Mercury Cyclone

Mercury Cyclone at a glance

The Cyclone was Mercury's answer to the muscle car boom of the 1960s. Like the Pontiac GTO, it took a family car and added a bigger engine, firmer suspension and sporty trim. Mercury sat between Ford and Lincoln, so the Cyclone was a slightly more upmarket alternative to the equivalent Ford.

From Comet option to its own nameplate

For 1964, the Cyclone was the sporty version of the compact Mercury Comet. It had the 289 cu in V8 with 157 kW (210 hp), bucket seats, a spoked steering wheel and some chromed engine parts. The old 1cars page named the engine "Cyclone Super-289", a 4.7-litre unit with just over 200 hp. Mercury built 7,454 cars.

The 1965 car received stacked headlights, a blacked-out grille and a vinyl roof in black or white. A "Power-Pac" gauge cluster and a handling package were offered. Wikipedia gives 149 kW (200 hp) for the four-barrel 289, while the old 1cars text quoted 225 hp. Production rose to 12,347.

For 1966, the Comet moved to the body of the Ford Fairlane, with a longer wheelbase. The Cyclone GT got a 390 cu in V8 with 250 kW (335 hp), body stripes and a fibreglass bonnet with two scoops. In 1968, the "Comet" name was dropped, and the Cyclone became its own model with a fastback body.

Design and construction

Every Cyclone had a front-mounted V8 driving the rear wheels. Body styles were a two-door coupé and a two-door convertible; the 1967 range included 809 convertibles. From 1966, the car shared its basic structure with the Fairlane, and from 1968 with the Ford Torino.

The 1968 fastback mattered on the race track. Its sloping roof cut drag on NASCAR superspeedways. A Cyclone set a speed of 304.52 km/h (189.22 mph) at Daytona in 1968, and the car was named the fastest of the year.

For 1969, the Cyclone Spoiler II took the idea further. Its extended nose was designed to compete with the Dodge Charger Daytona and the Plymouth Superbird. The street version used a 351 Windsor engine, while the race car ran a Boss 429. In 1971, Mercury marketed the car as the Montego Cyclone.

Engines and drivetrain by year

The power figures above are gross ratings, as American makers quoted them before 1972. For 1970, Wikipedia also lists net figures, which are between about 10 and 30 % lower. The 1970 Super Cobra Jet, with its Drag Pack, added an oil cooler and 3.91 or 4.30 axle ratios.

There was no factory 427 Cyclone in 1966. Andy Hotton of Dearborn Steel Tubing later fitted a few cars with 427 engines rated at 306 kW (410 hp). The 1cars power converter turns gross horsepower figures into kW.

GT, Spoiler and Cobra Jet versions

Mercury sold the Cyclone in several trim and engine levels, and the names changed almost every year. The 1968 GT came with an upper body stripe, bucket seats, wide whitewall tyres, special wheel covers, an all-vinyl interior and a handling package. The 390 four-barrel with 242 kW (325 hp) was standard on that car.

In 1969, the Cyclone Spoiler used the 390 "S" engine with a 735 cfm Holley carburettor. The Cobra Jet version had the 428 with 250 kW (335 hp) and an optional Ram Air intake. Wikipedia notes that Ram Air brought no change in the quoted power.

For 1970, the Spoiler came with the 429 Cobra Jet and Ram Air as standard, and the Super Cobra Jet was optional. The GT moved the other way: it had a 351 Cleveland two-barrel with a three-speed manual. Only 953 buyers ordered its Action Special Equipment Package. Compared with the 1964 car, the strongest 1970 Cyclone had 79 % more gross power, by our calculation.

Production by year

By our count, the eight model years add up to 74,256 cars, or about 74,000. Output peaked in 1968 and 1970, then fell by 77 % for 1971. In 1972, the Cyclone name survived only as a Montego option, with 30 cars built.

NASCAR wins and legacy

In racing, the Cyclone did far more than its sales suggest. At the 1968 Daytona 500, Cyclones took first and second place. The Wood Brothers team's number 21 Cyclone of 1971 still holds a NASCAR record of 18 wins from 32 races. New rules for 1971 ended the era of special aerodynamic homologation cars.

On the road, the Cyclone lived in the shadow of its Ford cousins and the Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. That makes it rarer today. Our page on the history of Mercury explains how the brand fitted between Ford and Lincoln until it closed in 2011.

Buying and collecting a Cyclone today

Values depend heavily on the engine. A 1969 Cobra Jet or a 1970 Spoiler with the 429 Super Cobra Jet is far more sought after than a small-block GT. Because many cars were rebuilt with different engines, check the engine code in the VIN and the factory build documents before you buy.

Rust is the main enemy of any 1960s American car, so inspect the floors, frame rails and lower body panels. Parts for the Ford intermediate platform are widely available, which helps restorations. Our golden-age muscle car section lists rivals of the same years, and the 1cars comparison tool helps set specifications side by side.