Super Bird/ Daytona Sales
sscuda,
that is a very valid point.. i did not know nascar wasnt reflective in those times. i was under the impression from all the information popping up on tv and the internet that nascar was a fad back in the 70s which in turn gave me the question why did they not sell.
i havent heard of the torino talledega.. i am going to google it.
Abody,
Let me add a little more:
NASCAR had minimal influence with the public in general. Some of older folks in the 50's, 60, and 70's were roundy round racing fans, especially in the southern states. The Big 3 for whatever reason thought that NASCAR would help them sell the muscle cars but in fact they sold more family sedans because of NASCAR's influence. The old "Win on Sunday - Sell on Monday" routine.
The muscle cars were popular with the teens and early 20's crowd. The younger crowd was more into the drag racing. It wasn't until the latter half of the sixties ('65 and on) when the entire Big 3 finally woke up and discovered drag racing actually sold muscle cars. Then the party got started. It was late getting started but it did happen.
Prior to the mid sixties drag racing was considered to be on par with the motorcycle gangs of that era and was generally frowned upon. The only reason we had organized drag racing events back then was to keep the street racing contained.
Every once in a while I take my albums out, look at my old pictures, and wish I had kept some of those 60's and early 70's Mopar muscle cars I owned (new) and drag raced. I guess that's why us old guys still collect and play with these old Mopars. I guess you could say it keeps us connected. I hate to admit it sometimes but my current muscle car (race car) is also my last. I know my son will enjoy it, all too soon enough.
What did you think of the Torino Talledaga? Mercury had one too but I can't remember the name. I don't think Chev came out with anything very unusual during those years but I could be wrong.
I remember Mopar sponsored a wing car in SS/DA at one time. Just to compete with the SS 454 Chevelles and 427 Ford Fairlanes/Cyclones of the time. The Charger did well from what I recall but it stuck out like a dog's n_ _ s in the pits.
FYI - my first new car was a '67 GTX - 440 (2 X4 carbs) / 727 auto/ 3.91 gears. It was handfull on bias ply tires let me tell you. I ran re-treaded cheater slicks at the track. Times were high 12's to low 13's and I thought I was flying. My very first official sanctioned (legal) drag race was June 1965 @ Cayuga Dragway and the (non Mopar) car stalled on the starting line in front of a whole bunch of people. Those were the days! Today, we run low 8's in a full body SS car and think it's too slow, go figure.
sscuda
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