Ford King Cobra and Mercury Spoiler II Prototypes
The two cars that are covered in this Feature are extremely rare and unusual. Both were originally built by Ford Motor Company as Prototypes for the next round in the NASCAR Aero Wars. You might consider the King Cobra as a replacement from the very successful 1969 Ford Talladega and the Spoiler II as the evolution of the 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II.
Ford was coming out with a completely new body for its Torino and Cyclone models which meant that to be competive on the NASCAR Super Speedways they needed to be more slippery than the 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Before these two wild cars could go into production Ford Motor Company decided to pull out of all racing. Obviously, if you don’t race you don’t need special race car bodies.
Here is Steve Honnel the owner of these two wonderful bits of history standing next to Katrina at the 40th Aero Car Reunion in Talladega.
The Spoiler II is powered by a Boss 429 and what a pretty sound it makes.
The nose is the most obvious modification to these bodies. It is steeply sloped and extended. The Spoiler Ii shown here is the only one prototype built. There were 3 of the King Cobras.
Steve is a proud owner of these two cars and has been seen driving them on repeated occasions; they may be rare but they get driven.
Steve,
Great cars! Thanks for saving them for all of us to enjoy. You have two of the greatest muscle car prototypes in the world. I really appreciate you bringing them out for us to see and enjoy at these events. I have the blue Talladega that was a couple of cars over from you at Russwood. I have also had the pleasure of seeing your cars at several other events as well.
Thanks again for sharing your great cars with the rest of us.
Carl Sharp
Liberty, IN.
I met Steve several years before he found the Cyclone. He told me he had a nose and was looking for a candidate for a clone. I had photocopies of a few articles on the ’70 aero cars that he didn’t have so I provided him with copies. But I could swear one of the prototype photos in the articles shows decals labeling the ’70 Spoiler a Cyclone Super Spoiler, not Cyclone Spoiler II.
Ford Trans Am and NASCAR builder Bud Moore initially received a yellow King Cobra from Ford. I saw it in his Spartanburg, S. C. race shop on a tour there in the summer of 1976. The hood was not opened, but I believe it had a 429 CJ or SCJ. I’m not sure what happened to it when he retired from racing.
I was a young NASCAR mechanic in 1968&1969,I worked for Harry Hyde(Bobby Isaac #71).Of course I knew the”aero wars”well.Then in 1975 I was building cars for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and I went down to Bud Moore’s shop to pick up an engine he had built for me.I also saw the yellow Cobra,I recognized it instantly as a refugee of the”aero wars”.Bud is 92 now,and”someone”should ask him whatever happened to it…