Petty 1971 mule Road Runner test at Daytona, November 1970

[odcics2]

An actual Road Runner!
Check out the hood!
Turns out that the Satellite hood had less drag, so Petty ran that. See the rubber front bumper? Cool!
Note the full width front spoiler.
A rule change to “as wide as the frame rails” took effect for 1971 so this was the only time this spoiler was seen on a Petty car.
It would be cool if one of the Petty Plymouth clone cars ran that spoiler, rubber bumper and a real Road Runner hood.

 

[TorRed]

Awesome, back when NASCAR was actually stockcar racing!

 

[YY1]

Note the "flare" of the rocker panel in front of the rear wheel.

 

[kiwigtx]

Imagine how much faster they could have gone with side windows closed up.

 

[odcics2]

Side glass was banned April, 1970.
They were trying to slow down the aero cars.

 

[odcics2]

Petty behind the wheel.