What years did they make the Dodge Daytona?
Two production windows define the Daytona name: the Charger Daytona of 1969–1970 and the later front‑wheel‑drive Daytona lineup from 1984 to 1993.
Across its history, 'Daytona' denoted two very different cars—the aerodynamics‑driven muscle car of the late 1960s and a compact, turbocharged Dodge front‑wheel‑drive coupe from the 1980s and early 1990s. This article outlines the years and context behind the two eras.
Two eras of the Daytona name
Charger Daytona era (1969–1970)
The original Daytona carried the Charger branding and was produced for two model years. The name is closely associated with NASCAR‑inspired aerodynamics and speed in the late 1960s.
- 1969
- 1970
These two model years mark the entirety of the original Charger Daytona's on‑sale life, a landmark in late‑1960s American muscle history.
Modern Daytona era (1984–1993)
In the 1980s Dodge revived the Daytona name on a completely different chassis—a front‑wheel‑drive coupe based on the K‑car platform, with turbocharged variants that appealed to performance buyers of the era.
- 1984–1993
The Daytona name remained in use through the early 1990s, after which it was retired as Dodge shifted focus to newer designs.
Summary
The Dodge Daytona is famous for two distinct runs: the original 1969–1970 Charger Daytona, and the later 1984–1993 Daytona, a front‑wheel‑drive sports coupe noted for its Turbo models. Both periods reflect different eras of Dodge's approach to speed and style.
