Monster Mopar Nationals: with the Fords and Mercurys
This is where the big dogs come out to play. Arguably, the wildest cars out of Detroit are the Aero Cars from 1969 thru 1970. These include the 69 Dodge Daytona, the 70 Plymouth Superbird, the 69 Ford Talladega and the 69 Mercury Cyclone Spoiller and Spoiller II. The Talladega won the NASCAR Championship in 1969 but Ford pulled out of racing prior to the 1970 season. In the first part of 69 Dodge ran the Charger 500 and the Daytona was on the track for the remainder of the year. Ford had no factory teams in 70 so there is no real test as to who won the war but it has made for a lot of good bench racing over the years.
You think you know these cars and that the Dodge and Plymouth are very similar until you see a Dodge Daytona parked next to a Plymouth Superbird and you realize there are a lot of differences.
The Dodge Charger 500 shown here is a precursor to the Daytona. Very similar but no wing and no nose cone.
I am very partial to these cars and they are much rarer than the Daytona.
Although this tribute Daytona is not a real race car it looks every bit the part.
At the top is a Dan Gurney Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II, next is an original two owner Dodge Dayton and next to it is a Root Beer colored Dodge Charger 500 (future Feature Car) and next is the beak of a Superbird.
If you would like to see more of two very special winged cars, Click Here to visit our Feature on two Dodge Daytonas.
These cars belong on the track and these owners drive them!
Going into turn three at Gateway International Raceway and it felt like 1969 and I was David Pearson looking for a win.
This is a street legal race car built from an original Ford Talladega. Look for a full feature on this car in the near future on our Feature Car page.
This is a real Benny Parsons race car. It started life as a 68 Torino and was converted to a Talladega. This car will also be featured on our Feature Car page.
Look out the rear view mirror of your Ford Talladega and see a line of Mopar Superbirds and Daytonas approaching is a little unsettling.
The 2009 Reunion was held at the Talladega Speedway in conjunction with the November NASCAR race. If you would like to see all the great cars and events that took place at that event CLICK HERE!
If you would like to see more of two very special winged cars, Click Here to visit our Feature on two Dodge Daytonas.
I didn’t check the VIN, but, I think the Cale Yarborough Spoiler pictured above is actually a Spoiler II – it did have the appropriate front sheet metal on it. It may not be obvious in the above photo, but, it is in a couple that I took.
Thanks for the great website and the great photos and stories.
Carl.