1969 Dodge Charger Daytona "Revival" Is Actually a Modern Charger SRT-8

We're not just talking about the current trend of mixing old and new muscle monsters here, since this story is more specific than that - earlier today, we discussed a 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T that got re-skinned as a third-gen Plymouth GTX: this is the in-the-making build of Steve Mirabelli, while the Daytona, which took four years to complete, is a project he completed in 2017 and I'm now back on this 1969 subject, as promised in the earlier topic.

Returning to the NASCAR vibe mentioned in the intro, you should know the aficionado we're talking about builds Sprint Cup machines for Hendrick Motorsports during "business" hours. As such, it shouldn't surprise you that he plays multiple roles, from fabricator to curator. Onto the car, then.

As is the case with the Challenger mentioned above, the 2006 Charger used as a base for this project had been in an accident. In fact, this had been totaled. And since we're talking about an SRT-8 model, the HEMI under the hood delivers a meaty 425 ponies. Nevertheless, its Mercedes A580 five-speed auto isn't as sharp as the ZF eight-speed auto of the newer models, but I digress.

The classic bit of the melange actually comes from a 1968 Charger, which had reportedly spent over a decade in a field (you have to appreciate the #saveaclassic efforts!). As for the Daytona styling cues, this is where Mirabelli's metalwork brilliance came in to play.

As the die-hard Mopar fans among you might have noticed, the nose of the machine is actually closer to the Plymouth Roadrunner (think: lower grille). In fact, the mix also involves the fog lights of the LX-platform Charger, while the carbon fiber air dam was put together using... scrap bits from "work".

This is a pretty interesting point, since the financial side surrounding carbon fiber production is one of the few limits of this aficionado, albeit with his creativity allowing the man to always find a solution.

Since the new car packs an extra 11 inches of wheelbase and comes with Brembo stopping hardware that requires 20-inch wheels, getting the profile right was quite a challenge - no pun intended. Then again, the devil is in the details, as the door relocation of the exterior mirrors comes to show.

Of course, no such project can be undertaken without a certain degree of outsourcing, so, for instance, the side glass comes from Fast and Furious 7 scrap bits (think: Dom's Charger).

One of the most impressive aspects of the build comes from the cabin. While this has been completely redone, with the GPS antenna being left out for visual purposes, the interior has a clean look. This is no small feat, since many builds of the sort feature flamboyant elements that drive plenty of enthusiasts away.

Of course, the modern nature of the oily bits means there's nothing wrong with using such a beast as a daily driver, if the driver is willing to risk the said investment.

And since this generation-connecting Dodge Charger Daytona has been out there for a while, we can enjoy a complete walkaround video below.

Now, while purists may or may not approve of this Mopar melange, from where I'm standing, the machine can be considered a tribute to the pioneering work of Larry Rathgeb. Together with his Chrysler team, he convinced the executives that aerodynamics would have to be brought into the equation in an era when horsepower was the one and only ruler. And, in the hands of legendary driver Buddy Baker, the Dodge Charger Daytona racecar managed to hit 200 mph (322 kph), a world record for a closed course.

Sadly, Rathgeb passed away in March (following a battle with the current health crisis), just two days before the 50th anniversary of the said feat. However, his legacy lives on.