Low-Mile NASCAR Homologation Special Survivor: 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

In the next couple of weeks, the 2017 NASCAR will draw to a close, and a new champion will be crowned in the proverbial Chase. While NASCAR is a huge draw for automotive fans, I feel the NASCAR race cars lack the raw excitement that NASCAR stock cars had from the 1950s to the late 1980s. The stock cars from that era at least looked like the street cars they were based off of, and were made of actual steel instead of being a composite-bodied roll cage with an engine. Perhaps the most famous and outrageous NASCAR stocker of all time is the Dodge Charger Daytona, and this 1969 model has just 3,692 original miles on its odometer! Find it here on eBay in Peebles, Ohio, with a Buy-It-Now price of $375,000.

After Ford and Mercury dominated NASCAR's speedways during the 1968 racing season, Dodge decided to address the aerodynamic flaws of its Charger racer. Dodge modified Charger R/Ts by making their rear windows flush, fitting 1968 Coronet grilles up front, and making the Charger more aerodynamic, thusly creating the Charger 500. Ford and Mercury responded by creating the Talladega and Spoiler II, which continued to carry the flag of dominance for the Blue Oval racing teams. Pissed off at this point, Dodge decided to one up all of its competition by fitting an aerodynamic nose cone, a 23-inch tall rear wing, and special fenders and hood modeled after the ones used on the 1970 Charger. Named Daytona (after the super speedway in Florida), the Charger Daytona made its debut at the inaugural Talladega race and began its domination. This Charger Daytona is a 1969 model, and is one of 503 built for 1969. Resplendent in EV2 Hemi Orange with a black bumblebee stripe, the outside of this Daytona is unrestored and presents fairly nicely. Originally sold new at Lehigh Valley Dodge in Allentown, Pennsylvania, there are a few famous signatures on the car (Buddy Baker, Big Willie Robinson, Herb McCandless, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, and Dick Landy), so I would take all the necessary steps to preserve their signatures. The Road Wheels wrapped in redline tires look cool, but I personally think Kelsey-Hayes recall wheels would look better and complement the EV2 Hemi Orange and black bumblebee stripe nicely.

Though the venerable elephant motor, the 426 Hemi, was an option in the Daytona, this Daytona is powered by the big-block 440 Magnum. Rated at 375 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, the 440 Magnum is no slouch, but man oh man do I wish this Daytona had the Hemi. Backed by the 727 Torqueflite three-speed automatic, this Daytona has only travelled 3,692 miles in its 48-year existence. There is a bit of paint missing in the inner fenders, but the drivetrain looks brand new. I would take all of the necessary steps to preserve this Daytona and its drivetrain.

I will say one thing about Mopar: they made interiors that excited people back in the 1960s. Inside, a black vinyl gut dresses this EV2 Hemi Orange Daytona. With the exception of a period-correct Stewart-Warner tachometer mounted on the steering column, the interior is stone-stock. I love the Tick-Tock-Tach, three-spoke steering wheel, pleated black vinyl seats, and console-mounted automatic transmission shifter. Overall, this may be one of the most original, lowest-mileage Charger Daytonas in existence, and though the price may seem high, keep the condition, low miles, and signatures in mind. What are your thoughts on this ultra low-mile, Hemi Orange Daytona survivor?