1969 Charger 500 / Daytona

Description & History: This is a very rare 1969 Charger 500 with factory air and power windows -- in a rare color for Charger 500s. It was cloned into a Daytona sometime in the late 70s or early 80s with real metal parts readily available back then. It is not certain if the original intent was to defraud the public -- but that was a common practice at the time, as both the Charger 500 and the Daytona shared the same prefix on their serial numbers.

For those who don't really know much about the NASCAR Charger 500 and Daytona in 1969, the below is a quote from Wikipedia.

In 1968, Dodge watched their NASCAR inspired Charger R/T fail to beat the Ford cars on the high-banks oval-tracks. The Dodge engineers went back to the wind tunnel and found the tunneled rear window caused lift and the gaping mouth induced drag. Dodge engineers also made the rear window flush with the rest of the hood and put a 1968 Coronet Grille up front. The original Charger 500 prototype was a 1968 Charger R/T with a 426 Hemi. The prototype was painted in B5 Blue with a white stripe. The Charger 500 prototype had a Torqueflite, a white interior and 426 Hemi. The Charger 500 was tested for production, got the green light and was one of three models introduced in September 1968. The Charger 500 was standard with the 440 Magnum but the factory literature claims the 426 Hemi was standard. The Charger 500 had the Torqueflite standard and the same equipment standard as the R/T. The Charger 500 sold for $3482.00 MSRP. The Charger 500 was available with the 426 Hemi for an extra $648.20, The Charger 500 had the options A11 and V88 the stripe was available with red, black and white colors. The Charger 500 was available with Air Conditioning on the 440 Magnum for an extra $357.65. A total of 500 Charger 500s were made but only 392 were bought for street use. The rest were bought by racers and gutted, stripped, modified and/or repainted. Only 67 Charger 500s were built with the 426 Hemi; 27 with 4-Speeds and 40 with Torqueflites. The Charger 500 did not get the results expected of it on the NASCAR circuits and lost to FoMoCo entrants.

With the failure of the 1969 Dodge Charger 500, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was a high performance, limited edition version of the Dodge Charger produced in the summer of 1969 for the sole purpose of winning NASCAR races. And win it did: it won its first race out, the inaugural Talladega 500 in the fall, and helped Bobby Isaac, capture the 1970 Grand National championship, although he didn't win any races in the Daytona in 1970. Buddy Baker in the #88 Chrysler Engineering Dodge Charger Daytona was the first driver in NASCAR history to break the 200 mph mark on March 24. 1970 at Talladega.

One f the famous aero-cars, its special body modifications included a 23in (584mm) tall stabilizer wing on the rear deck, a special sheetmetal "nose cone" that replaced the traditional upright front grille (both designed specially for Chrysler by NASA), a flush rear backlight (rear window area), specific front fenders and hood that were modeled after the upcoming 1970 Charger, stainless steel A-pillar covers and fender mounted tire clearance/brake cooling scoops. The Daytona was built on the 1969 Charger's 500 trim specifications, meaning that it carried a heavy-duty suspension and brake setup and was equipped with a 440 CID Magnum engine as standard. Of special note to collectors is the optional 426 CID Hemi V8 engine, which only 70 of the 503 Daytonas carried. It had a corporate cousin in the "one year only" 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

Both are now rare and valuable collectibles, with 440-powered Daytonas reaching into six-figure territory and 426-engined cars passing the $300,000 mark. The "Super Charger IV EL", looked like a roadster prototype spin-off of the Charger Daytona minus the roof and spoiler, is seen as a pimp-mobile in the 1974 film Truck Turner. Actually, it was just an older Charger show car updated with a SuperBird nose.

According to NASCAR, no 1969 Daytona actually made it to a NASCAR team. All NASCAR Daytonas were existing Charger 500s, modified to be a Daytona. All production Daytonas went to the dealers and then to the public. Likewise, in the day it became a common practice to convert street Charger 500s to Daytonas. The history of this Charger 500 is murky, but my investigations have this most likely happening in the 70s.

I first became aware of this car in 2003. I administer the Mopar Community MoparStyle.com, and members started a thread about a 1 of 1 Daytona with factory air being sold on eBay. None of us believed it and we asked the seller for the serial number. We have a lot of Daytona expects -- and while Charger 500s and Daytonas share the same VIN prefix -- the sequence put this car just before when the Daytonas were being made -- but exactly when the Charger 500s were. I called the Seller to tell him this -- and he first told me he was a Chevy guy, and then told me to mind my business.

