If hair metal was all about a menacing image, the rock anthems spawned by the leading bands within the genre were much less daring, offering a lot of bark, but not an especially painful bite. Along such lines, many coupes during the same era were created by wrapping pedestrian, sedan-based technology in expressive bodywork and aiming the resulting product at a young, indulgent demographic. The rather exaggerated looks made these cars a lot like the popular rock of the era, and in Chrysler’s case, resulted in one of the most over-the-top K-derived chassis, the G-body Dodge Daytona/Chrysler Laser.
While Pony cars long followed the dressed-up sedan formula, by the time the Laser and Daytona were around, the platform architecture which underpinned the likes of the Camaro and Mustang was on its way out, if not already gone, for more family-friendly applications.
But with Ford and Chevy were pulling people into its showrooms with newly invigorated coupes built using a good ol’ fashioned rear-drive layout, surely Chrysler Corporation wouldn’t be left out of the action, especially when so many unsavvy customers were forking cash over for underpowered, low-trim “dream machines.”
The cheap, expedient front-drive turbo solution to reinvigorated performance meant the Daytona and Laser represented a perfectly legitimate alternative to the likes of the non-V8 Mustang and Camaro, and while many correctly argue that the Laser should’ve been a Plymouth, marketing a variation of the car in Chrysler showrooms was a path to higher profits, offering the potential effect of softening Chrysler’s very upright, traditional image (if only Iacocca weren’t pushing other cars which made that conservative image more entrenched).
That made these K-based coupes unique given that cars like the Prelude and 626 attracted more of a proto-yuppie demographic. So naturally, positioning the very American Laser as a European-oriented GT proved to be an unconvincing ploy, and 1986 was the final year the car would appear in Chrysler showrooms alongside LeBarons and New Yorkers.
And while a car like this could never replace a V8 pony car, the lure of its high-tech turbo power–prominently advertised with graphics and a boost gauge–was enough to entice more than a few buyers. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had some influence in Ford’s abortive decision to replace the Mustang with the Probe.
That car, introduced just after hair-metal was reaching its peak, was met with a good degree of initial success, but until then, the Laser and Daytona were the kings of front-drive butch glam, that is, if buyers could fit their big ‘dos underneath that low roofline.
Given this car’s analogue gauges and subdued color scheme, its interior actually provides some relief to the edgy exterior styling. In 1984, this was a seriously exciting shape, and badgeless versions of it graced packaging for auto-related products from car wax bottles to bras over the next five years. Fox-body Mustangs are timeless in comparison.
If you can meet the reserve and pay a $1,000 deposit in the next five days, this high-zoot period piece can be yours. And “high-zoot” certainly characterizes this car, dressed up as it is with gizmos, from a CD ready stereo (check out that pause button) and a prominently mounted trip computer to very comprehensive instrumentation. If, of course, this doesn’t meet your criteria as a desirable purchase, its current and original owner should be congratulated for keeping a footnote to the era’s cheap excess so presentable. It begs to be featured in a movie.
I quite like this car.I can’t imagine any of the bad asses from Motley Crue driving one but I could see the guys from Stryper having one.Well done on finding what must now be a rare car,a lot of them must have had a hard life and survivors few
Sweet ride. Seeing as I turned 21 in ’84 that car (well, at least the Daytona) was aimed at guys like me. I kinda sorta liked them, but at the time (and still to this day) I prefer RWD cars. I thought ChryCo messed them up with that tacked-on looking “aero” nose that debuted on the ’89s.
One of these outruns a Corvette in ‘Cannonball Run II’. Even as a youngster I was unconvinced by this.
In the third picture, it appears to be running just shy of 2000 rpm.
Was it a Malaise Era Corvette? Could happen…
I think you might be thinking of The Wraith, though maybe it happened in Cannonball Run II too(trying to push any memory of that movie out of my head).
It did happen in Cannonball Run II, even worse, I think Frank Sinatra drove one in the movie for a brief scene, anything for Lido.
