The Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird are emblematic of the muscle car era’s zenith when automotive engineering and design were pushed to their limits. These winged warriors emerged from the crucible of NASCAR competition, their aerodynamic profiles a radical departure from the conventional.
While the Daytona, with its distinctive nose and sleek lines, has etched itself into automotive lore, the Superbird, though similarly shaped, was produced in significantly larger quantities to meet NASCAR’s homologation requirements. Ironically, this greater availability has not diminished the Superbird’s allure, particularly in its high-performance HEMI-powered guise.
Like its Daytona counterpart, the HEMI Superbird has ascended to legendary status, commanding astronomical prices in the collector car market. The Lemon Twist example showcased here epitomizes this automotive pinnacle, a testament to the enduring appeal of these extraordinary machines.
Typically reserved for the auction block spotlight, high-profile Mopars like this Lemon Twist Superbird offer a rare opportunity for an intimate inspection. This particular example stands out as David Wise, a preeminent Mopar authority whose evaluations are as respected as those by Galen V. Govier, conducted the in-depth examination showcased here.
While the car’s auction fate and potential Elite Level validation remain uncertain, its status as a highly coveted “winged warrior” is indisputable. Undergoing restoration in 1994 by its third owner, the Superbird has been meticulously preserved, amassing only 5,733 miles since its completion.
A testament to its exceptional condition, the car has spent the majority of its life sheltered within a garage. At the heart of this Mopar masterpiece lies a numbers-matching HEMI V8, an engine configuration shared by only 135 other Superbirds. Moreover, the combination of a HEMI and an automatic transmission is exceedingly rare, with fewer than 77 examples produced.
Given the car’s pristine state, comprehensive documentation, and the extraordinary scarcity of Lemon Twist HEMI Superbirds equipped with automatic transmissions, this vehicle is poised to command a substantial price tag exceeding half a million dollars when it eventually crosses the auction block.
