The Dodge Daytona built during the K-Car years is one of the hobby’s more misunderstood driver’s cars – and that includes by yours truly. On paper, it seems like the sort of vehicle we should all aspire to own at some point, especially for those of us stricken by a passion for hot hatches and sport compacts. The Daytona Shelby Z shown here on craigslist has all the right stuff to be the sort of car that’s as coveted as a clean VW GTI or a Honda CRX Si from the same era, but it never gets quite the same response. This one is a project, but it seems quite solid. The seller is asking $3,900.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip. When Dodge introduced the next-generation Shelby, a lot was happening at both Chrysler headquarters and in the entry-level automobile market. For Chrysler, the K-Car was helping it stave off bankruptcy, and bring the company into a new era. And for vehicles that were formerly seen solely as ways to increase fuel economy, performance tuning and other technologies were giving them a second life not only as vehicles that could deliver 20 MPGs or better, but also backroads screamers and vehicles that could fly around a local autocross or road course.
Over at Dodge, Carroll Shelby was up to all sorts of zany activities with his panache for pushing the performance envelop resulting in a lineup of turbocharged vehicles that were so impressive, they earned monikers like GLH for Goes Like Hell. The Dodge Daytona shown here also offered extremely plush accommodations inside along with plenty of creature comforts like power windows and locks as well as T-tops, an 18-way adjustable driver’s seat, and more. Despite the typical failing Mopar paint on the outside, the cabin looks quite nice.
The 2.2-liter “Turbo II” intercooled inline-four engine, however, was the best feature of all. This small-but-mighty mill produced 174 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque and could reach 60 in under 8 seconds. It’s worth noting the seller has already replaced the cylinder head, timing belt,water pump, and fuel pump in this example. While not particularly impressive by today’s standards, the suspension was also fully tuned up by Chrysler engineers, and with a curb weight of under 3,000 lbs., the Daytona was easy to muscle around curves and cones. Still, it seems to be an artifact of the 80s at this point with a limited following, and that’s a shame. Do you think the Daytona deserves more love from today’s enthusiasts?
We enjoyed our ’86 with leather interior and 5 speed transmission. Did autocross a couple of times and gobbled up the Mustangs. Did learn that you have to wait to get into the turbo in turns or it pulled the front wheels back straight which is not what you intended to do. Did get it up past 140 on a deserted piece of interstate early one morning on a cross country run. Fun cars.
Great looking Daytona. Back in the mid 90’s I remember an older guy that went to my gym used to have one exactly like it, a black & gold ’86 with the CS package. Was always kept looking in meticulous condition.
Dad owned a Laser Turbo (Chrysler siter/twin) and for the time it was a slick sport coupe. Would torque steer like a mofo though!
To prevent the turbo from blowing out the head gasket you could only go full boost for so long and it would bleed off the excess pressure but if you went WOT again and again it would happily do so resulting in a blown gasket.
Thankfully was under warranty and dad only told me to ease off the throttle.
Later on I owned a Omni GLH Turbo and it was a complete riot, so light compared to the Daytona/Laser but it exceeded my mechanical skills at the time. Fun fact there was no main fuse box in an Omni, instead there’s a set of fusible links . . .
It was amazing with Chrysler and Lee iacocca was able to do with the k frame in such a short period of time. They were red hot from 1983 through 1985.
Great seats, and bottom line, fun to drive automobiles. 👍
A friend of mine bought an 87 Shelby Turbo Z. What a fun car to drive! For its time, that thing could fly! Not a lot of cars could keep up with it. Drove it a couple of times and it was FUN! My friend drove it easy in first gear (had a five-speed manual) and would get on it when he shifted into second. He told me to show him what it could do, so got in in it, got a rolling start in first, nailed it, power shifted 2nd, then 3rd and he was just awestruck at what it could do! Bright red with gray interior. I always thought these were great looking cars as well.
That Shelby Turbo Z was a very cool car back in the day and IMO the Daytona to get.
The later ones were a bit faster and tad more refined but the look/feel of the Turbo Z was tops.
I can’t get past the bordello seats.
I know. They look more bordello than usual.
Misunderstood is a good word. As we can gather from the comments these were capable and enjoyable cars. Yup, you do have to contend with torque induced steering, probably the opposite of the off throttle oversteer you might find in a 911. Plenty of tales of top speed and 6 hour runs from Detroit to Marquette. Oh yeah, those seats…
Always loved these cars since I bought my first Daytona turbo back in ’84 and have had several more over the decades including a ’84 Daytona turbo z currently. Had a ’87 Daytona Shelby z for 9 years. Was my daily driver and was a great car. Overall this one looks in really great shape. Having the Tll with a 5spd is a big plus. Being in the NE rust was a killer on these, but being in CA it might be a really solid car. Interior looks great. With the maintenance already done, a new paint job and detail work would really give you a great car. These cars certainly aren’t revered like Camaros or Mustangs of that era but personally that’s fine with me. There still is a great following for 80’s turbo Mopar’s and it also keeps the prices down if you’re looking to buy one.
Michael and Stephanie loved that
“Turbo Z”
I had a hopped ’78 Honda Civic that was an autocross killer. Torque steer was fun! I could drive around the neighborhood making turns when required and never touch the steering wheel! (Letting off the throttle would turn left besides the turning right under power.) You get used to it so you brace the steering wheel when stomping on the loud pedal.
Also, Shelby had the name and credit for these cars. But credit also goes out to Scott Harvey (RIP Scott) who was the number 2 guy at the “Chrysler Shelby Headquarters. He was a long time R&D guy that was all about high performance and was a Pro-Rally driver. Last rally car was a fiberglass bodied Dodge Aspen that just happened to be all wheel drive sat at standard Aspen height and was powered by a 426 Hemi! Watching him run through the woods at speeds approaching 130 mph was unforgettable! A great guy Scott!
These were just ok cars, notorious for blowing out head gaskets, rubbery shifters and torque steer that could break a wrist
You didn’t dare take your Turbo Z out in the snow
Have to totally disagree. I had multiple Daytona’s over the decades, all turbo cars, and they were all great cars. My first one in ’84 I drove year round in the New England winters and it was great in the snow. Most people just never knew how to properly maintain these cars which would case head gasket and turbo issues. Of course they had torque steer but nothing that wasn’t manageable and not any worse then other turbo cars of time. The shifters weren’t perfect but they were more than fine for what they were and I never had any shifter issues.
Is that factory seat upholstery ? Looks like one of them seats you sit in to get your toe nails cleaned. Looks to be a nice car to get a new paint job put on it .
Those are the factory seats. They were very comfortable and very supportive.