Mercury Cyclone

Mercury (Comet) Cyclone
1971 Mercury Cyclone GT
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercury (Ford)
Model years	1964–1971
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle car
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Related	Mercury Comet Ford Fairlane Mercury Montego Ford Torino Talladega

The Mercury Cyclone is an automobile that was produced by Mercury from 1964 to 1971. It started as a performance model of the 1964 Mercury Comet, and was named the Mercury Comet Cyclone through 1967. For 1968, the "Comet" part of the name was dropped. Options such as GT, Spoiler and Cobra Jet were added and removed. In 1971, it was integrated into the Mercury Montego line as their performance model.^[1]

History

1964

The Cyclone started as an option for the 1964 Mercury Comet. It featured a 289 cu in (4,736 cc), 210 hp (156.6 kW) engine and a sporty look. It had a spoked steering wheel and bucket seats. Some of the engine parts were chromed in the style of muscle cars.

1965

In the 1965 models, the engine was updated to the four-barrel carburetor version of the 289 cu in (4,736 cc) unit, but generated 200 hp (149.1 kW). The '65 had a few performance options, which include a handling package, a special fan, and a "Power Transfer" rear axle. Special features included a black out, stand-up grille, bucket seats with sew-through pleats, centre console, chrome-plate wheel covers with lug nuts, engine "Dress Up Kit", unique insignias, a vinyl roof in black or white and a Power-Pac gauge cluster for the heavily padded instrument panel.^[2]

1966

1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT Hardtop

The 1966 models underwent a major styling change. The body received "sculpturing" that ran the length of the car, and was based on the body of the Ford Fairlane. The models introduced new engines. The 390 Y code was a 390 cu in (6,391 cc) engine with a two-barrel carburetor and 265 hp (198 kW). The 390 H code had a four-barrel carburetor and 275 hp (205 kW).

The GT option used a 390 S code engine which was a 390 cu in (6,391 cc) engine with a four-barrel carburetor and 335 hp (250 kW). The GT featured car stripes, a fiberglass hood (bonnet) with scoops and several other performance options.

1967

The 1967 model was produced with several engine options. The standard engine was the 289 V8 with 289 cu in (4,736 cc) and 200 hp (149 kW). The GT's engine was 390 cu in (6,391 cc), but was quoted with 15 fewer horses at 320 hp (239 kW).

Neither the 1966 Cyclone nor the 1967 Cyclone used the 427 cu in (6,997 cc) side-oiler engine that went into the standard Comet. Only badges told of the 410 hp (306 kW) under the hood (bonnet).

1968

The 1968 models dropped "Comet" from their name. The Cyclones had a mid tire level body tape stripe. The Cyclone GT's had an upper level body stripe, buckets, wide whitewall tires, special wheel covers, all vinyl interior, and the special handling package. It was named the fastest car of that year, because it set a world record speed of 189.22 mph (304.52 km/h) at Daytona.

Several engines were available for the Cyclones:

The 302 cu in (4,949 cc) standard engine was available as either the two-barrel carburetor, which generated 210 hp (157 kW), or the four-barrel carburetor, which generated 230 hp (172 kW).

The 390 cu in (6,391 cc) optional engine (standard for GT) was available as either the two-barrel carburetor, which generated 265 hp (198 kW), or the four-barrel carburetor, which generated 325 hp (242 kW).

1969

In 1969, the Cyclones had several engine options:

The 302 cu in (4,949 cc) engine was available with 220 hp (164 kW).

The 351 cu in (5,752 cc) engine had two versions: one was 250 hp (186 kW) and the other was 290 hp (216 kW).

The 390 cu in (6,391 cc) engine for the GTs was available with 320 hp (239 kW).

Spoiler II

Mercury produced a version of the Cyclone for NASCAR called the Cyclone Spoiler II. The model was available in two flavors. The street version featured a 351 cu in (5,752 cc) Windsor block, and was used to enter into the NASCAR business. The racing version featured a 429 cu in (7,030 cc) Boss block, which was the same engine as the one in the 1969 Boss Mustang.

Cobra Jet

Mercury also added a new model to the Cyclone line: the Cobra Jet (CJ). The Cobra Jet's engine was a 428 cu in (7,014 cc) which generated 335 hp (250 kW). The engine had a Ram Air option, a 735 CFM Holley four-barrel carburetor, although the option showed no quoted difference in horsepower rating. The Mercury Cyclone CJ had the following enhancements over the Cyclone and Cyclone GT: it had a blacked-out grille; dual exhausts; 3:50:1 axle ratio; engine dress-up kit (chromed parts); hood (bonnet) stripes; and a competition handling package.

1970

A 1970 Cyclone 429.

The CJ model was dropped from the Cyclone lineup, and applied to some of the engine names in the series. Mercury thus featured the Cyclone, Cyclone Spoiler and Cyclone GT. The Cyclones consisted of 351 cid V8s and 429 cid V8 engines.

The standard engine for the base Cyclone was the 429 cu in (7,030 cc) four-barrel with dual exhaust that was rated at 360 hp (268 kW) SAE gross (250 hp (186 kW) net). It was the standard engine in the 1970 Mercury Marauder X-100 and was available in other full size models. It featured a 575 CFM carburetor.

Two optional engines were available for the Cyclone. The 429 Cobra Jet was the 429 cu in (7,030 cc) four-barrel with dual exhaust but with the Ram Air induction. It was rated at 370 hp (276 kW) SAE gross (305 hp (227 kW) net) and had a 720 CFM Rochester Quadrajet 4 BBL carburetor. The 429 Super Cobra Jet, which was part of a Drag Pack option, was a 429 cu in (7,030 cc) four-barrel with dual exhaust and Ram Air induction, but it was rated at 375 hp (280 kW) SAE gross (335 hp (250 kW) net), and had a 780 CFM Holley 4 BBL carburetor.

