My
aunt had a black Dodge Daytona Turbo Z when I was growing up, and I
thought it was the coolest car in the world. Low, swoopy, turbocharged,
hatchbacked, and fast, it was the epitome of cool to my underdeveloped
9-year-old brain. My underdeveloped 31-year-old brain likes it nearly
as much.
Starting from the modest base of a K-car frame
and basic 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, borrowed from the relentlessly
mediocre Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant, Dodge was nonetheless able to
turbocharge, tune, and stiffen the Daytona into a top-line sporty car,
a true rival for the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. As a
giant-killer with a heavily turbocharged four-cylinder, slaying cars
with twice the cylinder count, the Daytona was something like a Lotus
Esprit Turbo for the masses.
The Daytona later gained
Shelby Z and IROC versions, but I like the Turbo Z styling the best,
with its aggressive grille and exposed headlights. The later versions
just looked too plasticky to me, though I admit I'm drawing a very fine
line here.
One
of our buyers on the Automotive team dabbled in turbocharged Mopar iron
during the 1980s, and much of his youth was misspent blasting around
Boston with a mullet in a Daytona Turbo Z, listening to Stryper and
messing around with his friends.
With an image like that, how could one not lust after a Turbo Z?
These
photos came from a page on which a Mopar enthusiast documents his
efforts to fix up a very nice Daytona Turbo Z--as is usually the case
in which owners document their restoration and upgrading efforts, it's
a
pretty good read.
--Chris H.
Becky Weber on March 05, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I loved that car!! It WAS the coolest car I ever owned. It sure beats the mini-van I'm driving now!
Ace on May 29, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Mine was blue....It was the fastest accelerating vehicle I ever strapped myself into...
Robert Murphy on November 03, 2008 at 07:32 PM
I use to have an 89 Daytona Turbo ES T-top, black on silver with the digi dash. It was the most awesome car I have ever driven, fast and could take corners like it was glued to the ground!
Mopar_girl on May 14, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Fell in love with Daytonas when I was still in grade school and saw an 84..have had one since I was 21. Just in the process of restoring a 90 ES; the black paint's drying as I write. The money for this little project came from the ridiculous woman yapping on her cell who t-boned the car in November. It sucked when it happened, but now it's all good. My Daytona looks awesome, and still only has 95,000 kms on it! It's a turbo, and goes like spit, and handles beautifully!
adam on November 08, 2009 at 11:10 PM
I have a 89 dodge daytona stock, and a 86 doge daytona turbo z. I am having troubble finding a k frame to replace my cracked one on the turbo z. i need it badly.only car that is running that i could use. other daytona is junk for now, im restoring it.
turbo xs on November 23, 2009 at 11:17 AM
I had a daytona turbo growing up and it was the business for sure
Aleks Ristic, Toronto on December 20, 2009 at 03:02 PM
I rarely meet a liftback I don't like, so I'm OK with Daytona derivatives too. But it's one of my least favourites.
I'd have liked better if the front end styling eveolved from Chrysler ancestry such as the previous Omni Shelby Charger & Plymouth TC3 instead of this weak Mustang wannabe thing. Actually I thought the TC3 & Omni liftback were more interesting (not withdtanding the horrible interior trim they shared with the basic 5-door cousins...)
To me this car looked better in it's original Mitsubishi Starion version.
Tim W. on January 15, 2010 at 07:32 PM
I actually own one now. 1984 Turbo Z, Garnett Red and Silver. I bought it as a one owner, adult owned, with 80,000 miles three years ago. It's a blast to drive, although a little slow off the line until the turbo kicks in.
I bought a Daytona new in 84. It was a silver 2.2 non-turbo model. It was so basic, it was radio delete! I always wanted a Z, and am now a proud owner.
steve on November 12, 2010 at 06:39 PM
yea this is the coolest car i have ever owned i have a 1984 daytona turbo z and it is a quick car compared to my 81 280zx turbo