The Nineteen Eighties have been a bizarre time for Chrysler: The corporate had simply come again from the brink due to the versatile Ok-Automotive platform which flooded the previously struggling firm with the money it wanted to make a controversial transfer on the time: the acquisition of Lamborghini for simply $25 million. This daring transfer resulted in one of many biggest skunk works automobile tasks of all time: A Dodge Daytona with a V8.
Chrysler’s buy of Lamborghini appeared to provide each corporations the increase they wanted on the time. On Chrysler’s aspect, there have been futuristic idea vehicles just like the Chrysler Portofino with its 4 upward opening doorways and the Eagle Optima. Lamborghini received the engineering and funds it wanted to create the Countach and Diablo. Behind the scenes although, engineering groups have been tinkering with a union of Italian and American engineering.
In late 1989, a crew led by Lamborghini product packages basic supervisor Jack Stavana got here collectively below one mission: “ take a look at high-end engine output purposes.” No less than that’s what he stated to Vehicle Journal in 1989. The results of this was the Dodge Daytona Decepzione. It was like one thing some child dreamt of 1 night time after which made it up on a serviette. It began with Dodge Daytona, itself a Ok-Automotive variant.
At first look, it appeared like some other Daytona on the time. It had larger wheel wells, giving it an virtually widebody look {that a} Charger Scat Pack can be pleased with. The wheel wells housed wider, Goodyear tires wrapped round three-spoke OZ wheels. Solely a hood scoop and a small charging bull decal and the phrases “Lamborghini V8” let you already know this was no common Daytona.
Engineers took the three.5-liter V8 from the Lamborghini Jalpa and actually stuffed it below the hood of the Daytona. The entire thing was no small job because the engine bay of the Daytona was solely used to holding a 2.2-liter turbocharged I4. The Jalpa’s V8 was tall, so engineers needed to connect an A-Automotive engine bay to the Daytona. The A-Automotive’s (fashions just like the Plymouth Acclaim and Chrysler Spirit) may very well be had with an non-compulsory V6, so this gave the Daytona the room it wanted for the engine to suit. Even that wasn’t sufficient room nonetheless as Barry Winfineld defined within the 1989 challenge of Vehicle:
…the sheer peak of the Jalpa four-cam engine introduced different issues. For one factor, its quartet of twin-barrel 42mm Weber downdraft carburetors juts above the hoodline of a standard Daytona. For one more, the crankshaft rides excessive within the engine block, dropping the forged alloy oil pan was beneath the automobile when the engine is mated to the transmission. The primary of those challenges was met by including the hood scoop, however the second stays an issue on Stavana’s automobile even after among the sump has been trimmed away. The alloy pan nonetheless hangs so perilously near the deck that he had a bash plate fitted to guard it. When the automobile crashes onto humps and ridges, it does so with noisy impacts you’ll be able to really feel proper by way of the construction.
The oil pan was so low that it’s stated it was only a few inches from the bottom. The V8 was then paired with a Getrag five-speed guide transmission and most particular of all, an all-wheel-drive system—allegedly developed by Lotus and particularly designed for the Ok-Automotive platform—with a viscous-coupling differential. The suspension was upgraded as nicely in order that the automobile might deal with the 350 additional kilos of weight the all-wheel drive system and engine added.
The outcome was a automobile that was far more partaking to drive with a rev-happy V8 that simply hit its redline early. Winfield stated inclement climate situations prevented Stavana and his crew from performing correct efficiency testing, however he estimated that the automobile might hit 60 mph in six seconds.
After all none of this had any kind of manufacturing potential; the trouble and further engineering wanted to suit the V8 confirmed that. Moreover, Chrysler had the Viper almost lined up, prepared for manufacturing across the identical time anyway. It’s attention-grabbing although how rapidly and quietly the Daytona Decepzione light into automotive historical past. Whereas it’s too unhealthy Chrysler didn’t do extra with the general concept of a V8 powered, all-wheel drive coupe, it’s nice to know that they have been at the least interested by it.