Great, I’m going to have to watch it again just to see lol
I love it! Its a gorgeous and well preserved car, even if it falls a bit short of my ‘ideal’ G-body. What Id want would be a ’86 (last year for the ‘real’ grille and 4 eyed sealed beams) Daytona Shelby Z with Turbo II, 5 spd, black leather interior and T-tops. Preferably in electric blue, maybe red.
Youre right, these and other fwd performance cars aren’t ‘replacement’ for rwd, V-8 muscle. But as anyone who has experienced a turbo Mopar can tell you, its a different way to get there and nothing to be taken lightly. T-1 cars (non intercooled) were on par with other sporty cars if not a little quicker. Bone stock, the TII cars are formidable especially given the competition at the time, and with a few mods to tweak up the boost they can be downright fast. If you wanna get REALLY nasty, check out the stats on the ’92 IROC R/T that used the intercooler with a 16V DOHC head by Lotus. At the time, it was the fastest fwd vehicle made anywhere….0-60 in 5 seconds and change. The Mustang or F bodies couldn’t do that for the same money.
I was never much of a buttrocker…I lean more classic rock, grunge, or outright deathmetal in my musical tastes but a Daytona or Laser is definitely on my bucket list. A curvy road, a big haired babe beside me and a mix of Scorpoins, AC/DC, ZZ Top and Guns N Roses blasting. On cassette, of course!
I just saw one of those IROC R/T Daytonas the other day. Mint condition, bright red, driven by an older guy, I would guess he got it brand new and kept it perfect. Great looking car.
Those back seats were wicked cool.
As a dude who had heavy-metal hair in these years, I could totally see myself driving one then. Except that like so many metalheads, I had a used-car budget.
They really are cool, aren’t they? Neater than those in the front, and reminiscent of the ’66 Charger.
This marks a period in my life when I was so busy learning a trade that I really didn’t know what was going on. My Son probably knows what the hair metal set is all about but I don’t. I do know that this is a gussied up K car and I expect that I would prefer the dodge or plymouth wagon.
Just call me out of touch.
High Zoot?
Heck, this is the serious somber poverty interior, you should have found one with the full Ginza district talking dash interior that was available on these.
I love the graph paper theme on the gauges, very mathematical…..this car is a good representation of “TURBO!-Son of Brougham” The blow dried, cocaine sniffing, wayfarer sunglass wearing offspring of The House of Brougham that started to creep in during the early 80’s.
The boost gauge goes from -30 to “oops, sorry….call the dealer”
Paging Dee Dee McCall…….
I checked the ebay ad….this is a Turbo I car, no I/C. So about 145 hp. As a collectors item, its a fantastic find. For something to get into the hands of a hotrodder who wants to crank up the boost and enjoy it while preserving it….not QUITE as ideal.
@ Carmine–Yup, for all the gizmos on the dash, youre right. The dreary grey interior on a ‘cloudy day at the beach’ colored car, it does look pretty somber.
Come on now, those checkerboard pattern seats are kinda cheery… for grey anyhoo 😀 .
Sort of like micro version of Porsches “Pasha” checkerboard interior.
Yeah, green and checkerboard velour, lest you think the 70’s didn’t happen all over the world.
Wonder where Lido got that idea…
Cannonball Run II was one of my favorite movies growing up and Nick81 and Carmine are right.
I love it! Probably the best-preserved Laser left.
I think the ’84 Laser that I bought new in November of ’83 would give this one a run for the money. Same color, analog dash, better looking seats (mine has near black fabric with vertical white pin stripes), turbo, 5 speed. Mine rolled 100,000 miles 5 years ago. Maryland car, never in snow, always garaged, never undercoated (the bottom is painted just like the top and has the same shiny finish). My wife and I retired and moved to N/W Pa where I put the car into storage, driving it on nice days and just enough to keep it sharp and ready to go. If I can find a good home for it I’m going to sell it this summer. I’m getting older and we have a BMW roadster, a Mini, 2 Silverado pickups and a motorhome. I can’t keep up with the maintenance!
