Win on Sunday; sell on Monday was the mantra of the American auto manufacturers through much of the sixties and seventies. With the American Racing Series beginning to gain some true momentum with televised races and publicity in newspapers and magazines the American motoring public became interested in street going version of the racing cars. The series that would evolve into NASCAR was provided the development for some very interesting road cars. These were cars that were practically identical to the cars raced on Sundays by Richard Petty and the Yarborough brothers. These production cars incorporated the aerodynamic changes that were used on track cars. During the early period of NASCAR development a “stock car” was truly a stock car that could be ordered at a local Ford, Chevrolet or Plymouth dealership on Monday morning.

The Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Daytona
The wing was what truly distinguished this car from all others. The rear airfoil stood several feet above the rear deck of the car. The larger than life wind, partnered with the grafted on nose treatment, made these cars famous. Dealerships were anxious to get in on the popularity of stock car racing and ordered the cars. The Plymouth Superbird was a variant of the Roadrunner while the Daytona was a souped up Dodge Charger. Many of the models sold at dealerships were equipped with the 426 Hemi engine and special carburetors. Although the cars were popular among young drivers the pricing was too high for them and more mainstream purchasers were somewhat taken aback by the overdone body styling. Several Daytonas and Superbirds were deeply discounted to sell. These cars will now command purchase prices easily over $100,000.00 on the auction block.

Mercury Cyclone and Ford King Cobra

Designed to take on the dominating Superbirds and Daytonas on the NASCAR circuit the Mercury and Ford offerings were known as the Torino Talladegas and the Cyclone Spoilers. Some very rare models known as the Cyclone Spoiler II and the King Cobra Torino were produced. In order to get the cars on the track models with limited changes had to be available at Ford and Mercury dealerships.

Much like the offerings from Chrysler Corporation these cars had a sleeker appearance and a rear spoiler to produce down force on the track. It is evident that Ford put more time and development into their cars as the sleeker noses do not appear to be grafted on after thoughts and the headlights appear to be designed into the fenders and front end. Although the King Cobra and the Cyclone Spoiler II were never offered to the public modified versions without the racing engines were offered at Ford and Mercury dealerships as special edition Torinos and Cyclones.