ITS A BASKET CASE BUT O WHAT A BASKET CASE

I guess this could be called an early Christmas Present for us because we hang on minute morsels of information pertaining to racing of the past,mainly the 70s and prior.

This car is interesting to me and probably will be to you too, and you can buy it...

This 1969 Charger Daytona is claimed to be an original Nickels Engineering built NASCAR racer with an interesting and tragic history. Raced by one-time series Rookie of the Year James Hylton during the 1969 and 1970 seasons, the car is sold with the dubious distinction of being the only Daytona involved in a fatal crash when Talmadge Prince suffered a broken neck after being broadsided in it during a 1970 Daytona qualifier. Very rough and extremely rusty, its sold with compelling evidence of authenticity but will require herculean effort to restore properly. Find it here on eBay in Durham, California with reserve not met at $50k. Special thanks to BaT reader Patrick S. for this submission!

A unique Nickels Engineering chassis number was assigned to each NASCAR spec Daytona, and though this particular cars plate is neither mentioned nor shown there are other likely indications of its legitimacy. A standard build practice for Nickels-built, Chrysler-factory sanctioned racers was to weld the aero nose cone to the front fenders, a feature this car is said to retain.

Hylton himself is said to have been able to identify the car as his old racer based on some strengthening crossmember braces added to help counteract aero package downforce stresses. A statement of facts bearing his signature is included in the sale.

Stored outdoors in South Carolina for many years, it is there that it was discovered by a friend of 50s NASCAR champ and knowledgeable Mopar race historian Cotton Owens. Though Owens is said to have initially confirmed the cars history, he passed away in 2012 and signed no similar paperwork to Hylton. Other supporting evidence is provided within the listing and is worth a closer look.

Sold with an authentic and complete dry sump NASCAR spec 426 hemi, its heads are un-ported and not originalwording leads us to suspect the block itself may not be this cars matching unit, either. A very good driver who never quite managed to reach the top podium spot, Hylton nonetheless finished second in season points three times and 3rd four times between 1966 and 75. Records are said to show he drove this car three times as detailed below:

• October 12th, 1969 11th place at Charlotte
• December 7th, 1969 4th place in Texas
• January 18th, 1970 35th in Riverside (DNF due to engine failure)

Sold to Talmadge Prince two weeks before that fateful Daytona qualifying session, it again suffered a catastrophic engine failure, the resulting oil and debris sending him sideways right before before the fatal broadside hit. Afterward the car is said to have sat at the Prince family dealership for six months before being sold on and repaired, and the ownership trail sounds to have gone cold at this point.

Described as one of roughly 40 built and six remaining, the car sounds like a fascinating piece of Mopar and stock car racing history, and as such is almost sure to end up good as new following an exorbitantly expensive and difficult restoration. Once finished, it goes without saying wed rather it be used in vintage racing than stuffed in a museum.

So which of the great members on Racers Reunion will step up to the plate and capture this loving Dodge Daytona from yesteryear.

Maybe couple would go in together because this is a piece you wont find again. The location is at the beginning of post and its still up for bid too. It really has my interest how about you ??

updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

You know after thinking about this a little bit this could be a great project for Tim Leeming,Dave Fulton and Bill Mcpeek to tackle. And have it all documented on film so the ones who cant get out and about maybe this can make them feel as if they at least involved in some small way...................................... Memories

HAS ANYONE HEARD ANY COMMENTS FROM THE TALMADGE PRINCE FAMILY MEMBERS ON THE REBUILDING OF TALMADGE PRINCE RACE (DEATH) CAR?

I HAVE READ WHOLE LOT OF COMMENTS FROM TALMADGE PRINCE RACE FANS ABOUT TALMADGE PRINCE RACE (DEATH) CAR.

THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHEN AND WHERE WAS IT LOCATED?

HALF OF THE COMMENTS WANTED THE TALMADGE PRINCE RACE (DEATH) CAR REBUILT AND VINTAGE RACED AS AN MEMORIAL TO TALMADGE PRINCE.

THE OTHER HALF OF THE COMMENTS THINK ITS CREEPY TO REBUILT THE TALMADGE PRINCE RACE (DEATH) CAR AND LEAVE IT LIKE YOU FOUND IT IN ITS RUST CONDITION.

HOW MANY RACE (DEATH) CARS THAT YOU KNOW OF HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM A JUNK PILE AND REBUILT TO RACING CONDITION?

WONDER WHAT REACTION YOU GET FROM THE #3 DALE EARNHARDT SR. RACE FANS IF YOU REBUILD AND VINTAGE RACED THE 2001 DALE EARNHARDT SR. #3 RACE (DEATH) CAR?

