1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II Dan Gurney Special Coupe

David Pearson won the 1968 NASCAR Championship and for the following season, Ford Motor Company engineers paid extra attention to aerodynamics. Focusing on speed and stability, the Ford Motor Company made some of the most famous and memorable stock cars in NASCAR history. The Mercury Cyclone and Ford Torino fastback body styles worked well on shorter tracks, however their large, squared-off frontal areas and recessed grilles were major sources of drag which limited the cars potential on longer speedways. Rectifying the problems were the introduction of the Torino Talladega and the Cyclone Spoiler, with two Cyclone variants available : the Spoiler, with a standard nose, and the radical Spoiler II, with an elongated nose similar to that of the Taladega.

The Spoiler was available with two trim options, the red and white Cale Yarborough edition was sold east of the Mississippi, while the blue and white Dan Gurney edition was sold west of it. According to NASCAR rules, at least 500 street versions were required to homologate the Spoiler for competition, and estimates place the total number produced from as few as 503 to as many as 519. Of those, only about 40 percent were Dan Gurney-edition cars.

This example is powered by a 390 cubic-inch V-8 engine with a single four-barrel carburetor offering 320 horsepower. There is a SelectShift three-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Other desirable features include air conditioning, bucket seats with a center console, a Philco pushbutton radio, American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels and B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires.

In 2011, this vehicle was offered for sale at the Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $15,000 - $20,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $33,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2011