Someone Turned This 1970 Dodge Charger 500 Into a Daytona, Costs Mustang Dark Horse Money

You could drop half a million on one just like that, as long as it’s a well-maintained example. Some have even gone for over $1 million at auction. Anyway, we’re not here to look at a real Daytona, but rather a Daytona tribute courtesy of this 1970 Dodge Charger 500. It’s got a wonderful spec though, so let’s run through all the highlights.

The vehicle was converted into a Daytona under previous ownership, receiving a factory steel nose cone, plus the Daytona fenders and rear wing. Then there’s the air vent that’s been fitted in place of the driver-side headlight, while the passenger-side headlight, side-marker lights, and the reverse lights got the ctrl+alt+del treatment.

When the current seller acquired this car, it also came with NASCAR-style decals, which were subsequently removed, while the body was then repainted red with the appropriate Daytona graphics. Additional features include the inboard headlights (behind the centered mesh grille), a front lip spoiler, hood pins, a shortened decklid, dual exhaust outlets (with Flo-Pro mufflers), plus a set of Magnum 500-style 15” wheels with 255/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.

This Charger Daytona tribute car also comes with power steering, Koni shocks, and power-assisted front discs.

As for the interior, that’s where you’ll find the black vinyl high-back bucket seats and rear bench, a color-coordinated dashboard, Daytona-banded floor mats, woodgrain accents, a push-button AM radio, and aftermarket speakers.

The best part here is the engine. It’s a 426 ci Hemi V8 (installed under prior ownership), rocking dual four-barrel carburetors, MSD ignition, a K&N air filter, and long-tube headers. Originally, this Charger 500 was equipped with a 383 ci V8 – clearly not as desirable as the 426 Hemi.

In terms of output, we can’t give you an exact number taking into account all the mods, but a stock 426 Hemi would have been good for 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. However much this car has, it’s all going to the rear wheels via a replacement TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission.

Look, it’s no wonder that we had the Charger Daytona as a finalist in our All-Time Best Classic American Muscle Cars feature. If you haven’t read that already, you should definitely check it out. You’re probably curious to learn which muscle car managed to beat it, right? Meanwhile, this here is only a Daytona tribute car. It’s nowhere near as desirable as the real thing, yet based on its specs, it’s still worth a hefty sum of money.

The question is, would you rather drive an all-original 1970 Charger 500, or a Hemi-powered one that’s been turned into a Daytona?