Thanks for any information or photos posted.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.USA

Here are some of the posts pro and con pertaining to this car

Dec 4 at 7:18 PM
DRV

Everything is wrong here. Even the front fenders are 8imches too long before they get to the nose.
What part of the story could be correct with facts?
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 5:34 PM
Dutch 1960

No doubt the vintage NASCAR community is well aware of this one, and no one has stepped up to buy it at this price. It also appears, from the linked threads, that the few of these that are around have also been worked over quite heavily over the years, to the point where people argue over how much of the original car is still there. Trade fenders on Sunday, weld it up on Monday. The life of a circle track car.
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 3:14 PM
4evrairheads

@ModernMode When I have shopped to buy a new house I usually ask about sq footage, insulation, taxes, schools, but it never dawned on me to ask how many people died in the house, nor have I ever seen an ad that mentions dead people per sq. ft. This was a race car. If ever I was to look at the the former home of a serial killer, the topic would probably come up.
2 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 2:47 PM
ModernMode

I wonder is all the people turned off by the death ask that question whenever they buy a house? Its a thing, certainly not haunted.
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 1:32 PM
Ron B

Reading the ebay description it sounds real to me .In the 1970s i saw a blue Daytona on Display in new Zealand ( it was thought to be an ex Buddy Baker car) . The editor of the local Hot Rod Mag ,Rob Campbell managed to swing a drive in it..around PukeKohe race track. Its a pity go pros werent around then.
to answer those who mentioned the roof anomaly..from the description
,,,

I have had to answer a LOT of e-mails, because I forgot to answer the glaring question Yes, the quarter panels, and roof were replaced at some point with 68 parts, and the car is missing the rear window plug. Sorry guys. The Daytona trunk lid is in the picture of the parts, along with a new floor pan, of course the car will need more parts than that.
1 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 12:20 PM
nowhere

So THATS what happened to the Jimmy Gibbs Junior car after they had to abandon it on the blocked freeway!
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 11:52 AM
gregv

Saw this on ebay yesterday, was wondering if it would end up being mentioned here. The death of a driver in this car brings up an interesting point. In the vintage aircraft circle, aircraft that have been involved in deaths are routinely rebuilt and re-flown (I can think of several off the top of my head), and it doesnt seem to cause much of a ripple. Not commenting on the right or wrong of that, but wondering if the same holds true for vintage automobiles.

Be interesting to find out if this is indeed originally a Daytona or not. Interesting whichever the case.
1 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 10:06 AM
ken_quick

This is not remotely close to an original Daytona. Notice the lack of priceless rear window plug for aerodynamics as seen in the original photos.
Sorry but nice try seller!
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 10:04 AM
RDH

Appropriate that someone wrote Dissolution NASCAR STYLE on the dash.
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 10:02 AM
JagManBill

passion yesmoney than sense?maybe not. I have heard that the King was offered a million for his winged beast and he turned it down. Now admittedly, that is the Kings car and this is just another Daytona racer but still, if the King linage was worth $500k to $750k then this is worth $250k easy and you wont have half that in the resto plus purchase cost so you may be $50k+ on the green side once completed. Yes you end up with a privateer Daytona, but since they didnt grow on trees and were the technology that changed the sport, Id say your going to be money ahead.
2 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 10:01 AM
Flat4

or junkyard
4 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 9:59 AM
Flat4

It belongs in a museum.- Indiana Jones
1 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 9:42 AM
Deano

One would have to be an over-the-top NASCAR junkie to even attempt a resurrection of this former speedway bruiser. Someone with way more passion and money than sense.
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 9:35 AM
voiture

As others have pointed out, youd need to re-create the flush rear window. I have little doubt that this is an original Daytona racer, but after that crash, it looks like a plain Charger body was used for salvage. But the nose cone, front fenders and hood, if genuing, are more important.
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 8:21 AM
jimmythefly

For reference, heres a (claimed) pic of a James Hylton car from 68 with no nose cone and the charger backlight.
http://cyberwombat.com/images/nascar/dodge/1968/48_hylton_1968.jpg
4 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 7:54 AM
Rick S

Porsche 356B remnant for $1,200 is starting to look like the bargain of the week!
6 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 7:48 AM
David C.

In aviation circles, this would be a candidate for what they would call a data plate restoration. Essentially, a new build utilizing only the identity of the original. By the time youre finished restoring and replacing all the items to bring this car back to its 1969 appearance, I imagine very little of what you see in the ad would still be incorporated in the car. Im surprised the NASCAR museum doesnt step in and work out a deal with the owner. They certainly would have the resources, both financially and mechanically, to bring this car back to its former glory.
6 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 6:56 AM
philipbarrett

Anyone here chasing matching numbers authenticity is going to be very disappointed (or this will become a very long thread). Race cars spent their lives being broken, upgraded, changed, fixed and broken again.

