Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird: Design, Development, Production and Competition

by Steve Lehto

Overview

In the fiercely competitive world of NASCAR, every manufacturer was looking for a competitive edge. Ford and Chrysler turned their attention to the aerodynamics of their race cars, resulting in a brief era affectionately called the Aero Wars. During the height of this competition, Chrysler and Ford produced, among other things, cars with radically altered grilles and tail sections. Mandated by series to produce production versions, these exotic beasts became some of the most costly, creative, and collectible machines ever assembled in Detroit, whether in race trim or in stock street trim.

Author Steve Lehto gives a thorough and detailed account of the history of this battle that culminated with the final wars between the Ford Talladega/Mercury Cyclone and the Dodge Daytona/Plymouth Superbird. The story of Richard Petty's defection from Plymouth, the mighty Hemi, and the creation of the street version of these cars all come to light in this all-encompassing tale of Chrysler climbing the ladder to NASCAR supremacy.

Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird: Design, Development, Production and Competition delivers a blow-by-blow account of the biggest races between FoMoCo and Chrysler, along with telling the rich stories of the development of these cars. If you are a fan of NASCAR, or just love outrageous muscle cars, this richly detailed and well-illustrated account of a fascinating era of performance will be a valued addition to your library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781613252048
Publisher:	CarTech, Incorporated
Publication date:	02/04/2016
Pages:	204
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Steve Lehto is an attorney and writer from Detroit. He practices automobile warranty law and has taught law and history. His writing has appeared in Mopar Action magazine, Michigan History magazine, and on various websites including Jalopnik.

Table of Contents

Table Of Contents:
Acknowledgments 6
Foreword by Doug Schellinger 6
Introduction 9
Chapter 1: NASCAR: Early Days 10
The Emergence of Professional Drivers 10
NASCAR and Bill France 11
Detroit Hosts NASCAR 13
Grand National Circuit 15
Daytona Speedway 17
Factory Teams 18

Chapter 2: Enter the Hemi 20
Image Maker 21
Dyno Testing 21
Track Testing 22
1964 Daytona 500 23
Chrysler and Ford Boycott NASCAR in 1965 24
John Pointer’s Big Influence 27

Chapter 3: The Charger 29
Show Car Descendant 29
Performance Issues and Solutions 30
A Body for Speed 32
Interior Upgrades 33
1967 Race Events 33
1968 Race Events 37

Chapter 4: The Charger 500 44
Styling Lessons 45
Handling Challenges 50
The Road to Homologation 51
The Public Unveiling 54
Points Competition 55
Rules Changes 55
Petty in a Ford? 55
Nichels Engineering Cars 56
Changing Attitudes 56
1969 Race Events 57

Chapter 5: The Charger Daytona 70
Radical Design 70
Innovative Build Team 72
Testing at Chelsea 74
Styling Opinions 77
Assembly and Final Testing 77
Impact in the Marketplace 79
Talladega Superspeedway 87
1969 Race Events 94
Factory Future 98

Chapter 6: The Superbird 103
Aerodynamic Engineering 108
Petty Approves 112
1970 Race Events 113
Factory Espionage 114

Chapter 7: The Winged Cars in Full Flight 116
1970 Race Events 116
Season Totals 144
End of an Era 147

Chapter 8: The Ban 163
Chrysler Retreats 164
Sales Numbers Dwindle 164
USAC and Wings 164
The Wedge Takes Over NASCAR 165
Wings Return 180

Chapter 9: Collecting Survivors 183
A 1969 Hemi Charger Daytona 189
An Original Superbird 191
A Vitamin C ’Bird 195

Index 202

Editorial Reviews

"For NASCAR fans, and buddies of the B-body, this is an important book."

Hemmings Muscle Machines - Jim Donnelly

What makes Lehto’s book such a treasure is that he delves into the competitive aspect of these ‘winged warriors’ but also takes a look at the other things that make the Dodge Daytonas and Plymouth Superbirds so significant.

Area Auto Racing News - Herb Anastor

"In a particularly interesting angle, Lehto features several interesting survivors from both the street and the circle track."

Meta Wagner

"One of the best!"

Victory Lane

"If you want what's likely the best book currently in print dealing with things with wings, we can't imagine how anyone could be disappointed with this one."

Mopar Collector's Guide