1970 Mercury Cyclone

The 1970 Mercury Cyclone, part of the final generation of Cyclones, bore the most dramatic styling, the most powerful engines, and the highest levels of luxury. In the front was a protruding grille that was outlined by a chrome square and equally divided into four pieces, with a chrome circle in the center. Flanked on either side were rectangular running lights. The interior featured an all-vinyl interior and loop carpeting.

The 1970 Mercury Cyclone rested on a 124-inch wheelbase platform and came standard with a 429 cubic-inch V8 with overhead valves, 10.5:1 compression, a four-barrel carburetor, dual exhausts, and delivered 360 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. This engine was also standard in the Mercury Marauder X-100 and available in other full-size Mercurys. Optional Cyclone engines included 429 CID V8 with a 720 CFM Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, dual exhausts, no Ram Air induction, and was rated at 370 horsepower. The 429 Super Cobra Jet engine displaced 429 cubic inches and was part of the Drag Pack option. It had a 780 CFM Holley four-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust, Ram Air induction, and produced a reported 375 horsepower.

The two-door hardtop coupe had a base price of $3,035 and 1,695 examples were built. 10,170 examples were Cyclone GT hardtop coupes with a factory base price of $3,025. Just 1,631 examples of the Cyclone Spoiler hardtop coupe were built with a base price of $3,530.

The 1970 Cyclone GT series was a combination of style and speed, with preference placed on the former. It had a non-functional performance scooped hood, concealed headlights, full-length lower bodyside molding, high-back comfort weave vinyl bucket seats, a three-spoke Sport-style steering wheel, and special door panel trim. The base engine was a 351 cubic-inch Cleveland V8 with two-barrel carburetion offering 350 horsepower and paired with a three-speed manual transmission. The four-barrel Cleveland small-block was optional, along with the 429 CID big blocks up to the Super Cobra Jet and the Drag Pak. A selection of automatics and a four-speed transmission were also optional. Period sales literature stated that the BOSS 429 engine was optional, however, no Cyclone GT was so equipped.

933 buyers of the Cyclone GT selected the Action Special Package which did away with the comfort weave bucket seats and was replaced by a spectrum stripe bench seat.

The Cyclone Spoiler was considered the 'muscle Mercury' and it brought all of the excitement through its long list of standard equipment which included the powerful and highly-respected 429-CID V-8 Cobra Jet engine, a four-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter, Ram Air induction, Traction-Lok differential with a 3.50:1 rear axle ratio, Competition Handling Package, front anti-lift spoiler, rear deck 'airfoil', 140-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, oil pressure gauge, engine temperature gauge, ammeter gauge, Hi-back bucket seats, racing mirrors, and special competition colors. The 429 Cobra Jet had a 700-CFM Rochester Quadrajet carburetor, 2.24/1.72-inch valves, a compression bump to 11.3:1, and improved main-bearing webbing. Ford advertised the output at 370 horsepower at 5,400 RPM and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 RPM, but the actual output was probably closer to 400 horsepower.

by Dan Vaughan

Spoiler Hardtop Coupe

Big, bright and bullet shaped, the Cyclone Spoiler was the Ford Torino Cobra's upscale cousin. Standard in the Mercury, and optional in the Ford was the Cobra Jet 429 engine. It made close to 400 horsepower and went head-to-head with GM rivals like the GTO and Trans Am. The Cyclone Spoiler was the epitome of luxury and Performance and was praised by the automotive press, yet only 1,631 were produced. One thing Ford and sister company Mercury did not do in 1970 was produce a NASCAR homologation special. This could be the reason that sales never took off as expected and the body style changed after just two years, making this Cyclone Spoiler a very rare muscle car.

The integrated hood scoop is functional and a chin spoiler and rear airfoil were standard. The 'Grabber' colors (blue, orange, yellow, green, coral, and platinum) introduced in 1969 became iconic Ford and Mercury colors.

