Mercury Cyclone
Encyclopedia
The Mercury Cyclone was produced from 1964 to 1971, beginning as an option for the 1964 Mercury Comet
, and continuing as a Mercury Comet Cyclone until 1968 when the Comet part of the name was dropped, and it became the Mercury Cyclone. After 1971 it became the "performance" model of Mercury Montego
(Mercury Montego Cyclone). The Mercury Montego already had a performance model called Cyclone since 1968.
) 210-hp (156.5-kW
) engine. When the '64 model was brought out, it was designed to look sporty. So it had a spoked steering wheel, bucket seats and some of the engine parts were chromed
, as that was part of the style of early muscle car
s.
version of the 289-cid motor, which strangly enough only produced 200-hp (149.1-kW). Also for the first time the '65 Cyclone had a few performance options, including a handling package, special fan and a "Power Transfer" rear axle
.
and 265-hp (197-kW
); and the 390 H code, with a four-barrel carburetor and 275-hp (205-kW
), were the engines in 1966. For the GT option, the 390-cid S code, with a four-barrel carburetor, 335-hp (249-kW), motor was available to those who opted for the 1966 Cyclone GT. The GT option also gave the car stripes, a fiberglass hood (bonnet) with scoops and several other performance options.
; a 220-hp (164-kW) version of the 302-cid (5000-cc) motor; two versions of the 351-cid (5700-cc) motor, a 250-hp (186-kW) and a 290-hp (216-kW); and there was the 320-hp (238-kW) version of the 390-cid (6400-kW) motor. NASCAR
was also on the agenda for '69, and the star for Mercury was the Cyclone Spoiler II. Five hundred was the minimum number of cars that had to be produced for the series. Mercury entered with 519 Spoiler IIs built. The street versions produced to get into NASCAR were not the same as the ones that were to race in it. One major difference was the engine powering them. The street version had a 351-cid (5700-cc) "Windsor" small block, but the race versions had the Boss 429-cid (7000-cc) motor, the same motor as the one in the Boss Mustang. 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.
Mercury Comet
The Mercury Comet is an automobile produced by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company from 1960–1969 and 1971-1977 — variously as either a compact or an intermediate car.The Comet was based on the compact Ford Falcon and later the Ford Maverick...
, and continuing as a Mercury Comet Cyclone until 1968 when the Comet part of the name was dropped, and it became the Mercury Cyclone. After 1971 it became the "performance" model of Mercury Montego
Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego was a mid-size vehicle in the Mercury line of Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1976. The namplate first appeared in 1967 in Canada as part of the Mercury-derived Meteor line. After 1976, the basic design of the Montego was updated and the nameplate disappeared as the Cougar...
(Mercury Montego Cyclone). The Mercury Montego already had a performance model called Cyclone since 1968.
1964
The Mercury Cyclone saga was started in 1964 with a 289-cid (4735-ccCubic centimetre
A cubic centimetre is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic metre, and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm...
) 210-hp (156.5-kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
) engine. When the '64 model was brought out, it was designed to look sporty. So it had a spoked steering wheel, bucket seats and some of the engine parts were chromed
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
, as that was part of the style of early muscle car
Muscle car
Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines muscle cars as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving." Usually, a large V8 engine is fitted in a...
s.
1965
For 1965 the engine was updated to the four-barrel carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
version of the 289-cid motor, which strangly enough only produced 200-hp (149.1-kW). Also for the first time the '65 Cyclone had a few performance options, including a handling package, special fan and a "Power Transfer" rear axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
.
1966
Sculpturing, running the length of the car, was the major styling change for the '66 Cyclone, which was based on the Ford Fairlane's body. Also new engines were introduced in 1966. The 390-ci (6390-cc) Y code, with a two-barrel carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
and 265-hp (197-kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
); and the 390 H code, with a four-barrel carburetor and 275-hp (205-kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
), were the engines in 1966. For the GT option, the 390-cid S code, with a four-barrel carburetor, 335-hp (249-kW), motor was available to those who opted for the 1966 Cyclone GT. The GT option also gave the car stripes, a fiberglass hood (bonnet) with scoops and several other performance options.
