Last week we showed you this photo and asked you “What’s Wrong?” Today, we will answer some but not all the questions.
This car was recently purchased out of the NASCAR driver Bill Elliott’s collection. The Date Plate reads:
Body: 63A
Color: MT
Trim: 4D
Date: 19B
DSO: 21
Axel: 9
Trans: U
(All of this could be correct for a Spoiler. If it was a Color Code Car the Color info would be blank. The build date would need to be prior to Jan. 1, 1969 to be a Color Code. This build date is February 19, 1969.)
It is reported to be a low mileage car but one that appears to have had a very rough life and little structural rust. The interior is said to be all original and in fair condition with bench seat.
First off, I am 99.9% positive this is a real Cale Yarborough Spoiler. The VIN and Data plate all support this finding. However, since the car has been modified some there is a slim chance that it could be something else.
Second, the front end is from a 1968 Cyclone.
Third, there is a chrome “Cyclone” script emblem on the rear quarter panel. A Spoiler should not have such an emblem.
Next, there is a “500” emblem on the rear quarter panel below the “Cyclone” emblem.
Some of you thought it was wrong not to have a spoiler on the rear. Some stated the missing “Cale Yarborough” and “Cyclone Spoiler” decals were wrong. Although these are usually found on the cars they are technically not necessary because they came in the trunk to be installed by the selling dealer so their absence is not wrong.
Here are a couple of more photos that might interest you about this car.
Note the GT stripe on the front fender and the 1968 front marker light.
Here is another Spoiler dealer installed item, the steering wheel wrap. This looks identical to the wraps we can purchase at auto parts stores today, is it original? I am not sure can one of you add some light on this question?
This image is from inside the trunk looking at the retaining nuts for the “Cyclone” and “500” emblems.
Are these factory or just something the dealer or some owner stuck on the car over the years? As some of you are aware there was a 1968 Cyclone GT 500 and a 1969 Cyclone 500. Could this be some ultra rare never before heard of Cyclone Spoiler 500?
This is an example of a correct Cale Yarborough Spoiler.
A Deluxe Marti Report has been obtained to help clarify the question on the “500” emblem. The Report does confirm this as a Spoiler but makes no reference to the 500 possibility. This part of the question remains open for the time being. This Cale Spoiler was sold new out of Heath Motor Co. in Carrollton, GA on March 10, 1969.
What is the engine code ? I assume it is a W nose .
Alan, yes it is a W nose and the engine code is a “M” Code. It is also a Spoiler VIN not previously known.
Restoring a car that has had a ruff life can be more fun ! As to Steering wheel wrap …Looking at picture of front seat, what you can see and the wrap I would guess they aged about the same…As to the Cyclone 500 trim my years of restoring cars I would guess that this unit was hit in the front end early in its life and a 68 Cyclone gave up parts to get this one back on the road….thus the lettering was most likely added later in life for this car. It would be interesting to see if the lettering on the other side match up as to location point to point as the lettering at factory were drilled with templates . This Spoiler will make a nice restored car with history of Bill Elliott as a past owner.
Just for the fun of it what numbers are cast in the inside of the Cyclone and the 500 that are mounted on the quarter panels ? Good luck to the new owner !