Guygeo
Well-known member
Nostalgie pour les vieux sur le forum
Rare Rides has featured a few sports coupes of the Dodge variety previously, but those Eighties cars were not as modern, refined, and sophisticated as today’s seldom seen two-door.
Presenting the Dodge Daytona IROC R/T, from 1992.
The Daytona was a new name at Dodge as the company reorganized its sporty car lineup in the early Eighties. Daytona was the cheaper part of a two-model replacement plan for the discontinued Mitsubishi Galant Lambda, which presented itself as the Dodge Challenger from 1978 to 1983. In 1984, Dodge fielded the Conquest (a different rear-drive Mitsubishi) and the new K-platform derived Daytona.
Daytona rode on the new G platform, a 97-inch wheelbase about three inches shorter than the standard K. When Daytona debuted in ’84, a new Chrysler branded Laser also appeared. Available only in upscale trim, Chrysler advertised the Laser as its first sports car. Customers shied away from the “executive personal luxury coupe,” and Laser lasted only through 1986. The Daytona was much more successful and remained on sale throughout the early Nineties. And when the luxury Laser was canceled, Dodge added what was basically the Laser as a new trim to the Daytona: Pacifica.
Available engines were a range of naturally aspirated and turbocharged mills from 2.2- to 3.0-liters in displacement. Most engines were Chrysler-developed inline-fours, but later there was also a 3.0-liter Mitsubishi 6G72 V6. Early on a three-speed automatic accompanied the preferred five-speed manual in the Daytona. The automatic added another forward speed later on.
New exterior looks arrived in 1987 via a refresh, and the inset headlamps became flip-ups instead. Dodge continued to make small visual and trim changes almost annually as Daytona continued its reasonable sales success.
1992 saw a second, larger refresh for Daytona that coincided with a change of production venue from St. Louis to Sterling Heights, Michigan. Pop-ups went away and were replaced with flush lamps in a more rounded, integrated fascia. The rear end was reworked as well, and its lighted heckblende gained a more modern look. Gone was the Chrysler Pentastar, replaced by a ram’s head – Dodge’s new identity.
Rare Rides has featured a few sports coupes of the Dodge variety previously, but those Eighties cars were not as modern, refined, and sophisticated as today’s seldom seen two-door.
Presenting the Dodge Daytona IROC R/T, from 1992.
The Daytona was a new name at Dodge as the company reorganized its sporty car lineup in the early Eighties. Daytona was the cheaper part of a two-model replacement plan for the discontinued Mitsubishi Galant Lambda, which presented itself as the Dodge Challenger from 1978 to 1983. In 1984, Dodge fielded the Conquest (a different rear-drive Mitsubishi) and the new K-platform derived Daytona.
Daytona rode on the new G platform, a 97-inch wheelbase about three inches shorter than the standard K. When Daytona debuted in ’84, a new Chrysler branded Laser also appeared. Available only in upscale trim, Chrysler advertised the Laser as its first sports car. Customers shied away from the “executive personal luxury coupe,” and Laser lasted only through 1986. The Daytona was much more successful and remained on sale throughout the early Nineties. And when the luxury Laser was canceled, Dodge added what was basically the Laser as a new trim to the Daytona: Pacifica.
Available engines were a range of naturally aspirated and turbocharged mills from 2.2- to 3.0-liters in displacement. Most engines were Chrysler-developed inline-fours, but later there was also a 3.0-liter Mitsubishi 6G72 V6. Early on a three-speed automatic accompanied the preferred five-speed manual in the Daytona. The automatic added another forward speed later on.
New exterior looks arrived in 1987 via a refresh, and the inset headlamps became flip-ups instead. Dodge continued to make small visual and trim changes almost annually as Daytona continued its reasonable sales success.
1992 saw a second, larger refresh for Daytona that coincided with a change of production venue from St. Louis to Sterling Heights, Michigan. Pop-ups went away and were replaced with flush lamps in a more rounded, integrated fascia. The rear end was reworked as well, and its lighted heckblende gained a more modern look. Gone was the Chrysler Pentastar, replaced by a ram’s head – Dodge’s new identity.