The car sold for about $80,000 to a Dodge dealer in Ohio. As it happens, one of the mechanics was a MoparStyle member -- and when he saw the car he told the General Manage that he bought a Charger 500 misrepresented as a Daytona -- and showed him the thread. The Dealer stopped payment on his check. The seller then calls me to tell me that he was going to sue me for queering the deal -- and I told him to take his best shot. He asked me if I wanted make an offer on the car -- and I told him I already had a pair of Superbirds and didn't need it. He then made me an offer that made sense -- and I bought the car with the intention of restoring in back to a Charger 500 and selling the metal Daytona parts. I had one Superbird in the process of being restored, and another waiting -- and so it would be a couple of years before Hemi-Tyme Restorations could get to it. In the meantime, someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse ($84,000) and the car went to California. The buyer later moved to Oregon -- and fell on hard times and sold to someone in MI. He drove the car to car meets and shows -- and then found a Hemi car that he'd really been looking for -- and I bought the car back at a fair price, one that would allow me to make a modest profit.

For the last 15 years, I've lived on 10 acres and have had room to store my collection of over 30 cars. In August I sold the property and moved to a lake -- and need to sell about half of the cars I have left -- as I only have a race car shop capable of housing the four race cars plus another ten street cars.

This car runs and drives well (I'd chance driving it cross country) -- and is a 5-footer. The paint has some chips, a scratch, but more importantly -- some time in the past when it was painted -- the primer and paint was a mismatch and has very tiny chemical reaction bubbles common with a primer mismatch with lacquer paint. The car is solid and rust-free -- with the exception of a few isolated areas of thin surface rust where the paint went thin. Inside trunk lip and the like. The underside is clean -- and it is apparent that this car has always been garaged, and not driven in bad weather.

It is missing one fender scoop from shipping -- but there are two new ones in the trunk. Also in the trunk is the original Carter carb -- in need of a rebuild. It runs great with the new Edelbrock Performer 750CFM. The headlights were never properly hooked up in the nose -- and instead more modern small square headlights replace running lamps in the grill for night driving. The air conditioner does not work -- but all of the parts appear to be there. The interior is in very good shape - for a car this old. I'd say this is a solid # 3 -- if #2 is Restored and #1 is trailer queen show car. Likewise -- this car can just be driven and enjoyed exactly as it is without spending an additional penny on it.

OK -- so that was the bad. The good is that a Charger 500 is more rare than a Daytona -- and this is an especially rare Charger 500 -- with power windows and factory air, and a very rare color. Run of the mill 69 Chargers in horrible shape bring big bucks -- and they're getting hotter by the year. This car is solid and would be an easy restoration -- either back to a Charger 500 (selling the metal Daytona parts for the big bucks -- making the biggest value) or continue as a Daytona "Tribute". Since so many Charger 500s were converted to Daytonas many years ago -- they are a less common sight than a Daytona or Superbird. This car is money in the bank -- only appreciating at a much higher rate than bank CDs. Hedge against the falling US dollar with the purchase of a rare American Muscle car, such as this.

I believe I've given as honest of a description as can be given -- telling of everything I know on the car. If I missed something and you still have questions -- call me at 713-899-7704 and I'll try to answer it (except for the reserve). I can tell you that even though this car is better than it was when I sold it in 2005, the reserve is set far below that sales price -- for a very quick sale. Once the reserve is hit -- then the auction will not be stopped for any off eBay sale. So if you want this car -- bid what you think it is worth now -- and if hits the reserve, you can rest assure it won't disappear even if it's sale price is under what it should be.

The above is a video I took yesterday on my cell phone. Sorry about the loud voice, I was making sure my son in the car heard me and didn't realize how sensitive the mic was. Not a quality production -- but shows that the car starts, the engines is quiet and smooth, and the transmission (power windows) work.

Shipping: Is the responsibility of the buyer. I've used Cruiser Transport the last four times I've had cars shipped to me -- and find them to have been both inexpensive and dependable in my transactions. You can email them at cruisertransport@aol.com to ask for a quote to ship to you from 77406. I have no affiliation with them other than to have been surprised how cheap they shipped -- and to have never had an issue with a car they transported to me.

Title: Clean and Clear

Terms: Nonrefundable Paypal deposit of $300 within 24 after close of auction, and the balance in certified funds within 7 days -- and certainly before the release of the car.

Bidding: I take this auction serious -- as should you. Ask any of your questions before bidding, and don't bid if you can't follow through. My cell phone number is 713-899-7704. I will NOT disclose the reserve, but it is low enough that if you bid what you feel the car is worth -- you have a good chance to hit the reserve.

Inspections: I've given as honest of a description as I can. However you are welcome and encouraged to come inspect the car prior to bidding.

Warranty: Vehicle is "As Is-Where is" and without any warranty.

For Sale Locally: This vehicle is listed for sale on the MoparStyle Free Classifieds and locally. I reserve the right to end this auction should I receive an acceptable price locally prior to this auction reaching its reserve.

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On Oct-30-09 at 08:26:33 PDT, seller added the following information:

I have someone who would like to buy many of the Daytona parts is the buyer is to want to restore back to a Charger 500. I promised I would pass his email address along to the buyer. I believe it is possible to sell the nose, fenders, hood, and wing for close to $20000 -- if sold individually. I know of a nose that went for $10,000 and a wing sold on eBay recently for $3500.

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