Using Mopar ingenuity, Dayclona took a stock intake, milled it open, and added a Six Pack design top. It still flows as well as any other dual plane, and gives the engine all it needs in terms of fuel.
The other car shown here is the one Pam drives, and it is based on the ‘71 Road Runner body design. Unlike the Daytonas, this project required a completely new nose, and uses Pontiac Fiero headlight motors to open the eyes. However, the new cone itself was basically a bolt-on, and did not need any serious fender mods to install like the Dodge required.
Because of the Plymouth’s production body lines, the rear wing is unique, sweeping over the upper rear quarters so it could be securely mounted. The Daytona had been given a side-exhaust layout like most NASCAR entries used; the Superbird has the normal rear outlets, stylized using ideas that originated with the Rapid Transit System Road Runner show car from 1971, now in the collection of Steve Juliano.
Pam Beineke showing the boys how it is done.
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The cars were not built to be put in some museum, and they do get driven when the opportunity presents itself. In fact, when we caught up with the Beinekes and Mr. Goyette at the Year One Experience last April, they had come all the way to Georgia on the highway, towing one empty trailer just in case something broke down! Due to the styling package, they also got pretty good mileage for Hemi cars.
They graciously accepted an invitation to make a lap or two around Road Atlanta while we aimed back at them from a minivan one evening after the show. Gary is in white, Pam is in Hemi Orange, and Mike is in the green mystery car on the right, which is also part of the winged fantasy.
Click here to read part 2. We’ll check out that ‘Daytona that never was’ and maybe solve a Mopar mystery next month.
