Rich Schaller’s reputation put him in a perfect spot to get this car. In the area around his hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Rich was known for his loving care and meticulous work with automobiles. That’s why the former owner of this beautiful ’70 Cyclone Spoiler decided Rich should give it a new home.
The car had been in the hands of a gentleman who got parts, but not much else. Rich’s friend Jay Eckert found out that the car was for sale, so he called Rich. The owner wanted the car to go to someone who would do the car right (Rich) and who would keep it for a long time (Rich). Even though the owner had spent more than $10,000 in parts for the orange beauty, the price tag was well below that. The final bill included the car and all the parts in the inventory. Let’s just say Rich got a whale of a deal.
This ’70 model was built in Lorain, Ohio, on special order. Only three cars were built for Philco-Ford executives and bound for the company’s Philadelphia location. This is one of them. Rich says his research shows 1,631 Cyclone Spoilers produced at Lorain that year.
Once the car was in his garage, Rich was faced with devising a game plan to bring this car to its ultimate glory. The original 429 Cobra Jet with Ram Air came out of the engine compartment for some sprucing up. Rich used his expertise to take care of all the work, using help from Jay Eckert and Steve Fahringer. It was Fahringer who shot the PPG Competition Orange fresh coat to brighten up nearly 30 years of life. There really wasn’t much to do that hadn’t already been done in Lorain in December 1969 when the car was built. These cars came with dual exhaust, a competition handling package, high-back bucket seats, and special instrument gauges. The Traction-Lok diff was a no-charge item on the invoice, as were the front and rear deck spoilers.
When it came to add-ons, this car had the best of everything (and it was all discounted for the Philco folks). Whisper-Aire air conditioning cost another $300 (normal folks would have paid closer to $400 in 1970); power steering and power side windows each added another hundred to the ticket. Power front disc brakes were part of the buildsheet as well. This car is now a regular on the show circuit in Pennsylvania and the surrounding area. It gets its share of weekend duty when the weather is just right, too. It wasn’t long ago that it spent day after day in a garage, but Rich brings it forth to let the world see the style this car can demonstrate. Certainly, the orange color of the era is an attention-getter. If you can persuade him to twist the key…well, you’ll see what we mean when we say “Wow!”