1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Hardtop Coupe

Designed by the famous Larry Shinoda, the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was Mercury Division's entry into NASCAR's 'aero-wars' of the 1969 and 1970 racing seasons. The so-called 'aero-warriors' were created during the relentless horsepower race when diminishing returns summoned the opinion that the quickest and simplest way to higher speeds was aerodynamics, not more horsepower. It was Ford and Mercury versus Dodge and Plymouth with the dramatically recontoured Cyclone Spoiler II powered by either a 427 or 429 engine winning eight races in the two-year aero wars.

Speeds climbed past the 200-mph threshold. After 1970 the rules-makers rewrote the book banishing the high-wing racers ending one of stock car racing's fastest and most creative eras. NASCAR required at least 500 examples to be built and the official production of the Spoiler II is listed at just 503 and this car is listed as the only Spoiler II to survive.