Fitted with nose cones and massive wings, the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird are arguably the most radical production models from the golden muscle car era. They're pretty rare, too, regardless of the drivetrain layout.
The "winged warrior" legacy began in 1969 with the Dodge Charger Daytona. Developed specifically for NASCAR racing, the Daytona made it into showrooms only because Dodge had to comply with homologation rules. In 1970, Plymouth released an almost identical vehicle called the Superbird.
Both were short-lived and remained on sale for just one model year. The Superbird is the more common "winged warrior," with nearly 2,000 units produced. The Daytona is scarcer as only 503 examples left the assembly line. And like most Mopars from the golden era, the HEMI versions are sought-after and expensive.
Of the 1,935 Superbirds made in 1970, only 135 were equipped with the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI. As of the Daytona, only 70 of 503 examples sold were ordered with the range-topping mill. These rigs have been changing hands for more than $500,000 for years now, and a few of them have even surpassed the million-dollar mark.
The 1969 Daytona you see here is not for sale, but it's one of those examples that's likely to fetch a seven-figure sum if it goes under the hammer. Not only is it an authentic HEMI car, but it still has its number-matching powerplant and gearbox. Moreover, it's all-original, unrestored, and shows only 40,000 miles (64,374 km) on the odometer.
This car is so original that Mopar expert Dave Wise gave it a unique rating as a "benchmark" vehicle. It's the Daytona by which all other Daytonas should be measured. And it's fully deserving of its "HOLY GRL" license plate.
The Mopar also flaunts a few rare features. For starters, it's a drum brake example. It's the only one relying on this type of brakes, but most Daytona left the assembly line with disc brakes. Second, it has a black front grille instead of the more common color-keyed finish. The feature is factory correct, and the owner points out it's one of only two Daytonas with a black grille he's seen thus far.
Oh, I also need to point out that the owner is Bob Jennings. He's a winged Mopar nut and owns several Daytona and Superbirds. Most of his cars are unrestored survivors or reworked rigs with unique stories.
Bob got this Daytona in 2020 from the second owner. The latter had been keeping it in storage since 1975, so this car spent more than 40 years in storage. That explains why it's still highly original and the low mileage. Bob says he needed about a year to get the Daytona running and driving again. A 17-year-old kid originally ordered the car.
Bob doesn't share how much he paid for the Daytona, but it's safe to say this classic sent him back at least $500,000. But that's not a lot for an all-original HEMI Daytona because these cars can be worth an even bigger fortune in unmolested condition. The current auction record is $1.43 million for a Copper Metallic example with less than 7,000 miles (11,265 km) on the odo.
This vehicle won't be going under the hammer anytime soon, though. But you can take a closer look at it thanks to the detailed walkaround below. You can also hear it roar, so make sure you crank up the volume.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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