SO EXCITED: This is Darrell Waltrip’s favorite car and is in his museum in Charlotte, NC. It is a 1971 Mercury Cyclone. The brown color is Revell “rootbeer” with gold. The base kit was the Donnie Allison kit. I’ve had the decals for so long i have no idea where I got them.

This 1971 Mercury Cyclone holds a special place in NASCAR history as Darrell Waltrip’s favorite car, now proudly displayed in his museum in Charlotte, NC. Painted in a striking Revell “rootbeer” brown with gold accents, the car has an unmistakable vintage charm. Built from the Donnie Allison base kit, it features decals of unknown origin, collected long ago. Interestingly, this Cyclone is a rebody of Mario Andretti’s 1967 Fairlane Daytona 500 winner, which itself was a rebody of a 1965 Galaxie—making it a car with layers of racing heritage. Though Waltrip never claimed a victory in this particular machine, it marked a major milestone in his career as his first prominent NASCAR ride. For fans and collectors alike, it represents the humble beginnings of a legendary driver and serves as a tribute to the early years of stock car racing, where innovation and grit defined the sport.