| The Dodge Daytona was introduced in 1984, alongside the Chrysler Laser. The powerplants of these vehicles consisted of 2.2, and 2.2 Turbo I. These motors were sent out in the DAYTONA, DAYTONA TURBO, and the DAYTONA TURBO Z, Chrysler had the LASER, LASER XE, and the LASER XT. The Turbo Z wasvoted on of the 10 most wanted cars of 1984, alongside the z-28 camaro, mustang GT, and Porsche 944 to name a few. LOADED the vehicles cost ~$11,000. 86 offered the TURBO Z (w or w/o C/S package), and all the same Laser models were available as well. Last year for the Chrysler Laser. After 86, it was dropped infavor of the LeBaron nameplate/bodystyle. 2.5L Fourcylinder available as optional motor. In 1987, the Daytona recieved it's first major body restyling, recieving the popup headlights of it's namesake. It also recieved major interior restyling including "wraparound" style cockpit. The base engine came as a 2.5L, and had an optional 2.2, 2.2TurboI, or the intercooled TurboII 2.2L. The available models were the Daytona, Daytona Shelby, and Daytona Pacifica(2.2 TurboSTANDARD.) 1988 signaled the end of the SHELBY Z, after 88, the ES was offered instead. Also in 88, the C/S package was available on the Base model Daytona's, making it a rare find as it was ONLY 88 that it was available. 1989 brought in the turbo 2.5L, with 150 hp. These motors had torque throughout the powerband, as normally aspirated 2.5's had ALL lowend torque, but no highend. The turbos changed that, and MUCH FOR THE BETTER!!! No more t-tops after 89 either. 90 had the largest number of available powertrain combinations of any Daytona year, with a total of SEVEN (!7!) avaible engines. First year for the v6, and one of the most powerful Chrysler four cylinder ever conceived, the 174 HP 2.2 t3. ABS and a SRS driver's side airbag were available as well. 1991 has no more 2.2's!!! they removed it from the daytona production option list, as the 2.5 produced more hp, smoother and easier than the 2.2. The 7 engines were down to 3 in 1991 as well, this went along well with the end of the SHELBY line. The end of the Shelby daytona's ushered in the IROC daytona's, and the best performing, highest hp/cubic inch four cylinder in their history, the 224 hp DOHC intercooled 2.2L. Lotus heads and 0-60 times of around the 6 second mark... whew....1992 saw the last face lift for the daytona, some say it was overdue, but wraparound headlights replaced the popups, and a smoother body line than 2nd generation Daytonas. 1993, the last year for the Daytona, brought standard a/c, basemodel-available ABS, and 3.0 v6 only in IROC's. Dodge decided that the Avenger would replace the Daytona in the SPORT COUPE lineup. DARN THEM ANYWAY!!!... Sniff, sniff...... |
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