Mercury Montego 'Puro Racing' NASCAR, 1974
Mercury Montego II Facelift
Mercury Montego II Facelift•
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Auction: Indy 2022
Auction date: May 21, 2022
Lot No.: S176
$40,700 | Sold
- Exterior: Purple
- Interior: Black
- Body: NASCAR
- Driven by Dick Trickle in the 1975 Daytona 500
- Also driven by Bobby Isaac, Hershel McGriff, and Richie Panch
- Built by Banjo Matthews
- Featured on the television show “AmeriCarna” with Ray Evernham
- This car is special to Ray Evernham because Puro was a mom and pop team competing at the highest level of NASCAR
- Body-off restoration in 2020
- 1974 Banjo Matthews Chassis
- Period-correct 351 CI Ford Cleveland V-8 engine
- Holley 4-barrel carburetor
- Bud Moore intake manifold
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Metallic Purple and White Puro Racing no. 75 livery
- Black interior
- Powdercoated dashboard
- Tachometer
- Auxiliary Stewart Warner instruments
- Fire extinguisher
- Padded roll cage
- Fuel cell
- Stainless steel braided fuel lines
- Hood pins
- Side exhaust
- Rear spoiler
- Chrome bumpers
- Gold wheels
- Goodyear racing tires
- Sold on a Bill of Sale
Restored in 2020 by former racer, team owner, Winston Cup Championship-winning crew chief and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Ray Evernham, this 1974 Mercury Montego was driven by journeyman racer Dick Trickle in the 1975 Daytona 500. Built by the legendary Banjo Matthews, it was also piloted by such high-profile talents as Bobby Isaac, Hershel McGriff and Richie Panch, the son of NASCAR Cup Series veteran Marvin Panch. The car holds a special place in NASCAR history and in Evernham’s heart, as its sponsor, Puro Racing, was the kind of business that represented the backbone of the sport—a true “Mom and Pop” operation competing at the highest level of NASACAR competition.
Based on a 1974 Banjo Matthews chassis, the Puro Racing Mercury Montego is powered by a period-correct Ford 351 CI Cleveland V-8 engine featuring a cowl induction air cleaner over a Holley 4-barrel carburetor on a Bud Moore intake manifold, as well as a side-exit tube header exhaust system, and it’s mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. The restoration included careful preparation and priming of the streamlined Montego body before applying the correctly detailed Metallic Purple and White Puro Racing No. 75 livery, which also incorporates the correct sponsor decals.
The finished body also features faired-in, chromed front and rear bumpers and smoothed door handle openings, hood pins, front and rear spoilers, and a quick-fill fuel cap. Riding on Goodyear Eagle racing tires on gold-painted NASCAR spec steel wheels, the Puro Racing Mercury Montego shows off a black interior complete with a padded racing bucket seat and roll cage, a fire extinguisher, padded steering wheel, Hurst shifter with reverse lockout, a powder-coated dash panel incorporating a central tachometer and auxiliary Stewart Warner instruments, and a racing fuel cell with braided, stainless steel hoses.
Featured on Ray Evernham’s popular television show “AmeriCarna,” the Puro Racing Mercury Montego is a wonderful homage to NASCAR’s traditional family roots.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/503098/1974-mercury-montego-puro-racing-nascar/
