We’ve been informed our brothers and sisters from across the pond may need some high quality British engineering when it comes to their car industry. That’s why beginning next year (1960) we will be producing models suited to the American market. More information will be released in the coming months, but until then…
The use of wings in the 50’s makes me cringe, if Im honest.
I agree, considering the Daytona and Superbird had to be dismantled into regular Roadrunners and Charger 500’s IN 1969 IN AMERICA because the cars were too extreme with the wings and styling.
I thought that was because NASCAR banned them?
Nascar banned their aerodynamic shape and engine because they were overpowered, in 1971 they had to make them less aerodynamic.
‘‘NASCAR’s rules implemented for the 1971 season limited the “aero-cars” to an engine displacement of no greater than 305 cu in (5.00 l) or they had to carry much more weight compared to their competitors. While they were still legal to race, the power-to-weight consequences that would come with the smaller engine or the increased weight rendered the cars uncompetitive. This was the start of a trend of rules slowing down NASCAR, because the races were exceeding the technology of tires and safety over 200 mph (320 km/h). Ford in response also designed the 1970 Torino King Cobra with an aerodynamic, superbird-style nose, but it was abandoned.[18][19]’’
The street version were only sold inbetween 1969-1970 for the Daytona and Superbird respectively, but a lot of people were put off by their styling or just wanted it to be lighter for the drag strip (Since the Superbird was slightly slower in the 1/4 thanks to the heavy wing and nose) so the nose was sometimes removed and the wing too unfortunately.
Here’s an article (Not sure how legit it all is but it seems pretty trustable from a quick glance): http://www.allpar.com/model/superbird.html
‘‘The 1969 Dodge Daytona had a drag coefficient (cd) of just 0.28, better than most cars made in the 1990s. It would have produced even less drag, if it weren’t for the tall spoiler (added to keep the rear wheels on the ground at high speeds), but still achieved 200 mph (set by Buddy Baker on March 24, 1970, at 200.447 mph around Talladega). The price of the retail cars, fitted with either a 440 or Hemi engine, was around $4,000, and the top speed was practically unbeatable in a production car (contemporary estimates ranged around 180 mph).’’
and Richard Petty even said himself that the car was incredibly stable ‘‘Almost impossible to spin out’’
Sorry about hogging the thread.