Did you sell it already? I’m interested! I already have one but not in this good of condition….yet. I got it from My parents in 1998 for what they would have gotten it for a trade in when they bought a Chrysler 300. The car was only used on long trips and always garaged and never run in the winter. However, at the time I bought it from them, I was jumping jobs and moving and never had a garage for it. Nevertheless, I kept it up decently until a girl T-boned me in the pass front wheel (2004). I stored it in my grandfather’s barn for 12 years. Its in the process of restoration right now. However, I would love another one. These cars are easily modded to make huge gains in hp and torque. Though the later years of the TIII blow through versions put out much more power and had even more potential as well as much beefier transmissions.
Would you still be interested in a 1984 Lazer turbo? I have a friend here that has one with 120,000 miles. Very nice looking car with original paint and interior. I think he would sell for around $3000.
I had one in 1984, ordered it right after the Daytona’s where at the Dodge Showrooms. It was a great car despite a few initial problems but after that was worked out it was a fantastic car. Mine was black with silver on the interior and I stayed with the analog gages but had surround sound prem. speaker package (6 speakers total).
Similarly, as corny as both the Laser and much of the hair metal scene were, they still appeal to me more than anything made today by a very wide margin.
Same here.
Still very much like them, too. I was crazy about them back when they were new. Still think the stylists, designers, engineers and other product planners really got things right with these cars. The style, the shape, the proportions, the interior. Was unable to afford a new one back in the day. But in 1990, I found a low-mileage, like-new, base model, 1986 Laser 5-speed for a reasonable price. Kept it 10 years and put well over 100K trouble-free miles on it. Took a road trip from OH to TX, then on to CA and back. Did great on the highway as well as around town. Always gave me between 30 and 40 mpg. To me this fine, clean example is sort of a latter day classic. Would really want to get it if I didn’t have a 1986 Laser XT Turbo, T-top, Mark Cross leather, 5-speed car stored away.
Having previously owned bigger and heavier Mopars, I always thought the Laser (and Daytona) handled rather like a sports car. You know, when equipped with a 5-speed stick. Plus, it always gives a bit better gas mileage. Admittedly though, I’ve never owned a true sports car like a Triumph, MG, MR2 or Miata.
Did Ford and GM bring out a Laser fighter?
Ford brought out the Probe in ’88 (though as is well known, that was originally to be the next Mustang). And there was a turbo Mustang, culminating in the SVO (which was a serious performance car, unlike these.) Over at GM…not so much, that I can remember.
I’ll always have a soft spot for these due to a Daytona Turbo Z a co-worker of my dad’s owned. Burgundy with silver sills, leather, “bullet hole” alloys, pretty much the twin of the one that Matchbox made in 1/64 scale. Absolutely immaculate and, in the mid 80’s, very cool.
Thanks Chris,we got the Probe in the UK but it was a bit of a joke car after comedian Steve Coogan had one of his cringe making characters drive one
That would kill it.
The FWD GM80 was supposed to replace the Camaro as well, but unlike the Probe never saw the light of day in any form.
Funny thing is if Ford and GM did roll out FWD Mustangs and Camaros by the late 80s, the Laser/Daytonas would have been considered ahead of their time.
Thank God it didn’t. I like the domestic FWD sedans a ton, but when it comes to this sort of car, in this era, I trust Mopar to do it right more than anyone else. The Probe wouldn’t have been as good as it was without Mazda’s input, and unless GM brought in an Opel to do the job, like the Calibra, I don’t see it panning out well (and even the Calibra didn’t handle as well as the Probe).
It really is too bad Ford did not bring out the original form of the Probe in the earlier part of the 80s as planned. The subsequent restyling of the Probe we eventually got wasn’t as modern looking as the planned original, in my opinion. I wonder how things would have turned out if they went ahead with the Probe and just dumped the 4-cylinder Mustangs at the same time?
Actually, that looks more like a Laser/Daytona copy that the Probe that came out.
It’s interesting to note that the original Probe design was pretty much locked when that photo was taken in October 1982. Very ahead of the times, I think. Here is another photo, in low quality unfortunately.