1970 Cyclone Spoiler

The Cyclone Spoiler was for the performance minded with front and rear spoilers, black or white racing stripes that went from front to the rear of the car, integrated functional hood scoop for ram air induction, 140 mph speedometer with a four gauge suite including an 8000 rpm tachometer with adjustable red line, comfort weave vinyl bucket seats, dual racing mirrors and a competition suspension package. The 429 Cobra Jet with Ram Air was the standard engine for the Cyclone Spoiler but for those wanting a little more, the 429 Super Cobra Jet with Drag Pak and Super Drag Pak were optional. The Super Cobra Jet upgraded the block to 4 main bolts and provided a mechanical flat tappet camshaft and the carburetor was changed from a 720cfm Rochester QudraJet to a 780cfm Holley. Mandatory with the SCJ was the Drag Pack, this package added a front mounted engine oil cooler and a 3.91 ratio gear and if that was not enough the Super Drag Pak offered a 4.30 ratio gear and a Detroit 'no spin' Locker differential. Colors for the Spoiler were limited to Competition Yellow, Competition Blue, Pastel Blue, Competition Gold, Competition Green and Competition Orange but for a premium for would indulge you with the 'color of your dreams' program and 31 buyers took advantage.

Ford had intended to continue the Spoiler II option for 1970 with an even more aggressive nose profile. However none were actually built and the photos that exist from Ford were of a clay model built as a styling study. Contrary to popular myth the 1970 Cyclone Spoiler II was not a reaction to the Dodge Daytona storming NASCAR. The program had reached it conclusion and was canceled before the Daytona had even made it NASCAR debut.

1970 Cyclone GT

For the sporting gentleman that placed more emphasis in style than speed there was the Cyclone GT. The basic package offered comfort weave bucket seats, full length console, twin racing mirrors. integrated hood scoop that could be made functional for optional ram air induction, hide-away headlights, three pod tail lights and unique lower body line trim. The cost of all of this style was the having a 351 Cleveland small block with 2 barrel carburetor and a three speed manual transmission as standard fare. However, there were options, and they were good ones. The 4 barrel version of the Cleveland small block followed by a set of 429 cid big blocks up to the Super Cobra Jet and the Drag Pak plus a four speed transmission and a selection of automatics. Although early sales literature shows the BOSS 429 as an option, none were actually built. An oddity with the GT was the Action Special Package for which 933 buyers pulled the trigger. Most notable about the package was the loss of the comfort weave buckets in favor of a spectrum stripe bench seat.

1971

In 1971, the Cyclone had some minor styling updates, most noticeable was center section of the grill received a larger ring in the gun site with the GT receiving a unique badge.The Spoiler received a revised stripe package and the rear spoiler was painted flat black and the Base Cyclone now had the integrated hood scoop like the GT and Spoiler. Under the hood things were different as well. Gone was the Super Cobra Jet and Drag Pak options and the base engine for the Base and Spoiler became the M code 351 Cleveland with 4 barrell carburetor. For the Spoiler, Ram Air also became option as opposed to part of the package for 1970. Beyond minor changes in the color pallet and available options the 1971 Cyclone line was a carry over from 1970.

1972

For 1972, the Mercury Montego was fully redesigned with body on frame construction, front and rear coil spring suspension, and a new shorter 114" wheelbase for two-door models. The Cyclone was reverted to a performance option package available on Mercury Montego, Mercury Montego MX two door, and the Mercury Montego GT. The package included one of two engines, the 351 cu in (5,752 cc) four-barrel Cobra Jet engine rated at 248 hp (185 kW) SAE net or the 429 cu in (7,030 cc) 4-brarrel rated at 205 hp (153 kW) SAE net. The option group included a functional Ram Air induction through twin integrated hood scoops, Traction-Lok (limited slip) differential, F70-14 for 351 cu in (5,752 cc) cars, and G70-14 tires for 429 cu in (7,030 cc) powered cars, hub caps and trim rings, body striping and identification, three spoke steering wheel and dual racing mirrors. The 351 cu in (5,752 cc) was available with either a 4-speed manual transmission or 3-speed automatic, while the 429 cu in (7,030 cc) was only sold with an automatic transmission.^[3]

Early Mercury factory literature showed this option available, while later editions did not have any information on the Cyclone package. Only 30 1972 Cyclone package cars were produced, 29 Montego GT's and one Montego MX. Twenty of these Cyclones were equipped with the 429 cu in (7,030 cc) engine.^[4]

Production

Production of Cyclones

	№ Cyclones (all versions)	Notes
1964	7,454[1]
1965	12,347[1]
1966	8,194[1]
1967	6,910[1]	809 convertibles
1968	13,628[1]	6,439 Spoilers[1]
1969	9,143 [5]	5,882 Cyclones [5] + 3,261 Cyclone CJs [5]
1970		1,695 Cyclones, 10,170 GTs, 1,631 Spoilers[1]
1971		444 Cyclones, 2,287 GTs, 353 Spoilers[1]
1972		30 Cyclones

Notes

References

1. Holder, Bill; Kunz, Phil. Ford Muscle. F+W Publications, Inc. 2004, p. 83-90. ISBN 0-87349-835-6
2. Mays, James C. "1965 Mercury Comet". www.OldCarsCanada.com. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
3. Matthew Litwin (2013-02-01). "1972-'73 Mercury Montego GT". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
4. Matthew Litwin (2013-02-01). "1972-'73 Mercury Montego GT". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
5. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 533

External links

• www.oldride.com Mercury Cyclone
• www.musclecarclub.com Mercury Comet History