Spoiler Hardtop Coupe

Designed by the famous Larry Shinoda, the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was Mercury Division's entry into NASCAR's 'aero-wars' of the 1969 and 1970 racing seasons. The so-called 'aero-warriors' were created during the relentless horsepower race when diminishing returns summoned the opinion that the quickest and simplest way to higher speeds was aerodynamics, not more horsepower. It was Ford and Mercury versus Dodge and Plymouth with the dramatically recontoured Cyclone Spoiler II powered by either a 427 or 429 engine winning eight races in the two-year aero wars.

Speeds climbed past the 200-mph threshold. After 1970 the rules-makers rewrote the book banishing the high-wing racers ending one of stock car racing's fastest and most creative eras. NASCAR required at least 500 examples to be built and the official production of the Spoiler II is listed at just 503 and this car is listed as the only Spoiler II to survive.

Spoiler Hardtop Coupe

While Mercury may not be the first company you think of when it comes to maximum muscle, they certainly made a bold statement in 1970. With a palette of wild colors, a long list of available options, large displacement engines, and spoilers front and rear, there is no mistaking their intent. Among the rarest and most desirable of the Mercury muscle cars are the Cyclone Spoilers of 1970 and 1971.

This example packs a punch with the 429 cubic inch Cobra Jet engine backed by the bulletproof C6 automatic transmission. With 370 horsepower and 450 foot-pounds of torque, it provides plenty of get-up-and-go. This meticulously restored Competition Green Spoiler is a national award winner and one of just 1,631 built. While rarely seen, it is clear that the Cyclone Spoiler certainly gave the Chevelles and Chargers a run for the money.

Hardtop Coupe
Chassis number: OH15C512134

This 1970 Mercury Cyclone has a competition orange exterior and red oxide floors. It is powered by a 428 cubic-inch V8 engine paired with a four-speed transmission.

by Dan Vaughan

Advertised as the vehicle that was 'Born for Action - Racy' the 1965 Comet Cyclone hit the market with a bang. 'Help stamp out dull driving' was the catchphrase used to promote this new model.

Beginning as an option for the '64 Comet, the Mercury Cyclone was originally introduced to the automobile market in 1964. For the next three years, it continued as a Mercury Comet Cyclone. Remaining in production until 1972, the Cyclone featured an available 289 V8 that was rated at 210 hp. From 1968 on, the Mercury Montego applied the name Cyclone.

During its first year of production, a total of 7,454 units of the Mercury Cyclone were produced. A total of 12,347 Comet Cyclones were produced in the 1965 model year. This amazing selling potential was most likely due to the range of available features that included custom options like Multi-Drive Merc-O-Matic, or four-on-the-floor.

The Comet Cyclone was made available standard with bucket seats, tachometer, 3 spoke steering wheels, console, 'chrome look' wheel covers, and many more features. Rated at 210 hp, and featuring an optional HiPo 281 hp version of the 289 V8, the 'Cyclone Super 289 V8' was the standard engine with a four-barrel carburetor.

In 1965, all-new styling was featured. Both the Cyclone emblems and the checkered flag were moved to rear fenders and vertical headlights were added. The very popular stainless steel 'chrome simulated' wheel covers remained the same on the Cyclone for this year. A standard option for this year was a 195 hp version of the 289 V8 with a two-barrel carburetor. An available option was a four-barrel carburetor 225 hp 289 V8 engine. One other optional feature was an available hood with twin air scoops that were constructed of fiberglass. These models began at a base price of $2625.00.

For the 1966 model year, a total of 6,889 Hardtop models and 1,305 Convertibles of the Comet Cyclone model were produced.

Made available for the 289 V8 engine, a line of 'Cobra' high-performance equipment was featured. This line offered an innovative 271 hp version of the 289 V8 and included a Cobra heavy-duty clutch, special carburetors, air cleaners, and valve covers. Featured by Mercury, in 1967 a Cyclone GT was made available and was powered by a 335 hp 390 V8. A 427 was made available with 425 hp the following year.

by Jessican Donaldson