Double whammy, look how much the 1989 Daytona looks like those Probe/Mustang III concept mock ups.
Strange.
You know, that concept or prototype Probe has a soft, rounded look rather like some GM cars, such as the Saturn 2-door coupe.
GM started playing around with the idea of a FWD F-body right after the X-cars were introduced in 1980, but they didn’t get serious until the GM-80 project was announced, which was a FWD(and possibly AWD according to some things I’ve read about it) Camaro/Firebird, with the Quad 4 as the base motor and the Twin-Cam 3.4 as the high performance motor(original high spec versions of the DOHC 3.4 were supposed to be making 275hp). The 3.1 OHV turbo V6 from the 1989 McLaren Grand Prix was also rumored to be a drive train. The GM-80 supposedly was going to be a space frame car like the bullet train vans and Saturns. They were originally scheduled to launch by 1989, but delays and re-organizations, pushed them back and eventually canceled them.
Though it was canceled(rightfully so, it probably would have been an bloated, cost overrun nightmare) there were some fully formed Firebird prototypes were seen(see below), though I imagine that there were several within the GM Design compound. The overall package sounds very similar to the later Dodge Stealth/Mitsubishi 3000GT. I seem to recall that the AWD system that was optional on the 6000 STE was part of the GM-80 program too. In the end GM decided to revamp the RWD Firebirds sometime around 1988, and the recently launched Berretta sort of filled the niche for a FWD coupe within Chevrolet.
Having owned turbo Mopars and Fords from the 80’s, I would say that a Daytona Turbo Z (and other intercooled or Shelby variants) was every bit a “serious performance car” as the expensive and hard to find SVO models.
The advantage the SVO had was RWD, but it was a live axle and needed the Quadrashock suspension to keep it behaving well. I have a soft spot for the Turbo Z’s, too…
whats the difference between this and the chrysler Conquest?- BTW these have very nice interiors when loaded up- I think digital dashes were optional too
Conquest was a somewhat similar-looking but totally different car, a badge-engineered version of the Mitsubishi Starion. RWD, higher-performance, and much more expensive.
Mmmmm. I love wrinkly leather. I remember a friend of my parents had one of these, an 84 or so, Starion Turbo, burgundy over champage, with burgundy leather and the full digital dash, the dash stereo looked like a home stereo, it was huge and silver. Awesome.
The Daytona/Laser was a real Chrysler product, the Conquest was totally Mitsubishi. 2.6L turbo engine. POS!
I was never much of a hair metal guy, but I will confess to a serious Jones for one of these when they were new. In the new downer world of fwd cars that was the 80s, there were worse choices than these.
IIRC Chrysler had a bolt-in k-member available in their performance parts catalog that allowed one to drop in a V8 in a Daytona/Laser (or pretty much any K derivative I would guess). It did, however, leave the trans tunnel, driveshaft hump. etc. up to the builder…
I sought out RWD cars for my first car but I always kept an asterisk on my list for a nice one of these. I think the styling is excellent, they really didn’t have a FWD look to them other than the front overhang(which lets face it, the RWD the Mustang and Camaro had too) and they had a very nice blend of the best Camaro and Mustang styling elements, which is why I also love the E body cars a decade prior.
I like this nose best as well, I thought pop up headlights really tarnished the look
Where do you put the CDs? Did it have a remote mounted CD changer?
The radio appears to a factory lookalike (most likely Audiovox) of late ’80s/early ’90s vintage. The first factory-installed CD player was a Becker in the Mercedes S-Class beginning in 1985. Changers came along around 1990 or so.
Seeing that thing reminded me of just how bad some of those early car CD players were. (especially given the price at the time, typically >$500) When they weren’t skipping they sounded great, but even the ones from high-end aftermarket brands were pretty much useless outside of a parking lot or well-maintained stretch of Interstate.
Yup you are correct it is an Audiovox unit for Chryslar vehicles. I think it was one of their SPS models. I had the GM version in my S-15 Jimmy. It was not much to look at but did the job very well. That perticular version came out in the early 2000’s and the CD Changer plugged into the rear of the unit with a cable. Mine worked very well until it got replaced by an ipod capable headunit.
