The 1969 Dodge Daytona Is One American Classic You'll Want To Avoid Buying in 2024

The story of the Charger Daytona harkens back to 1968 when Dodge was struggling to deliver a race car that would outgun the successful Ford Torino on NASCAR ovals. The 1968 Dodge was an aerodynamic disaster, so Chrysler unveiled the Charger 500 in the summer of 1968.

Fitted with a flush front grille and a rear window plug, the 500 series fixed most of the Charger's problems, but the car still wasn't fast enough for the Torino.

As a result, Dodge took things up a notch in 1969 with an even more radical upgrade for the Charger. In addition to the flush rear window, Dodge slapped a sharp nose cone on the muscle car's front fascia and attached a massive wing atop the rear deck. The result was a radical vehicle that looked unlike anything else in NASCAR history.

Highly aerodynamic for the era and capable of hitting 200 mph (322 kph), the Charger Daytona won its maiden race at Talladega and went on to win another five events through 1970. But before it hit the NASCAR ovals, the Daytona arrived in Dodge showrooms as a street-legal vehicle per NASCAR homologation rules. Dodge built 503 units, and a legend was born.

The Daytona was followed in 1970 by an almost identical wing car made by Plymouth. Based on the Road Runner, it was called the Superbird and also won NASCAR races. Plymouth also offered the Superbird as a street-legal car, producing nearly 2,000 units. Both are highly desirable classics.

The million-dollar winged warrior

Like many Mopar-badged high-performance rigs from the golden era, the Daytona is a six-figure classic. Value depends on condition and originality, but the engine under the hood also plays a key role. Examples equipped with the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 are a bit more affordable, but they've been fetching more than $200,000 regularly since 2020.

And since 2022, most low-mileage examples have crossed the auction block for more than $300,000, with the occasional trip into $400K territory. The most expensive non-HEMI Daytona fetched $440,000 in early 2023.

The HEMI cars are obviously more expensive. Not only is the mighty 426 V8 a desirable engine, but it's also a rare setup, with only 70 HEMI cars sold in 1969. As of December 2023, most HEMI units go for more than $500,000, and a couple of them surpassed the $1 million mark. The world's most expensive HEMI Daytonas were sold for $1.32 and $1.43 million.

An overrated legend

With classic car values already through the roof, the Daytona is bound to become an even more expensive vehicle in 2024. And while it's regarded as a solid investment, the Daytona is also an overrated rig.

How so? For starters, it has a controversial design. While I'm a big fan of its radical styling, massive wings and pointy noses on a second-generation Chargers aren't for everyone. Sure, it's highly recognizable, but it's still a "love it or hate it" design.

Second, these cars get next to no action nowadays. Sure, we see them displayed at high-profile muscle car events, but most Daytonas get there inside trailers. The 1969 Daytona has reached that point where it's too valuable for owners to want to risk any form of damage.

Additionally, spare parts are pretty scarce and expensive. And you'd better forget about donor cars. With the 1969 Daytona now fetching more than $200,000 in any form, wrecked or rusty examples are no longer parted out. Owners instead choose to restore them and put them in storage as an investment.

Sure, Daytonas can be fixed with regular Charger or reproduction parts, but the value gap between all-original rigs and vehicles that had body panels or drivetrain components replaced is massive.

How about a Plymouth Superbird?

Although it's not exactly identical, the Plymouth Superbird is pretty much the same car. And because it was built in significantly larger numbers, it's not quite as expensive as the Daytona.

Sure, the HEMI Superbird is also a million-dollar car. In fact, the only 'Bird that surpassed the magical mark was actually more expensive than any Daytona at $1.65 million. However, non-HEMI Superbirds can still be had for slightly less than $200,000. And if you're lucky enough, you can score a 440 Six-Barrel version for less than $300,00.

What's more, there are still quite a few derelict Superbirds out there. This means you have a better shot at getting one at a really affordable price to fix and restore on your own. Likewise, sourcing replacement parts for a Superbird is easier and less expensive.

Other options to consider

If you're hooked on the Daytona's radical design, there are no other options out there aside from the Superbird. But if you just want a cool Mopar from the golden era, there's a huge list of muscle cars to choose from. The 1969 Charger is an obvious option, but you can also go with the Super Bee if you want a more no-nonsense rig.

How about a two-door Coronet with proper oomph under the hood? The midsize was also available with the 426 HEMI, and these cars are a bargain compared to the Daytona. Some examples fetch more than $200,000, but you can still find HEMI rigs for $150,000. Not bad compared to the $500,000 to $1 million+ sticker of a HEMI Daytona, right?

If you're into the Daytona due to its NASCAR heritage, I could also suggest the 1969 Ford Torino Talladega. These are dirt-cheap by comparison, with several of the 750 units made available for under $100,000. The same goes for its Mercury twin, the Cyclone Spoiler II.