New for 1969!

1969 saw little change for the regular Dodge Charger. Instead, Dodge
released two special versions of the Charger, in order to better compete
in NASCAR. The first was the Charger 500, which was basically a 1968
Charger with improved aerodynamics. The Charger 500 had a flush
mounted Coronet grille with a flush mounted rear window over the
recessed backlight. Although the Charger 500 had some racing success,
Dodge engineers felt they could do more. They went back to the wind
tunnel and came back with the Dodge Charger Daytona, the most
outrageous musclecar of the era. In front, the Daytona sported a pointed
18 inch nose extension which reduced drag and enhanced downforce. Out
back, the Daytona retained the 500's recessed backlight but added a
horizontal tail stabilizer on tall vertical extensions (known as a "wing" in
today's lingo). The wing had to be tall enough on production versions in
order to open the trunk and some dealers had to remove them in order to
sell the cars. Priced at $4,000, the Daytonas were available with either the
440 or the 426 Hemi and 503 examples were eventually sold. Weighing
almost 300 pounds more than regular Chargers with the same engines,
the Daytonas were hampered on the street. But they could top out at over
150 mph on the track -- and it was completely street legal. This was truly
the height of the performance mania.

Picture this.......
It's a nice crisp fall day back in '68...September 13th to be exact....
You walk into your local Dodge dealer to order up a new 1969 Dodge. You
sit down with your salesman & go over the models. He asks you what you
want...you reply "I want to go fast & I want to look good doing it!"
Automatically the salesman knows your type...he says one
word.....CHARGER!
You look at the options on a new 1969 Charger.....the first thing that
catches your eye is that huge, shiny chrome dome aircleaner atop 2- 4
barrel carbuerators...."HEMI!" you scream.
Out comes the order form and you go to town, ticking all the necessary
options like a 4 speed transmission, tic-toc-tach & power windows for a
bit of luxury. You walk out of the dealer the proud owner of a new
1969 Hemi Charger R/T!