I giggled at the sight of the boost gauge here.
For some reason, I got the use of an uncle’s ’86 Laser for one 1990 weekend in high school. Blue, pinstriped velour interior, and TURBOoooo…with the 3-speed automatic. It was like my 2.2 Horizon’s roid-raging older brother.
I spent the whole time sideways, rowing the Fisher-Price floor shifter to keep that gauge pinned. They say it can be fun to drive a slow car fast. This was more like driving a dumb car dumber. 🙂 Incidentally, my hair was way more Travolta than Bon Jovi.
I was a Junior in high school when this car was marketed. It was never on my radar. K-Cars never had any appeal whatsoever to me in any form. I was far more interested in the the little Colt turbo…now that was an appealing little car!
Just happened to notice that that Laser is equipped with a compact disc player, presumably a multi-disc changer located in the cargo area. Very cutting edge for 1984.
It’s a late ’80s/early ’90s lookalike aftermarket unit. For years Audiovox had a line of factory lookalikes that were installed by new car dealers as upgrades.
The dealer made money on the sale and install, while the customer saved money because the equivalent factory unit from the parts counter would have been 2x-3x more.
The Chevy Baretta was supposedly going to be called the “Camaro Baretta” per articles in C&D [or MT?].
The way some buff books were talking in the early 80’s, they were expecting “all FWD cars by 1990”. And they “couldn’t wait”!
Woah, I hadn’t heard that before. On the subject of Hair metal It would be pretty sweet to have a Camaro Baretta and a Kramer Baretta guitar 😀
It was actually “Beretta,” like the Italian gunmaker. IIRC they sued GM for infringing on the name, though I can’t imagine anyone confused one for the other.
That ’84 is a beauty. I worked at the Chrysler dealer when they came out. Years later a good friend gave me a 1985 Laser. It had the 2.2L TBI engine and 5 speed transaxle. It needed a lot of help and got it. It now has a 2.5L turbo engine with intercooler and Getrag 5 speed transaxle, 4 wheel disc brakes from Daytona IROC car. And the claim of up to 35 MPG isn’t far off. I have often gotten 34 MPG with mine. I got nailed by the CHP once for over 90 coming off an onramp onto HWY 101, the car is quick. I’ll try to find a picture of it.
Here ia a photo of my 1985 Laser after a local car show.
digital dash version for the Laser
There was another on eBay at the time for a bin of $500 but a starting bid of $275 and no bidders about 60 miles from my house. I tried like hell to line up a hauler to no effect. If I had, it would be sitting in my back yard getting worked on as we speak.
There were lots of these things around Victoria at the time, often owned by young sailors. Even well equipped, they were a lot cheaper than a Mustang or Camaro. The cars looked good, and a nice interior for the day and were at least as reliable as the Stang and Camaro, if not better.
I liked these in their day and found them reasonably good looking, and still do now. But, I had a hard with the concept of FWD and sport in the same sentence. I never would have bought one.
IIRC, didn’t the Daytona Turbo Z finish 2nd to the Mustang SVO in the C&D “Best Handling American Car” test? Not sure whay month/year…
I may have stated this here before, but I’m a fan of the EEKs, these G bodies are among them. If I hadn’t had such a bad experience with my Mercury Capri Turbo and the burgeoning availability of V8 pony cars in the mid-80’s, one of these would have been in my stable.
I did eventually own an EEK, a Lancer ES Turbo. A great car that I had for 11 years and 160K+ miles.
