I can’t even hide my frustration on not being able to acquire this car. Legally, I can’t knock over the nearest bank for the funds, I don’t have a car I can sell immediately for the cash, and if I tried selling Angry Grandpa, the only car that might scare up the funds, there will be hell to pay at home for sure. Maybe I should’ve played a table while I was in Vegas this year just to see where my luck would’ve taken me. Had I known that Mark Beckett was going to sell his absolutely bitchin’ and completely BangShift-worthy 1990 Dodge Daytona, I would’ve even looked at the old bait and tackle and made a decision that involved saying good-bye to one of the boys. I’ve been dreaming about a build like his car ever since I wrote it’s feature article back in 2014. I went for a ride in the car back when it had just debuted in naturally-aspirated form and I needed or wanted nothing from the car except ownership back then. But it’s changed a bit since I wrote the article, so let’s catch up on why this G-body Mopar is so lust-worthy.

The conversion from front-wheel-drive K-based sport coupe to legit musclecar begins with a home-built tubular K-frame that utilizes the stock mounting points for the steering, struts, and control arms, that can accommodate a 5.7L Hemi that has a Hughes camshaft, ported heads, billet fuel rails that are fed via an Aeromotive A1000, and BBK headers. We saw all of that the first time around but since our feature, the engine has sprouted a MagnaCharger. Shifting duties lies with a Tremec 6060 six-speed manual that came from a Dodge Viper that is fitted with a QuickTime bellhousing, and out back, a custom rear subframe and a mild wheel tub widening hide a Chrysler 8.75 rear axle that is attached via a triangulated four-link and is fitted with 3.91 gears and a Sure Grip. Slowing down the Daytona are four-wheel discs and a hydroboost system yanked from a Mustang Cobra.

Inside, the Daytona is more or less stock. There’s the obvious shifter modification, and there are a full compliment of AutoMeter gauges, both in the original gauge housing and underneath the cowl portion of the hood, out of sight for most people. A roll hoop/belt bar system with down tubes that run to the back of the car help stiffen things up a little bit. During my test ride, back when it was naturally aspirated, the Daytona felt seriously torquey but not at all twitchy from the passenger seat. It wasn’t hopeless with traction, either…though, being fair, having 335/30-18 tires out back does not hurt. The fronts are 225/40-18, and the wheels are by TSW.

In hindsight, it does seem a little odd that Chrysler’s offering to take on the popular Chevrolet Camaro, stylish Pontiac Firebird and proven Ford Mustang was a sporty, front-drive coupe based loosely on the K-car platform. While Lee Iacocca was a master out of making that one platform work for many different applications, and while the Daytona in stock form wasn’t that bad of a car performance-wise when new, not having a rear-drive offering that could go toe-to-toe with the F-cars and the Fox didn’t do any favors in the eyes of enthusiasts, especially when Daytonas running in Pro Stock were looking and acting the part. Beckett’s car is worthy on many levels, so hurry up and get this beast into your garage before I find someone willing to purchase a slightly used left kidney.

eBay Link: 1990 Dodge Daytona ES