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1969 Performance Promotion and Racing Plans; Dec. 6, 1968

We have all heard the expression, “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday!” It has been very over used but none the less was very true in the 60s. Ford had been successful on the track and success one year brings expectations for the next year. In 1968 David Pearson driving one of the new aerodynamic smaller Fords, the Torino, won the NASCAR Championship. It helped sell cars and build brand loyality. Ford wanted more of it for 1969. Talladega enthusiast and one time NASCAR team owner, Marty Burke, has given us a peek inside Blue Oval headquarters late in 69 to see what they were planning. The following Intra Company memo is a very rare documentation of the preliminary plans for the new year.

Even on this late date of December 11, 1968 there appears to be some question of the Spoiler IIs name and existance. The Boss 429 also appeared to be late on arrival and in limited quantities.

 

 

Richard

Some of my first and strongest memories from my childhood relate to cars. I still remember when things happened based on what car I was driving at the time. I grew up and lived in Iowa for nearly 40 years before moving to Southern California and now live in Tennessee. I was a Corvette fanatic for years but then re-discovered vintage American Muscle. My wife, Katrina, and I decided we wanted to focus on unique and rare muscle cars. After a lot of research we fell in love with the Ford Blue Oval Aero Cars. These were only built in 1969 and and aerodynamics became an important part of winning races. The only purpose of these limited production cars was to win NASCAR races using the Boss 429 and 427 power plants complimented with a special, wind cheating, aerodynamic body. The Ford Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II are terrific and historic cars. This site is devoted to these car and their owners past and present. We provide an Online Registry for recording the long term history and ownership of every remaining Talladega, Spoiler and Spoiler II.

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One Comment

  1. Great stuff!

    Marty and Richard,

    Thanks for access to these great memos. They certainly help put Ford’s Total Performance Program into perspective for most of us. It also helps to explain why the 429 Boss was not installed in our Talladegas (or the Spoiler IIs).

    I’m looking forward to reading additional memos as you make them available.

    Thanks, again,

    Carl.

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