One-Owner, Original-Paint Daytona on HRM

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Take a look at this here: http://www.hotrod.com/features/1505-one-owner-original-paint-barn-find-daytona/

[cobraman]

Wow !

[vintagercr]

That's awesome!

[Longbox55]

There's one of those around here that's a similar deal. The owner bought it in early '70 as a clearance car, the dealer couldn't get anyone to buy it. He used it as a daily driver until the late '90s, when he passed away. Put somewhere around 400k miles on it. The local MoPar collector has it now, and restored to pretty much original condition. The only change he made from how it was new was to replace the 14" Torque Thrusts that were on the car (dealer installed) for the more appropriate Magnum 500s. It also needed a few body repairs from alterations over the years, including removing a set of '56 Desoto tail lights from the truck lid, the trailer hitch, and filling in the heart pattern that had been drilled into the nosecone. I got the chance to drive it a few times when the original owner had it, haven't taken the current owner up on his offer of taking it out for spin yet.

[jbwelda]

i never understood the attraction of that mess. someone hit it with a double ugly stick. that nose and wing are comical.

jb

[Joe Handley]

Reason they were there, is that the were effective on the race track and since there had to at least 500 production street vehicles, Chrysler sold 500 Chargers with more street friendly versions as to be legal for NASCAR use.

[Longbox55]

They were never really intended to be a street car, the whole idea was aerodynamics, cheat the wind, and the big race tracks. But Nascar required at least 500 to be built and available for sale to the general public to make the body legal. Low production and the racing connection are the big draw. Besides, it's not really much different that what the tuner crowd does with modern cars, except this one actually has a performance background as the original goal, rather than just aesthetics.

[Longbox55]

Just for the record, I wish Nascar would do the same with the current cars. Only one out there even remotely close is are the Chevrolet SS teams, even they're not available in a 2 door body.

[unclescott58]

Good story, over all.

Scott

[ChrisBcritter]

Forty years ago in Motor Trend, Mike Lamm correctly predicted that the Daytonas and Superbirds would be "tomorrow's Auburn Speedsters" as to collectibility, although he was a bit off in predicting that there would be a lot of replicas built from conversion kits.

It also needed a few body repairs from alterations over the years, including removing a set of '56 DeSoto tail lights from the trunk lid

Say what? Please tell me you have a photo of that setup. I can't even imagine how that would look.

Edited May 28, 2015 by ChrisBcritter

[Longbox55]

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of it. I did try to talk the owner into selling the lights, though. I do have to correct myself, though. They were from a '56 Chrysler product, but not a Desoto. They were from a '56 Imperial.

They were mounted just inside the wing on the trunk lid, kind of like a form of high mount brake light.

[jbwelda]

ah NASCAR. Well I guess this would look right at home in some Alabama rural trailer park, with stars and bars painted on the hood, so it makes sense.

jb

[John Goschke]

Wonder if a good rubbing compound would take all that goofy lettering and junk off? Or maybe some lacquer thinner...

[chunkypeanutbutter]

I love that lettering, for one, especially with how old it is, the history behind it.

[disabled modeler]

Id love to have a 70 Superbird in restoreable condition...Always thought they were cool cars would not matter to me if it had an engine or not. The dealerships found back then most of the public thought they were ugly....I never did but do think the 70 looks better than the 69s did.