THREE Kins of Dan Gurney Specials!
Not just Mercurys
Obviously, we all know that there are two versions of the Dan Gurney Edition. The first is the Dan Gurney Spoiler with its traditional front end and the availability of any regular 1969 Mercury Cyclone options. The second is also a 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II. This version came with the aerodynamic modifications and no options available. (It should be noted that there was at least one with an option. That was one shipped to Hawaii and was heater delete. There was also one Cale Yarborough Spoiler II sent to Hawaii, and it too was heater delete.)
There were only 352 Dan Gurney Spoilers built, and even fewer, 218 Spoiler IIs, built!
However, there is yet another Dan Gurney special edition built, even in fewer numbers! In 2008, Saleen Automotive produced, with the help of Dan Gurney, a very rare Saleen Mustang Dan Gurney Signature Edition. A production run of 300 was planned with 100 Blue, 100 white, and 100 red constructed. Unfortunately, due to poor economic conditions at the time, only 68 blue versions were produced, and even fewer white and even fewer red!
Unlike the Mercury Cyclone version, the Saleen DG Mustang was designed with the assistance of Dan Gurney himself. He was deeply involved with suspension and engine modifications. For his involvement, he received production car #1. All Dan Gurney Saleens receive a production run number proudly located on the driver’s side front bumper.
Unlike its earlier Mercury cousin’s versions, the Dan Gurney Signature Edition Mustang had numerous styling and performance upgrades. These included:
- Supercharged 465 HP engine
- 5 speed manual transmission
- 3.73.1 Max Grip rearend
- Short throw shifter
- Special Race Craft Suspension
- Generation II Watts’s Link rear suspension
- 19” Perelli Corsa tires
- Gurney Edition 19” Spoke Alloy Wheels
- Gurney Edition custom Leather Sport Seats
- Saleen Custom front grill and Air Dam
- Rear “Duck Bill” spoiler
- And, much more!
Dan Gurney was a very special man and a remarkable driver. He won in NASCAR with the Wood Brothers and was an American racing driver, engineer, and motorsport executive who competed in Formula One. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of motor sports. Gurney won four Formula One Grand Prix races across 11 seasons. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 with Ford and AJ Foyt as his codriver, as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1959 with Ferrari. He twice finished second in the Indy 500. He won in an Indy car of his own design, and he won in IMSA. He created AAR (All American Racing), Dan was in partnership with Carroll Shelby, and so much more.
The Dan Gurney Mustang shown here is # 48 (A race number often used by and associated with Dan Gurney.) This car was purchased new by Michael Oatis Chandler, who raced at Indy for car owner Dan Gurney. Chandler was a young and upcoming Indy Car driver when, in 1984, he had a horrific accident during practice for the 500. The accident nearly took his life, but did end his promising racing career. When he heard about the Saleen Dan Gurney Signature Edition, he knew he had to have one, and #48 was his selection. The Gurney Special now sits in our collection along with our Dan Gurney Spoiler II.
