The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was born in disceptation . In 1957 , the Automobile Manufacturers Association respond to strident song from the insurance policy industry and refuge lobby to empty its participation in racing . While there was much letdown in this wholesale disengagement at first , a few year later the AMA ’s decision did n’t look like such a big idea after all .
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The Volkswagen revolution and Eisenhower recession had fall out , and everybody was construct economy cars – so who needed racing ? That position lasted until about 1962 , by which metre the industry had staged a full recuperation , and machine company once again add their support to rush along efforts .
The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona ’s evolution dates to 1963 , when Chrysler decided to look across the AMA agreement and engage Ford inNASCAR . Chrysler Engineering was enquire to design a fresh 426 - cidHemiV-8 , reviving the potent concept that Chrysler had develop in the 1950s .
HemiPlymouths and Dodges blew everybody ’s doors off at Daytona in 1964 , but Ford retaliate with big - bore engines and " mill " racing alternative , and continued to overshadow the Grand National tantrum .
In 1966 , Dodge introduced the Charger fastback , which wait like an sleek NASCAR contender but show much slower than its shape suggest . Two old age afterwards it was redesign as a well-favoured coupe , and Dodge fitted competition fashion model with spoiler to glue them to the rails .
While the 1968 was indeed more slippery than its predecessors , it still proved four miles per hour slower than the Ford enemy – and in stock - railway car racing , one mph is equal to the length of a football domain per lap covering . That sent Dodge back to the draught board . The Charger Daytona was the consequence .
While the 1968 Charger did have good aerodynamic property , it also exhibited a fair degree of rearward - goal raising . The solution was a improbable , adjustable rear - deckstabilizermade up of twin Phoebe and a horizontal wing .
A pointed snout was add for good measure , and the combining proved to increase circuit speeds by five miles per hour , giving Dodge a car that could truly gainsay the Fords and Mercurys .
Dodge plan to make 500 of the " winged warrior , " the minimal act necessary to stipulate them as " production " vehicles for NASCAR .
Continue read to study more about the production and succeeder of the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona .
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The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was built by Creative Industries , the Detroit firm responsible for numerous " specials " over the years . Actual production estimates range between 501 and 507 ; the official manufactory reference states 505 .
They could have build more : Dealers took about 1,200 decree , and Dodge station hurried telegram imploring them to persuade their customers to settle for something else .
The Charger Daytona sold for about $ 300 more than the Charger R / T hardtop and lost between $ 1,000 and $ 1,500 per unit , which was unimportant : Its intent was to win backwash .
Racing cars all received the 426 Hemi with close - ratio four - pep pill gear box and Hurst shifter . At Talladega , the Daytona go down a new prescribed world ’s closed - circle speed record book at close to 200 miles per hour , but unfortunately the Fords did n’t show up to vie and it was a muted triumph .
Disappointment turn to embarrassment the next calendar month at Charlotte , North Carolina , where the Daytonas finally did meet the Fords – and were naughtily beaten . Tirewear was the culprit .
charger were force to make abbreviated challenge jet , then drop back to conserve golosh . According to locomotive engineer Larry Rathgeb , the tire job was never really solve . " Firestone could not , and Goodyear would not , built a tire that could stand up at 200 mph . After five laps you were out of rubber , and that ’s not ripe at all . "
Salvation finally arrived at the Texas 500 in December , when Bobby Isaac ’s Daytona firmly beat the Ford entries with a 144.277 mph norm . The Daytona went on to gain ground 80 percentage of its race in 1969 , stop with 22 Grand National victories , only four fewer than Ford .
But Dodge ’s spree with stock - car racing ended after that class , and Plymouth took up the corporate torch with the standardized ( and quite successful ) Road Runner Superbird .
Continue reading to find out more about the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona specifications .
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Specifications
The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona represented Dodge ’s brief commitment to NASCAR racing and resulted in almost equaling the succeeder of Ford .
Specifications
Engines : all ohv V-8 ; 426 cid ( 4.25 × 3.75 ) , 425 bhp ; 440 Criminal Investigation Command ( 4.32 × 3.75 ) , 375 bhp
Transmissions:4 - pep pill manual , 3 - speed robotic
break front : upper and lower dominance arms , longitudinal torque bars
Suspension rear : live axle , leaf springtime
brake : front disc / rearward drum
Wheelbase ( in.):117.0
Weight ( lbs):approx . 3,900
Top f number ( mph):NA
0 - 60 miles per hour ( sec):NA
