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Dodge Daytona Iroc (red)

The Dodge Daytona and Chrysler Laser

1969-70 Dodge Charger Daytona | 2006+ Dodge Charger Daytona

General Dodge Daytona history

The Dodge Daytona first debuted in 1984, along with the similar Chrysler Laser. The cars were largely based on the Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries, and shared their 2.2 liter, four-cylinder engine.

The “G body” Laser and Daytona used an extended K-frame; like the “K cars,” they had front wheel drive. The Dodge Daytona would become the first American-made front-drive sports car with a turbocharged engine, when the turbo 2.2 was installed.

1979 electric carThis 1979 electric car created by GE and Chrysler may have been a “sneak” concept for the future Dodge Daytona.

dodge daytona sales

The Dodge Daytona was a three-door (two plus hatch) four-seater, but the rear seats are small, with its 97” wheel base. Stock performance with the 2.2 was not up to the Daytona’s looks, but Dodge relied on the turbocharged cars and sporty looks; few automakers made a fast, affordable sporty car at the time, and the 2.2 was not sluggish when connected with the five-speed manual transmission. The car was moderately aerodynamic, with a respectable drag coefficient (cD) of 0.34 when launched.

The Laser was aimed at older drivers who appreciated a plusher vehicle, with more luxury options and a softened ride.

Pre-production Daytonas circa 1985

These were some of the first cars from any manufacturer to extensively use computer aided design (CAD) in their development.

Dodge DaytonaThe cars first appeared as the G-24 Super Sports Car in 1982-83. The G-24 had remnants of the body styling from the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona that swept NASCAR, and from which the Dodge Daytona got its name; the clearest link was the front clip, with its aero-tilted covered headlights. The rear spoiler was, however, several feet shorter than that of the Dodge Charger Daytona.

The 1984 Daytona models had a length of 175 inches (on a 97 inch wheelbase), a width of 69 inches, and a height of 50 inches.

In October 1982, Motor Trend wrote that the 1984 "Chrysler G-24" would have four bucket seats, be a hatchback, and stand on the K-car platform but share no body panels with any other Chrysler product. They noted the fuel-injected 2.2 as the base engine, saying there would be an optional turbo 2.2, but spent more time on the interior, "definitely sportier" than other Chrysler vehicles, with "restyled analog instruments and a few digital items." (Thanks, NDNRacer)

Dodge Daytona cars

The side louvers were made of ABS plastic, while the rear deck louvers were powder-coated aluminum (Bob O’Neill’s 1986 Turbo Z with T-tops came with the rear louvers, but not the side louvers).

Lotus engineer Michael Royce wrote that, in 1985, Lotus Engineering was asked to create a 16-valve version of the 2.5 liter engine, and to set up a four wheel drive Daytona Turbo:

In the fall of 1986, the [naturally aspirated 16-valve] 2.5L Program was cancelled due to engineering budget constraints. The unusual combination of a long stroke (104 mm) with the 16 valve head fixed the 2.5L's breathing problems, and gave a nice smooth engine that would rev easily up to about 7500 rpm. It gave about the same performance in a vehicle as a Turbo I (~150 hp, also similar to the 3-liter V6).

The 4WD G-24 program was cancelled in November 1987, again due to budget constraints, just as we were getting the car to perform and handle as well as the Audi Quattro, the target vehicle. John Miles, from Lotus, was leading the chassis development.


Relevant Allpar links

Year by year Dodge Daytona history

1984
Daytona, Daytona Turbo, Daytona Turbo Z, Laser, Laser XE, Laser XT
Engines:  
2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl (Base) 
Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 142hp 4cyl (Turbo 1)

1984 daytona turbo

1984 dodge daytona turbo z

1985
Daytona, Daytona Turbo, Daytona Turbo Z, Laser, Laser XE, Laser XT
Engines:  
1.  2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl (Base Engine) 
2.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 142hp 4cyl (Turbo 1)

1985 laser

1986
Daytona, Daytona Turbo Z (opt. C/S), Laser, Laser XE, Laser XT
Engines:  
1.  2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl (Base Engine) 
2.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 146hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  2.5 Liter 96hp 4 cyl

1986 Dodge Daytonas

1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z

1987
Daytona, Daytona Shelby, Daytona Pacifica
Engines:  
1.  2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl  
2.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 142hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  2.5 Liter 96hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
4.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter Intercooled 174hp 4cyl (Turbo II)
 
