more heavy clutched manuals) and must have T-tops or a least a sunroof.