Black 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger Daytona 4-Speed Is a One-of-One Gem

In 1968, Dodge tackled the NASCAR series with the then-new Charger R/T. The muscle was unable to beat its Ford rivals on the high-bank oval tracks, so Dodge developed the more aerodynamic Charger 500. The latter wasn't quick enough either, so the company developed the more radical Charger Daytona.

The regular R/T has several issues, including a tunneled rear window that caused lift and a gaping front fascia that induced drag. Dodge fixed these problems on the 500 by making the rear window flush with the rest of the roof and slapping a 1968 Coronet grille up front. The Daytona that followed, however, was notably more radical.

The latter broke cover in 1969 with an 18-inch-long (and pointy) nose and a 23-inch-tall wing. The car hit over 200 mph at Chrysler's proving grounds, prompting Dodge to put it into production to meet NASCAR's homologation rules.

The Daytona came standard with the familiar 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Magnum engine. The four-barrel powerplant delivered 375 horsepower and was available with either a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic or a four-speed manual. Optionally, customers could order the Daytona with the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Hemi V8, rated at 425 horsepower.

Dodge sent 503 units to US showrooms, most of them equipped with the standard engine. Specifically, 433 examples got the 440 V8, while the remaining 70 were equipped with the 426 Hemi. The four-speed manual Hemi is the rarest of the bunch, as only 22 were fitted with this drivetrain combo. This black winged warrior is one of those cars.

Needless to say, the Daytona looks pretty mean in black, but I should also point out that this color is super rare on this model. Dodge built only a few units, and apparently just three had the Hemi engine. This particular car is actually a one-of-one classic thanks to its color combo, which includes a white wing stripe and a white interior. It also has color-matched steel wheels with small-diameter hubcaps.

The Mopar appears to be in excellent condition inside and out, which suggests a recent restoration. However, I remember seeing a video of this car back in 2016, so the restoration is at least a decade old. The engine bay is clean, well detailed, and looks factory correct.

The Daytona was recently listed among the lots for Mecum's upcoming Monterey 2026 auction, scheduled between August 13 and 15. The ad doesn't mention whether the drivetrain is numbers matching, but the Mopar comes with an original window sticker, warranty book, and broadcast sheet.

How much will this one-off Hemi Daytona go for? Well, it will certainly change hands for a six-figure sum, but an exact figure is difficult to predict. As of this writing, Hemi Daytonas are usually worth over $500,000, but certain features can push them over the $700,000 mark. Some have sold for seven-figure sums in recent years.

In 2024, a green Daytona set an auction record at a whopping $3 million. The same car had sold for $1.32 million in 2022. A copper example fetched $1.43 million in 2023. I don't think that this black example will go for over $1 million, but I can see it fetching at least $700,000.