Torino King Cobra and Cyclone Spoiler II: The Unfinished Chapter in Muscle Car History

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In the late 1960s, the NASCAR Grand National Series was a battleground where automotive giants fought for supremacy. It was a relentless struggle between Chrysler, represented by its Plymouth and Dodge divisions, and Ford, backed by Mercury. The introduction of Chrysler's iconic 426 HEMI V8 engine had tilted the scales in favor of the Mopar camp, but Ford was determined to catch up.
In 1968, Ford introduced a new two-door fastback body for their Grand Torino and Cyclone intermediates. This sleek design proved to be highly aerodynamic, helping Ford-backed Holman-Moody secure the championship with David Pearson behind the wheel of a Torino.
For the next season, Ford continued to push the envelope. They not only homologated the powerful 429 Boss engine for competition by making it available in the Mustang but also worked closely with Holman-Moody to further enhance the Torino/Cyclone body's aerodynamics.
This collaboration led to the birth of the 1969 Ford Torino Talladega and the original Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II. Both of these models made it into production, albeit for homologation purposes, and they featured redesigned front fascias that significantly improved their aerodynamic profiles.
This not only helped Ford defend its NASCAR title but also attracted stock car legend Richard Petty, who switched to a Talladega that season. This forced Chrysler to respond and In 1969, Chrysler responded with the Dodge Charger Daytona. While it was not developed quickly enough to pose a real threat, it showed great potential in the final races of the season.
For the 1970 season, the legendary Plymouth Superbird was ready to join the NASCAR aero battle, setting its sights on Ford. Initial tests showed great promise, prompting Richard Petty to switch back to Plymouth.
Back at Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, there was a significant problem. While the Torino/Spoiler models had received a major redesign, wind tunnel testing revealed that the rear section's aerodynamics were inferior to the 1968-1969 version. The sloped front fascia from the Talladega and Spoiler II was no longer a viable option.
To address this, a team of talented designers, led by Larry Shinoda, set out to redesign the entire front section of the new 1970 body. This marked the birth of the Ford Torino King Cobra.
Unlike its predecessors and competitors, which often had aerodynamic components attached to existing bodies, the King Cobra was a ground-up redesign, featuring a unique sloping hood, radical fenders, and a bold front fascia with headlight covers to minimize drag.
In line with homologation requirements for 1970, Ford and its partners developed three to five fully functional street-legal prototypes in just a few months. Mercury's project started a bit later, resulting in only two fully developed prototypes.
Just like Plymouth did with the Superbird, the Torino King Cobra and its Mercury counterpart were slated to offer a range of V8 engines to appeal to a wider customer base. Among them was the street version of the Boss 429, making these aero cars some of Ford's fastest and most potent intermediates.
One of the Holman-Moody-prepped King Cobra prototypes was extensively tested at Daytona, with Cale Yarborough behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the legendary driver's feedback was far from positive. He noted a lack of front downforce, causing stability issues at high speeds.
It's widely believed that this issue, coupled with high production costs, led to Ford's decision to cancel the project. However, it's important to note that the downforce issue could have been resolved by adding a front spoiler and a large rear wing.
But according to insiders like stylist Harvey Winn, the real reason behind the project's cancellation was internal politics. A disagreement between CEO Henry Ford II and President Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen led to Knudsen's dismissal. The company subsequently purged Knudsen's close associates, including Larry Shinoda.
With Shinoda out of the picture and a focus on cost-cutting, the King Cobra project met an unfortunate end. If it had continued, Ford might have halted Plymouth's march toward the Grand National Series title in 1970, making the epic 1970 model year even more thrilling with the addition of the two Boss 429-powered aero cars.

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