This Record-Setting 1969 Daytona Charger Has a Fascinating Story to Tell
A rusted out Daytona that sat in a Quonset hut for years was rescued and restored into what you see now.
Record-Setter
Those who pay close attention to the classic car auction world have probably seen this gorgeous 1969 Daytona before, as it sold at Mecum Auctions last January for a record-setting $346,500. At that time, we knew a little bit about the car, but now, Hot Rod has taken a deep dive into the former barn find's fascinating history that's well worth the read.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
Long Term Storage
Amazingly, this particular car sat in a barn in Louisville, Kentucky for 30 years, stashed away with a handful of other cool old cars. The original owner sold it to a pair of brothers after a drunk driver hit him coming home from the Kentucky Derby, which made the driver's side door difficult to open and close.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this barn find Charger Daytona right here in DodgeForum.com.
Making a Profit
The brothers kept the car until 2005, at which time the bank foreclosed on their property and seized it. Amazingly, they sold the Daytona and a classic Camaro Z/28 for the tiny sum of $10,000, at which point the buyer flipped the winged Dodge to its fourth owner, who wound up quickly selling it once again to Tony D'Agostino of Tony's Mopar Parts for a tidy profit at $75,000.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this barn find Charger Daytona right here in DodgeForum.com.
Long Process
Regardless, given the values and rarity of these cars, that was still a bargain price. D'Agostino didn't hesitate to write a check for the Daytona, and then spent five years making it perfect with nothing but the best NOS parts after teaming up with Mike Mancini of American Muscle Car Restorations. Regardless, it wasn't until three years later when he had finally accumulated all the parts he needed to make it happen.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this barn find Charger Daytona right here in DodgeForum.com.
Tracking Down History
The Daytona needed a ton of bodywork, not just from the accident, but from the copious amounts of rust everywhere. In the meantime, the duo managed to also track the car's history down to the point where they found an old sales ad from the dealership that originally sold the car.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this barn find Charger Daytona right here in DodgeForum.com.
One of Two
Needless to say, the results of all that hard work are a car that's quite simply flawless. That's precisely why it set and still holds the record for the most money ever paid for a 1969 Dodge Daytona with a 440 V8 and automatic transmission. It's also one of just two of 503 built with that engine and a white exterior and red interior.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this barn find Charger Daytona right here in DodgeForum.com.
Nationwide Tour
Prior to its sale, the Daytona went on to score 999 out of 1,000 at the 2012 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, which is as close to perfect as it gets. The car then embarked on a nationwide tour, and its second owner even got the chance to sit in it and perhaps regret ever selling this piece of Mopar history. Especially when he saw what it eventually sold for.
Photos: Mecum Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this barn find Charger Daytona right here in DodgeForum.com.
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