I learned to drive in an 84 Laser (the base, non-turbo model) My mom wanted a Daytona Turbo, but my Dad insisted she get the one we ended up with (a 2.2/5-speed red one with red interior and orange LASER stripes down the sides…) You could get a turbo Daytona without having to get the super loaded model, but the Lasers only came in stripper or loaded versions. Dad was convinced the resale would be higer on a Chrysler-branded vehicle (this coming from a guy who keeps cars 15+ years at a time…) Anyway it was a really comfortable riding car, it seemed to handle good (at least compared to the Pontiac Phoenix that got traded in for this) Dad ended up trading it on a Grand AM because he had heard that “Chryslers blow head gaskets” but we had zero problems with it in the 5 years we owned it. (The GA had the Quad 4 engine, and ended up blowing a head gasket. After eating several ECUs) ANyway a friend had an all black Daytona Turbo years later that looked like the field car posted above (he traded a box of drum heads for it) it was totally beat up but still had the ridiculous turbo take off, it was a blast to drive even though it was so used up.
Its nice to see the Laser in the original posting in such nice shape.
Also, I always thought the Chrysler designers were looking at a poster of a 928 when they designed the Laser/Daytona, look at the hatchback shape and triangular back windows (and squint a lot…)
There was a red one of these at a car dealership about a mile from my house when I was 14-15. Man did I ever go ride my bike by that car every day, looking at it, because honestly? It looked (and if it was still around in that shape would look) good. Really good. It had T-Tops and I dreamed of pegging that turbo gauge.
Later my love affair for the Laser/Daytona was shattered when I had a friend who had a Daytona turbo with an automatic. Amazing looking car, but the turbo lag was unbelievable. It couldn’t get out of it’s own way then it.. sort of started moving.. and then took off. Just wasn’t my thing.
My brother got a ’89 Ford Probe GT for graduation, now that was a fun car. Dad found an absolutely cherry example of one for him, and of course my brother trashed it in his first 2 years of college, I think they ended up just selling it for scrap after he blew the trans the second time. Too bad because it was a really awesome car.
Oh man, I wish I had some extra $$$ lying around…I mean, I may be known for loving Broughams, but this is so 80’s retro cool I’d own it with pride!
Of course this example is lacking the digital dashboard, trip computer, and electronic voice alert system from the Laser XE that was the wet dream of kids of the Star Wars era back then. That’s also not the original stereo – the 1984 model had an optional one with an extra amp for the rear speakers that was quite good for the time.
Oh, and Perry, get off it, “wrapping pedestrian, sedan-based technology in expressive bodywork”! You just described the platform architecture underpinning the Mustang all the way through the 80’s and 90’s. Also, take a look at the performance stats for the Chrysler 2.2L Turbo, and you will see that they compare quite favorably to the V-8s in the early 80’s Mustangs and Camaros. Plus, the Laser and Daytona were much lighter.
My ex sister in law had one, all black and with all the catnip except the turbo and t top. Car was a total POS in the usual Mopar tradition.Slow as hell, it hardly was able to get out of its own way.When you rode init, there was a constant thumping noise from the left rear end that sounded like a broken shock mount or a bad tire.Several trips to the dealer failed to rectify the situation. Car was about as bland and unmerorable of pop music from the MTV era, but the thing that really made this vehicle memorable-in a fashion was the electronic synthesized vocal voice warning system.A Stentorian male voice that sounded like a disembodied John Houseman reminded you to “put on seat belts”, “check washer fluid”, “door ajar” and other commands.A sterling example of `80s technology! Car was never a match for Camaros, Firebirds, or Mustangs and Chrysler knew it.If it did find a “niche”, it was probably among 20 to 40ish woman in low to mid managerial “pink collar” positions, kinda like the “new” VW Beetle.
These are amazing little cars that I believe will be rising in value very soon due to the 80’s cars finally coming around as we knew would happen. I think this car was well thought out and had many cool features that you really only see during the 80’s such as the Knight Rider components of the car talking and digital dials. Heck, you’d almost expect HUD on the windshield the car was so ahead of its time. You can still get these for a steal, I suggest anyone interested consider one.
Mines an 84 but I dont have the Turbo gauge. Thats where the diagnostic computer displays its information. It does have a turbocharger (2.2) but alas, its an automatic. 114,000 original miles, one other owner, and was garaged for two years. I acquired this car just a couple of days ago and the first item on the list is a tune-up, fluid change, and some brake work.