For Want of a Charger, a Petty Was Lost... [PIC]

   By the end of the 1968, Richard Petty demanded that Chrysler give him a winged Dodge Charger Daytona or the Plymouth Superbird and for whatever reason, they refused him. Petty knew that even the vaunted Hemi was not going to beat the re-nosed and winged NASCAR-ready Ford Talladega or the Mercury Cyclones. Based on the Ford fastback Torino Cobra with its 428 Cobra Jet engine, which did well in short races, the Talladega offered an extended and downward sloping front clip, tucked bumpers and a fixed wing at the rear, He deemed it perfect for the longer endurance races of the NASCAR circuit. Petty did the unthinkable... he left Chrysler for the 1969 season for Ford. The relationship was a one year only, as for 1970, Chrysler wooed him back with a Superbird of his own. During the '69 racing season, his Talladega was either powered by the venerable 427 or the new 429 Cobra Jet. The 750 or so street Talladegas built for homologation were powered by the 428 Police Interceptor. Petty won 10 races in '69 and finished 2nd to teammate David Pearson. Petty's Talladega still exists today as Petty Enterprises have managed to acquire and restore most of his cars over his decades of driving. Model is by Wix.