Daytona against Superbird

[Nacho-RT74]

I have noticed about Nascar that Superbird is more present/mentioned than Daytona. What is the reason ? maybe because Daytona is mid years production car or something like that. I don't like any one of both, but what do you think is the best of both and the reasons

I think Daytona looks to have better aerodinamic rate with more fastback body but

[tan top]

DAYTONA  had  slightly better aero dynamics

[71superbee]

like them both, obviously.....who wouldn't want one in their garage !!!

[Ghoste]

There were more Superbirds made as we all know so perhaps that is why they get more press today?  I have always thought the Daytona looked better but that is a personal thing.

[Nacho-RT74]

if I have to choose will vote for Daytona of course, but I don't really like anyone.

Maybe there is more SBs becasue was a complete 70 production, instead the half 69 year production of Ds

anyway, it looks on Nascar was more pupular the SB

[DC_1]

Daytona.........way better lookin both on and off the track

[69_500]

Daytona hands down. Its not even a contest to me. The Daytona is the most beautiful car ever made. Heck I'd rather have the 500 I have than a Superbird. That is my .02

[hemigeno]

Maybe there is more SBs becasue was a complete 70 production, instead the half 69 year production of Ds

The 'Bird was produced at nearly 4x the rate of the Daytonas in part because (believe it or not) the Dodge brass lobbied NASCAR to make the increase in production requirements!  There was quite the family feud between Dodge and Plymouth at the time, and the Dodge guys had no reason to want the Superbird out there essentially capitalizing on all the Dodge-initiated aerodynamic innovations.

Big Bill France (who "was" NASCAR at that time) didn't want any of the specialized Aero cars any more than Dodge wanted the 'Bird, so he was more than willing to go along with the increase in production requirements.  I forget whether it was one car for every two Chrysler dealerships (Chrysler Corp. in general), or one car for every two Plymouth dealerships (dealers that carried Plymouth and perhaps other Chrysler brands).  The effect was a requirement for approximately 2,000 'Birds when no such stringent requirements were on Ford/Mercury or Dodge since their Aero models were already accepted.  If NASCAR had mandated the same production levels for the Daytona when it was initially submitted for approval as they did for the 'Bird, Dodge would have been forced to comply -- whether it was a mid-year offering or not.

While the street 'Birds are much more plentiful, just the opposite was the case on the track.  There were many more racing Daytonas campaigned in NASCAR than Superbirds.  I think the same thing was true for ARCA and the other major circuits as well, although Doug S. may have some more exact numbers to go by.

My vote goes for the Daytona...  we're sorta biased around here though, being a Charger forum and all!

[Ghoste]

It also seems to me as though Plymouth spent more racing budget at the dragstrip and Dodge spent more on NASCAR.  That's just a personal perception though.

[69_500]

I think Dodge was a little more succesful at the race track in Nascar than the Plymouth's too. Well if you throw in the stats of the 500 in the Dodge's then they far outweighed the Plymouths' victories.

Gene your right on a Charger board we are bound to be more biased to the Daytona'. Where is Rene to weigh in, and vote for an Alpine White Superbird.

[Chris G.]

I used to love Superbirds and frown at the Daytona. Now that I am older, my opinions have changed a bit. I still like the Birds, but the Daytona is where it's at for me. I think the Bird has a certain wow factor about it (colors, decals, etc), while the Daytona looks much more toned down (if that's possible) and business like. I wouldn't mind owning either is what I'm getting at.

[Ghoste]

Which makes sense.  The Daytona was pretty much constructed by engineering whereas the Daytona was "tweaked" by the marketing crew and stylists before it was sent out to the public.

[gtx6970]

Bird for me, better drivetrain , better looking nose and wing and colors. About the only thing I don't like is the vinyl top

[WINGMAN]

   Daytona for me over the bird, but i need a bird to round out my collection    Jay.

[Nacho-RT74]

Bird for me, better drivetrain , better looking nose and wing and colors. About the only thing I don't like is the vinyl top

I haven't really notice how much diferent is the nose.

what about drivetrain ? wasn't the same ? maybe just talking about options ?

[Ghoste]

The nose is quite a bit different if you can see them side by side.  I don't know how to describe it exactly, but the Plymouth nose has more of a curve on the top so that the point seems lower.  The bottom of the Charger nose has more of an upward curve and the grille opening is underneath on the Superbird as opposed to right on the front of the tip.
As for drivetrain, the Plymouth offered a Six Barrel 440 but that is about the only difference.  A Pistol Grip shifter too if you count that as a drivetrain option.  Other than that, you are correct Natcho, the drivetrains are essentially the same.  Hemi or 440, 727 or 833, 8.75 or Dana 60.

[Nacho-RT74]

As for drivetrain, the Plymouth offered a Six Barrel 440 but that is about the only difference.

yeah I guess so, but that's not because IT IS A SB, that is JUST because the production year. If Daytona was available on 70, 440+6 would it be also an option to.

for example, between a 70 Charger and 70 Plymouth ( RR or GTX, I don't know if 440+6 was available on both ) with 440+6 I would take Charger without doubts, even the chromed "lip" bumper is not my favourite on 2nd gens

[hemigeno]

As for drivetrain, the Plymouth offered a Six Barrel 440 but that is about the only difference.

yeah I guess so, but that's not because IT IS A SB, that is JUST because the production year. If Daytona was available on 70, 440+6 would it be also an option to.

for example, between a 70 Charger and 70 Plymouth ( RR or GTX, I don't know if 440+6 was available on both ) with 440+6 I would take Charger without doubts, even the chromed "lip" bumper is not my favourite on 2nd gens

Nacho,

You're correct - there were no differences between a 'Bird drivetrain and any other '70 model's similar drivetrains. 

And I suspect that if the Daytona had been offered as a '70 model year it would almost certainly have had the 440+6 option.

[Ghoste]

So it's settled then, right?  By virtue of our democratic poll, our clearly informed and highly unbiased opinions that majority rule determines the Charger Daytona as the superior wing car.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I like daytonas...    I've driven my boss's 440+6 bird and loved it ---  but looks of the daytona are more refined to me...    it looks a big more...    muscular ?