Photo: ctclassics2240/eBay
Introduced in 1969, the Dodge Charger Daytona tackled the muscle car market and NASCAR ovals as a radical rig with a sharp nose cone and a massive rear wing. It was followed in 1970 by the nearly identical Plymouth Superbird. Both cars were built in limited numbers and morphed into desirable and expensive collectibles as the decades passed.
Come 2023 and pristine examples with certain drivetrain and option combos have become million-dollar classics. As of June 2023, the most expensive Daytona sold for $1.4 million, while the priciest Superbird changed hands for $1.65 million. Granted, most of them are far more affordable than that, but a solid body and a numbers-matching powertrain usually lead to a sticker of at least $400,000.
As a result, many enthusiasts are building their own Daytonas and Superbirds. That's relatively easy to do with conversion kits available from several companies. Moreover, many 1969 Dodge Chargers and 1970 Plymouth Road Runners (or Satellites) are still affordable. All told, a Concours-ready replica can be put together for less than $100,000. As long as you don't want an original 426 HEMI V8, that is. But needless to say, a 440 RB V8 will do just fine regarding output and soundtrack.
Of course, some Mopar gearheads are taking things up a notch with restomod projects. Thankfully, they're not extreme appearance-wise, just stock-looking cars with beefed-up engines. But they're fast, make a racket, and attract big crowds at auto shows and the drag strip. Finally, we have the convertible crowd who enjoy the experience of owning a "winged warrior" with the wind blowing through their hair.
No need to panic, folks! I'm not talking about Daytonas and Superbirds that got their precious tops chopped off. These drop-tops are also made by attaching conversion kits to factory convertibles. Since the Charger wasn't available with a soft top, these drop-tops are of the Plymouth Superbird variety. I haven't seen a Daytona just yet, but feel free to point me in the right direction if you do.
Now, I'm fully aware that Superbird convertibles are somewhat controversial. And I get it. The open-top layout ruins the aerodynamics Plymouth engineers worked so hard to achieve more than 50 years ago. It's a significant departure from the original idea, and, honestly, the car looks terrible with the top down. On the other hand, I'm a big fan of ideas that go against the tide, and I find the Superbird convertible intriguing. Even more so when Mopar purists bring out the tar and the feathers.
Okay, so what's with all this drop-top Superbird blabber? Well, I stumbled across yet another conversion. It's the third one in about seven months, and I think that's a lot, to be honest. This one is not as wild as the Plum Crazy example with the Ford Coyote V8 under the hood, but it's an attention grabber thanks to its Lemon Twist finish. And it looks decidedly authentic from afar, with all the Superbird-specific extras in the right place.
It even has a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 under the hood, one of three mills Plymouth offered in 1970. This one's a four-barrel unit, which makes it an entry-level choice rated at 375 horsepower. The original Superbird was also available with a six-barrel variant good for 390 horses and the mighty 426 HEMI with 425 horsepower on tap.
On the flip side, we don't get a lot of detailed information about this build, which is annoying since the car is for sale and advertised as a "one-of-a-kind bargain." We don't know if it's based on a Road Runner or a Satellite or whether the pop-up headlamps work. But it does look the part at first glance, and the seller claims the engine and the gearbox run as they should.
The thing is, this Superbird is not a bargain. Relying on the fact that original "winged warriors" are selling for more than $400,000, the owner is asking $110K for the drop-top. And while that's notably more affordable than a fully-fledged Superbird, it's a lot of cash for a Road Runner/Satellite with a conversion kit. The latter, by the way, costs only $4,300 from AAR Quality Fiberglass. Or $5,320 if you also want the scooped fenders sold separately. The listing does have a "make offer" option, though. It's definitely a head-turner, but how much is this fake "winged warrior" actually worth? Let me know in the comments below.
As a result, many enthusiasts are building their own Daytonas and Superbirds. That's relatively easy to do with conversion kits available from several companies. Moreover, many 1969 Dodge Chargers and 1970 Plymouth Road Runners (or Satellites) are still affordable. All told, a Concours-ready replica can be put together for less than $100,000. As long as you don't want an original 426 HEMI V8, that is. But needless to say, a 440 RB V8 will do just fine regarding output and soundtrack.
Of course, some Mopar gearheads are taking things up a notch with restomod projects. Thankfully, they're not extreme appearance-wise, just stock-looking cars with beefed-up engines. But they're fast, make a racket, and attract big crowds at auto shows and the drag strip. Finally, we have the convertible crowd who enjoy the experience of owning a "winged warrior" with the wind blowing through their hair.
No need to panic, folks! I'm not talking about Daytonas and Superbirds that got their precious tops chopped off. These drop-tops are also made by attaching conversion kits to factory convertibles. Since the Charger wasn't available with a soft top, these drop-tops are of the Plymouth Superbird variety. I haven't seen a Daytona just yet, but feel free to point me in the right direction if you do.
Now, I'm fully aware that Superbird convertibles are somewhat controversial. And I get it. The open-top layout ruins the aerodynamics Plymouth engineers worked so hard to achieve more than 50 years ago. It's a significant departure from the original idea, and, honestly, the car looks terrible with the top down. On the other hand, I'm a big fan of ideas that go against the tide, and I find the Superbird convertible intriguing. Even more so when Mopar purists bring out the tar and the feathers.
Okay, so what's with all this drop-top Superbird blabber? Well, I stumbled across yet another conversion. It's the third one in about seven months, and I think that's a lot, to be honest. This one is not as wild as the Plum Crazy example with the Ford Coyote V8 under the hood, but it's an attention grabber thanks to its Lemon Twist finish. And it looks decidedly authentic from afar, with all the Superbird-specific extras in the right place.
It even has a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 under the hood, one of three mills Plymouth offered in 1970. This one's a four-barrel unit, which makes it an entry-level choice rated at 375 horsepower. The original Superbird was also available with a six-barrel variant good for 390 horses and the mighty 426 HEMI with 425 horsepower on tap.
On the flip side, we don't get a lot of detailed information about this build, which is annoying since the car is for sale and advertised as a "one-of-a-kind bargain." We don't know if it's based on a Road Runner or a Satellite or whether the pop-up headlamps work. But it does look the part at first glance, and the seller claims the engine and the gearbox run as they should.
The thing is, this Superbird is not a bargain. Relying on the fact that original "winged warriors" are selling for more than $400,000, the owner is asking $110K for the drop-top. And while that's notably more affordable than a fully-fledged Superbird, it's a lot of cash for a Road Runner/Satellite with a conversion kit. The latter, by the way, costs only $4,300 from AAR Quality Fiberglass. Or $5,320 if you also want the scooped fenders sold separately. The listing does have a "make offer" option, though. It's definitely a head-turner, but how much is this fake "winged warrior" actually worth? Let me know in the comments below.
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