In the late 1960s, NASCAR’s “Aero Wars” spurred the production of a handful of the most unique track-ready vehicles ever to roll off the assembly line. While the iconic Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird are the most identifiable, the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II—like the prime example now listed on eBay—was perhaps the most exclusive. It was only produced for the 1969 model year.
Although the Cyclone Spoiler II’s fastback “sportsroof” was sleek, its standard front-end treatment caused too much aerodynamic drag at racing speeds. To make the car more competitive, Mercury’s engineers swapped out the Cyclone’s original front end for a new nose—which was extended by six inches and equipped with a flush Ford Cobra grille, echoing the design of its cousin, the Ford Torino Talladega. Legend has it that the Cyclone Spoiler II’s heavily modified aero front bumper had its origins as the Ford Fairlane’s rear bumper.
Like the other legendary aero cars of the ear, the 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was the result of NASCAR homologation rules, which required the production and public sale of at least 500 vehicles in a given configuration in order to qualify for competition.
The Cyclone was offered in two trim packages were offered—each one named after NASCAR stars: Cale Yarborough and Dan Gurney.
Both Spoiler II variants were only available in white, with the Cale Yarborough Special featuring a red interior, a red roof, and red exterior trim, while the Dan Gurney Special had a blue interior, a blue roof, and blue exterior trim. If you’re expecting bucket seats and a four on the floor, guess again. The Cyclone Spoiler II’s interior was exclusively equipped with front bench seats and column shifters.
While the NASCAR Cyclone Spoiler IIs were fitted with mighty 427 cubic inch side oiler and Boss 429 V-8s, the street cars rolled off the assembly line with 351 Windsor V-8s. Ford’s factory racing program screeched to a halt after the 1969 NASCAR season, due to the government pressure that ended the “Aero Wars” after the 1970 season.
Mercury Cyclone Spoiler IIs and Ford Torino Talledegas were produced in very limited numbers, but modern day collector values are a fraction of the outrageously winged Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird, which saw significantly larger production runs. Spoiler IIs and Talledegas offer relative affordability, exclusivity, and the potential for significant appreciation.
The Cale Yarborough Special currently listed on eBay is a solid example. “This car is not a trailer queen, but a very nice driver,” states the seller. “It was restored about 15 years ago and still looks great but there are some nicks and scratches and other minor imperfections in the paint.” The car is intact with all of the specific NASCAR pieces in place and is fully operational. The car is #102 in the Talledega Spoiler registry, which shows 79 Cale Specials left in existence. It rolls on factory steelies wrapped with reproduction Goodyear Polyglass rubber.
Mercury also sold a limited number of Cale Yarborough-themed Cyclone Spoilers with a similar paint scheme in 1969 but lacking the Spoiler II’s aerodynamic nose. While these cars did not include the NASCAR-specific modifications, they were fitted with a range of engines and transmissions.
Cale Yarborough’s NASCAR career had a remarkable run from 1957 through 1988. He won the Daytona 500 in 1968. Dan Gurney’s wide-ranging racing career spanned Formula One, Indy Car, Trans-Am, Can-Am, and NASCAR. His NASCAR years ran from 1962 through 1980.
See Vintage and Classic Parts for 1969 Mercury Cyclone for sale on eBay.
