Dodge Daytona: It was a K car in disguise

While the GM and Ford cars all used carburetors, Chrysler delved into the world of combining multiport fuel injection and turbocharging for the first time. We still hear you saying “so what” but, at the time, the Dodge Daytona Turbo Z cars were really high tech for the time.

An "Electronic Navigator" and "Electronic Message Center with Voice Alert" were options that enhanced that claim. Even if it was a variant of the K-car on a shorter wheelbase, Chrysler engineers created the Daytona to draw youthful, performance-minded buyers into the mix. The Daytona Turbo Z achieved 22 mpg in town and up to 35 mpg on the highway, yet delivered decent performance for the money.

These Dodge Daytona Turbo Zs could travel from 0 to 60mph in 8.5 seconds with a manual shift. The factory list price was $10,227 and Chrysler built 27,431 Daytona Turbos, so they should be plentiful and ready for restoration. A big plus is that basic parts to rebuild/restore one of these cars are cheap in contrast to parts for an E- or B-body Mopar.
00:00 Introduction
01:55 Hight tech dash
02:14 From the K car
02:47 0-60 mph
03:22 Engine specs
04:06 1985 Turbo Z
04:42 1986 Turbo Z
05:40 1987 Turbo Z
06:18 1989 Turbo Z
06:38 1991 Turbo Z
07:15 1993 Turbo Z
07:32 End of the road for the Turbo Z

[osirisandilio]

Had an 86, was running 14 lbs of boost. I thought I was all that, till I went up against a 911 and ate a big piece of humble pie. Still a fun car

[grantr]

Currently own an 86 Laser XT 5spd with t-tops and leather interior. Purchased it in 1990, drove it 5yrs, and took it off the road to address some paint issues, and then life got busy. Ended up completely disassembling it in 2010, did a nut and bolt restore, engine and trans refresh, all new brake, fuel, and AC lines, exhaust, heater core, evaporator and condenser, wiring harness dissamble, clean and check. And of course a fresh coat of flash red. Finally back on the road in 2022 with some nice 17" rims and tires. Now is the perfect summer daily driver.

[BFFL-cp]

My Dad bought a new 1986 turbo model with pin striped cloth interior. I was 11 years old so watching the turbo gauge and getting thrown back in my seat has made a lasting memory for my Dad and I!

[rwdplz]

It was one of the best looking cars of the era, loved it in the movie 'The Wraith'

[casinoboi]

I bought a 1988 Dodge Daytona right off the showroom floor at the age of 18.
What great times my friends and I had in this car!
It had over 200k miles when I had a crash that totaled it.

[alanreeser]

Oh Hunter, McCall drove one of these and you could see it moved pretty good…

[paulie-Gualtieri.]

I remember Frank Sinatra driving one towards the end of Cannonball Run 2 and beating Dean Martin, who was driving a red Corvette C4. 😂

[donaldwilson]

Many tend to forget that Chrysler(along with Saab) helped make turbocharging popular with the masses back in the 80's. Today, pretty much every car manufacturer now uses turbocharging for performance and fuel economy.

[cabforwardooo]

Haha, I was a young designer in the studio that designed the Daytona. The K-Car platform wasn't exactly the ideal package to base a two door sporty car on, but we did what we could. Dennis Campbell was the designer who came up with the design theme which was inspired by the Porsche 928. I ended up leasing a couple of them and they were fun to drive!

[suespony]

I bought a new 1985 Daytona turbo, wish I still had it. One of my favorite cars ever.

[ralphvanderkooy]

I bought one in college, a used ‘85 model, black turbo. I didn’t like when they changed to the pop up headlights. I raced my buddy who had a Camaro RS with a 305. I smoked him between 0 and 60. After that he blew past me like I was standing still. Drove that car until my third kid was born, then sold it to my brother in law on a pay me when you can if you can deal. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.

[shawnsefranek]

Lots of memories here. My first new car when I was 19 was a triple black 86 Daytona Turbo Z 5-Speed manual of course... Next car was a Red 88 Shelby Z w/T-Tops ... later in the 90’s I had an 86 Omni GLH Turbo ... fun cars all of them

[PatriciaParrino-wy]

I had an 84 in 87 and found one a few years back. Funny thing is that it's the one shown in this video! The black 85 shown courtesy of Gateway Classics is when I had it for sale there in 2022. 28, 000 miles, Original Eagle GT tires and I put the 84 steering wheel in (was much better looking than the 85 one) Slow and rough riding little cars but I have always thought good looking. Thanks for the video. I've got my eye on another as I watch this.

[MiamiSunrise]

My first car was a 1989 Dodge Daytona ES in Blue (procured in 96). It was excruciatingly slow as I believe the former owner had beat up the automatic that was put in it and the engine was no prize, thats for sure. Despite that I got the car up to nearly 120 mph on the highway near where I live. It had the t-tops (which I loved) and despite how slow this thing ended up being it was ridiculously reliable and lasted a few years without incidence. Another guy in my neighborhood had a red one, but it was a 91 with a stick shift and I was pretty jealous because it looked like it hauled. I have great memories of that car and even saw one for sale recently. A mixed bag, but it was great being 16 with a sports car, lemme tell ya. Thanks for highlighting this car, this was fun and you showed models I had no idea ever existed.

[itsnotme]

My first brand new car! A Black/Gray 1988 Dodge Daytona base model, 5 speed manual. Bought in October 1988. It came with a bad clutch from the factory and it took me almost a year to get the dealer to agree. They were on their last repair attempt before having to buy it back as a lemon. But they finally replaced the bad clutch and the car was GREAT after that! Drove the cool 88 Daytona until 1994 and 140k miles. In 2002, I needed an extra car so I bought a White/Blue 1989 Dodge Daytona base model, again with the 5 speed manual. This time it was used with 120k miles already. What a great car! Drove it for 4 years as my 2nd car. Donated it after 4 years and an additional 20k miles. These are fun cars to drive and own. Great video and info! If you enjoy the Dodge Daytona/Chrysler Laser? Check out the Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA July 12th to 14th, 2024.

[Skaramine]

Didn't own one, but its association with Stephanie Kramer/Dee Dee McCall of the Hunter tv series made this a favorite 80s car.

[jivepatrol]

The 1987 Turbo II with a charge cooler was the best of the 2.2L Turbo engines. It had a forged crankshaft, Mahle pistons, full floating pins and the head/block were cross drilled to improve cooling of the deck. It ran 12 psi boost and a power rpm of 6, 800. It had a two piece intake manifold tuned for power. In 1988, the manifold was changed to a one piece from there on. The Turbo IV was a Variable Nozzle Turbocharger from Garrett. The control system for the VNT was very innovative. The 2.5L Turbo I was a long stroke version of the 2.2L. It used the one piece intake manifold and an Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) turbocharger will a lower A/R ratio and low inertia turbine/compressor wheel. It too had Mahle pistons with full floating pins and cross drilling. Balance shafts were on the 2.5L to cancel out vibration. These rotated at twice engine speed. Fun projects for sure!

[jamesipock]

Had the 89 it. The short first and second gear would get me smoked from a dig, but from 55 on Mustangs and Cameros could not shake me. Loved the mid range and top end boost.

[mikesargent]

Bought an 87 Daytona Turbo z new. Beautiful looking and handling, but a real lemon. Head gasket went at six months, engine block, injectors and many other parts. The car was babied and put away in the winter. Still loved it.

[maryrafuse]

A friend had one of these in red when he visited us from Toronto. What a beautiful car. It seemed so modern contrasted with my 1981 Mercury Capri.