Chrysler stopped selling the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda (with Dodge Challenger or Plymouth Sapporo badges) in the United States after the 1983 model year, and its replacement for 1984 was a genuine Michigan product: the Daytona. Based on a front-wheel-drive platform derived from Lee Iacocca's Chrysler-saving K-Cars, the early Daytona looked sporty and — with the optional turbocharged engine under the hood — was respectably quick. Here's one of those cars, found in a Denver-area car graveyard a few months back.
TURBO was a magical word during the 1980s, and turbocharger-equipped cars of that era tended to be covered with badges bearing that word. Turbo madness got so powerful that Mitsubishi even installed Starion seatbelts with TURBO lettering sewn right into the fabric. This car has these door decals that could be read from blocks away.
In 1985, there was also a Daytona Turbo Z model, with the same powertrain as the regular Daytona Turbo but with better suspension and meaner-looking trim. For 1986, the Daytona Turbo was dropped and the Turbo Z took over. For 1987, the Shelby Z became available.
The MSRP for this car started at $10,286, or about $29,577 in today's money. A new 1985 Chevy Camaro Z28 cost $11,281 ($32,438 now).
The 1980s were exactly like this commercial.
It's an expressway to your heart.