1988
Daytona, Daytona Shelby Z, Daytona Pacifica
Engines:  
1.  2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl  
2.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 142hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  2.5 Liter 96hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
4.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter Intercooled 174hp 4cyl (Turbo II)
 
1989
Daytona, Daytona ES (w/wo Turbo), Daytona Shelby
Engines:  
1.  2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl  
2.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 142hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  2.5 Liter 100hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
4.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter Intercooled 174hp 4cyl (Turbo II) 
5.  Turbocharged 2.5 Liter 150hp 4cyl (Turbo 1)

1989 dodge daytona

1990
Daytona, Daytona ES (w/wo Turbo), Daytona Shelby
Engines:  
1.  2.2 Liter 93hp 4cyl  
2.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 142hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  2.5 Liter 100hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
4.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter Intercooled 174hp 4cyl (Turbo II) 
5.  Turbocharged 2.5 Liter 152hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
6.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter VNT 174hp 4cyl (Turbo IV) 
7.  3.0 Liter 141hp SOHC V6
 

1990 dodge daytona

1991
Daytona, Daytona ES, Daytona Shelby, Daytona IROC
Engines:  
1.  2.5 Liter 100hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
2.  Turbocharged 2.5 Liter 152hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  3.0 Liter 141hp SOHC V6
 

1992
Daytona, Daytona ES, Daytona IROC, Daytona IROC R/T
Engines:  
1.  2.5 Liter 100hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
2.  Turbocharged 2.5 Liter 152hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  3.0 Liter 141hp SOHC V6 
4.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 224hp 4cyl (Turbo III)
 

Dodge Daytona invoice

1993
Daytona, Daytona ES (w/wo Turbo), Daytona IROC, Daytona IROC R/T
Engines:  
1.  2.5 Liter 100hp 4 cyl (Base Production Engine) 
2.  Turbocharged 2.5 Liter 152hp 4cyl (Turbo 1) 
3.  3.0 Liter 141hp SOHC V6 
4.  Turbocharged 2.2 Liter 224hp 4cyl (Turbo III)
 


Dodge Daytona handling

Typical front wheel drive handling problems (torque steer, understeer) were countered with better than average success for the time. The stiffer suspension assemblies in the C/S and Shelby editions were a large improvement (at the expense of ride). If you can locate these as parts cars, they are a real find. [Added by webmaster] Bob O'Neil wrote: "Energy Suspensions offer urethane bushings for the Daytona as well as other cars. These are very low cost."

The rigid rear axle means that at higher speeds the rear end will tend to become light and hard to control (about 61/39 weight distribution depending on engine). The Dodge Daytona frame was never updated but owners can increase its rigidity. Steering is quite good, and the later version of the steering was used in the development of the Prowler.

Also see


Dodge Daytona maintenance and repairs

Turbo engines require more maintenance; the 2.2 blocks themselves were extremely solid. Good sources of info are:


Movies and TV

DOdge Daytona stock carThe Wraith featured Dodge Daytonas; the Blair Witch Project featured a Daytona; and Frank Sinatra passed a Corvette at over 120 mph using a Daytona or Laser in Cannonball Run. Tom Powell wrote that, on Hunter (TV), DeeDee McCall drives several Dodge Daytonas, which were modified through the series. In later years she had a red Daytona Shelby Z with t-tops and black rims (not factory); and one car has the Shelby Z body, with Turbo Z seats and door panels; it was probably made by Chrysler before the final changes. In later episodes, the car is correctly badged and optioned.

Buying and Pricing

The V6 models typically command a higher price. The IROC R/T (with 2.2 Turbo III) and Turbo IV (VNT) models are both rare. The base IROC model is nothing but a sticker package, don't be fooled!


Pictures and Graphics

This section will be integrated into the page eventually.

Laser: 1985 Turbo 

1988 Dodge Daytona Pacifica 

ES/Sport Daytona: 1990 w/Sport Package 

IROC Daytona: 92 Iroc (Red) 

IROC R/T Daytona:91 Red Iroc R/T 

C/S, Shelby, Shelby Z, and Turbo Z Daytona: 

Engines: Iroc R/T 2.2 | 3.0L V6 

Wheels 

Chrysler Ads

Reference Material / Credits




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