1967
In 1967 the standard engine for the Cyclone was still the 390-cid (6390-cc), but with 15 fewer horses since it was quoted at 320-hp (238-kW). For some reason the Cyclone in 1966 and '67 didn't get the 427-cid (6989-cc) side-oiler that went into an amazingly standard Comet. Only badges told of the 410 horses (305-kW) under the hood (bonnet).1968
The 1968 model was named the fastest car of that year, because a '68 Cyclone ran a world record speed of 189.22 mph (304.5 kph) at Daytona. New engines were introduced for '68 as well. There were two versions of the 302-cid motor: the two-barrel carburetor code F, with 210-hp (156-kW); and the four-barrel carburetor code J with 230-hp (171-kW). There was also the 390-cid (6390-cc) motor with either: 265-hp (197-kW) two-barrel carburetor; or 335-hp (249-kW) four-barrel carburetor versions. Then, getting into the big guns: the 390-hp (290-kW) version of the 427-cid (6989-cc) side oiler engine. This engine was only available for a small part of the '68 model year, and was replaced by the cheaper 428-cid (6997-cc) motor, with "only" 335-hp (249-kW).1969
A new model was added to the Mercury Cyclone line in 1969, the "CJ" or Cobra Jet. The Cyclone CJ had the 428-cid (6997-cc), 335-hp (249-kW) Cobra Jet motor, with or without Ram-Air. Strangely the Ram-Air version (Cobra Jet Ram) and the non-Ram-Air version (Cobra Jet) had no quoted difference in horse-power ratings. The '69 Cyclone had lots of engine options. There was the 429-cid (7000-cc) engine, which in the Marauder version had 360-hp (268-kW), with a four-barrel carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
; a 220-hp (164-kW) version of the 302-cid (5000-cc) motor; two versions of the 351-cid (5700-cc) motor, a 250-hp (186-kW) and a 290-hp (216-kW); and there was the 320-hp (238-kW) version of the 390-cid (6400-kW) motor. NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
was also on the agenda for '69, and the star for Mercury was the Cyclone Spoiler II. Five hundred was the minimum number of cars that had to be produced for the series. Mercury entered with 519 Spoiler IIs built. The street versions produced to get into NASCAR were not the same as the ones that were to race in it. One major difference was the engine powering them. The street version had a 351-cid (5700-cc) "Windsor" small block, but the race versions had the Boss 429-cid (7000-cc) motor, the same motor as the one in the Boss Mustang. 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
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
parts); hood (bonnet) stripes; and a competition handling package.
1970
The CJ was dropped for 1970 after a restyle of the model rage. The Cyclone, Cyclone GT and the Cyclone Spoiler were the models left. There were three versions of the 351-cid (5700-cc) motor and four versions of the 429-cid (7000-cc) motor. The Cyclone Spoiler was still for the performance minded, with front and rear spoilers; racing stripes, that went from front to the rear of the car; hood (bonnet) scoop; racing mirrors; and a competition package. Available engines for the Spoiler were two versions on the 429-cid (7000-cc), the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet.1971
In 1971 the Mercury Cyclone became the Mercury Montego Cyclone. Once again the Cyclone had lost its individuality. The model line up was the Montego Cyclone, Montego Cyclone GT and Montego Cyclone Spoiler. It sold poorly; the production numbers for the Montego Cyclone for the '71 model year could be counted in triple figures. The Montego Cyclone GT did much better, but nothing like previous years. The following year there was no Cyclone nameplate. The Comet, where the Cyclone badge started, was reduced to a six cylinder as standard. Almost going full-circle back to the economy-car it was before '64.Production
| № Cyclones (inc. all) | № GTs | № Spoilers ('68-'71) | № Convertibles | № Cobra Jet ('69-'71 only) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 7,454 | - | - | - | |
| 1965 | 12,347 | - | - | - | |
| 1966 | 8,194 | - | - | - | |
| 1967 | 6,910 | - | - | 809 | |
| 1968 | 13,628 | - | 6,439 | - | |
| 1969 | ?? | ?? | ?? | ?? | 3,261 |
| 1970 | 1,695 | 10,170 | 1,631 | - | - |
| 1971 | 444 | 2,287 | 353 | - | - |