Im no authority on Mopar history but I know that the resourceful pit crews working on this car cared not a whit for originality.
11 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 6:50 AM
JagManBill

I just noticeda mason jar master cyl?!?
2 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 6:35 AM
CF Nick

The flush rear window that was part of the Daytona package is not present on the picture of the found rusty car. The OE style gas cap should not be there also.
2 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 5:57 AM
Icedvovo

Rather than Christine this car maybe should be called Pinocchio. From the links above, it seems to have grown a nose.
7 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 5:52 AM
JagManBill

philipbarrett I owned a Zink sports racer that killed its driver back in 72. Yes its a bit of a morbid past, but only one date from a long race history. Out of respect to the dead, the car was never to be driven on that race weekend. Carma takes care of its own however and the car was destroyed in a house fire in 2008.
5 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 5:50 AM
Leadsled

Shouldnt this be part of the see where they rust series?
3 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 5:41 AM
Dutch 1960

IIRC, the Ferrari GTO recently auctioned at Monterey also suffered from a killed driver in an accident. I was kind of surprised that it was not a bigger deal, at the time. Bad mojo and all.
1 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 5:24 AM
Surffly

Seems like the seller is more interested in selling on the story then the actual car
3 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 1:38 AM
JeffH

I wonder if it will answer to Christine.the back-story is certainly macabre enough !

cheers.JeffH
1 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 1:24 AM
Dan Patterson

No nose cone five years ago, but has one now- so there goes its value as a mark of authenticity.
10 Flag as not constructive
Dec 4 at 12:07 AM
Icedvovo

Hmm. Bad karma race car.

No thanks even if I did have the cash.
4 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 11:49 PM
1750GTV

Interesting. This car was discussed on a Mopar site in 2009 and had different front fenders and no aero nose.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=t8r2e1khdgv2s2qg6uj1pftek7&/topic,63396.0.html
13 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 10:55 PM
philipbarrett

After you spend the multi-6 figures to get this car back youll still have a vehicle in which a driver was killed. A fact that you will recall every time you set foot in the car Too macabre for me, this one is best left to gently fade away.
6 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 10:34 PM
Dan Patterson

At the bottom of the listing the seller adds:

I have had to answer a LOT of e-mails, because I forgot to answer the glaring question Yes, the quarter panels, and roof were replaced at some point with 68 parts, and the car is missing the rear window plug. Sorry guys. The Daytona trunk lid is in the picture of the parts, along with a new floor pan, of course the car will need more parts than that.

If this is the real deal, its certainly worth bringing back. It will take someone with more knowledge, money, and determination than the average Mopar nut, though.
5 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 10:05 PM
MWebb

This looks like it is going to be pretty heavy on the recreation end of things.
5 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 10:04 PM
randall

Indeed..that rear window is sure wrong. The color in the day photo shows it with the right metalwork.something not right there. How do esplain dat one Lucy?
6 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 10:00 PM
mkeenly

Time for someone to contact Mark Worman of Graveyard Carz
2 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 9:54 PM
ForzaV12

At first glance, the ask seems ridiculous to those that are not fans of vintage NASCAR. However, the winged era cars are every bit as significant as any other iconic old racer-and, yes that includes certain
flat six and V12 powered sportscars.
17 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 9:31 PM
iPilotSaab

FIFTY thousand dollars? Did I miss something? Does rust and missing panels and old pictures make a cars worth go up 500 times ?
A basket case should at least be able to hold something.
11 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 8:52 PM
captfun

The back window isnt correct for a Daytona and doesnt seem to be mentioned in the advert. The sugar scoop design is plain Charger. I suspect large parts of this cars history are probably missing. Im reminded of the old family axe thats had the head and handle replaced. But kudos to the seller for giving this old beast a chance. I hope someone has enough love and money.
16 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 8:36 PM
OtherGreg

No doubt this is an iconic piece of NASCAR Dodge Daytona racing history. Sure would love to see it when the restoration is completed. Good luck to whoever wins it. You just never know what is lurking behind those storage facility spaces when you are driving by them.
5 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 8:31 PM
Big Len

No.
12 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 8:18 PM
bridgeman

@3rd Generation
Not 50k
reserve still not met
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
0 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 8:06 PM
4evrairheads

A bleak story. What would a wrecked 911 with say IMSA racing history be selling for in equal condition, given the bubble and all? Or is this winged Mopar as valuable because of NASCAR provenance? Some of this stuff gets as close as I care to go as far as being ghoulish.
2 Flag as not constructive
Dec 3 at 7:54 PM
3rd Generation

$ 50 K for this ?

Youre not serious, are you ?

Really.