One special edition to rule them all, with this Dodge Charger Daytona render that uses a modified Charger platform to get us closer to the Superbird.
Dodge’s current Charger is in many ways superior to any Charger of the 70s, but what about the Charger Daytona? That was a 1969 homologation car, built for a year, that took the world (and NASCAR) by storm.
It made waves not just for its 200-mph ability and impressive wins, but also for how it looked, which was necessary for aerodynamic superiority; cutting through the air and keeping the rear end pinned down.
There are crazier rear wing designs – the Chaparral cars like the 2D came with some enormous wings – but this muscle car design which predated and paved the way for the Plymouth Superbird is iconic and part of the cars appeal.
HotCars digital artist Rostislav Prokop prepares a full 3D render model of a modern Dodge Charger Daytona, taking the current Charger and implementing aspects of the Daytona’s profile to see how a 2023 Dodge Charger Daytona might look today (spoiler: surprisingly good).
It doesn’t seem likely that the ’69 design could translate to a modern model but as we can see, the blue concept works well. It is clearly both a seventh-generation post-facelift Charger and a Daytona, thanks to the nose and rear wing.
Getting based on the current Charger, the profile is chunkier inline with the current design, but up front the nose cone and flip-up headlamps return, granting this Charger with superior aerodynamics than even the current model.
Up back, the machine comes with the iconic rear wing, though the shape is unique, with an extra inward-pointing flap on the top corners, like the winglets on an Airbus A320.
That wing looks smaller in comparison to the body, too, which is part of the reason for it looking more natural and acceptable.
Up back, the rear lights get inspired by today’s Charger add work well, the curved units still reminiscent of the classic NASCAR icon. Wheels are black 5-spoke pieces like the majority of period Daytonas, although it isn’t clear how many wheel variants existed for the ’69 racer.
Of the 503 Daytonas, 70 came with the 7-liter Hemi V8 instead of the usual 7.2-liter Magnum, but this car, built on the modern Charger platform would come with no other than the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 motor, with a minimum of 707 hp.
Of course, now we know that the Charger will be bowing out of service for the next generation, and that the next time both the Charger and Daytona nameplates get used will be for the Dodge Charger Daytona EV.
Nowadays, the Dodge Charger Daytona, like the Plymouth Superbird, are rare and appreciating collector’s items. According to Classic.com the Charger Daytona is worth an average of $382,000.
