From 1968 to 1971, the Cyclone was the muscle car variant of the mid-size Montego. Though the focus was on performance, the execution of the product between 1970 and 1971 was watered down. The Cyclone GT had a 351 cubic inch V8 as standard equipment in ’71, though this car now has a 429 Thunder Jet under the hood. This is a project car that looks to have been dormant for some time. It’s being offered here on eBay by a dealer who is downsizing their business. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this rare muscle car is waiting for the first bid of $5,000 to be cast here on eBay, and the Buy It Now price is $12,000. There’s a reserve somewhere in the middle.
Conceived in 1964, the Cyclone was at first the performance version of the Comet compact (later intermediate). That changed in 1968 when the Montego debuted as Mercury’s mid-size car, with the Cyclone for those wanting power and/or style. The 4th generation of the Cyclone ran between 1970 and 1971 (as did the corresponding Ford Torino). Three models were offered, the base Cyclone, the Cyclone GT, and the Cyclone Spoiler. In 1971, the GT had a 351 cubic inch “Cleveland” V8 as standard fare, so the emphasis was more on looks and creature comforts, though you could opt for a 429. Changes within the automobile and the muscle car market resulted in a drop in Cyclone sales from 13,500 units in 1970 to 3,100 in 1971 of which nearly 2,300 were GTs like the seller’s car (as the seller-provided VIN decodes).
The seller is a little off-track as to what this car is. First, it’s said to be a 1970 Comet (no such car), then a 1970 Cyclone, but the VIN says it’s a 1971 version of the latter in GT trim. The original 351 engine is gone, replaced by a 429 that we’re told is a running powerplant. We assume the automatic transmission is still in the car. It’s said to be mostly complete but you should expect to spend a lot of time working on the body (sheet metal and undercarriage).
The floorboards have holes in them, but bucket seats are present with a well-worn dashboard. These cars weren’t plentiful when new, so how many Cyclones could still be out there, regardless of condition? If you assume a survival rate of 10%, could this Mercury be one of only 200-300 cars left? In muscle car circles, Mercurys don’t turn up very often, so you might create quite the buzz if you restored this vehicle, even though not numbers-matching.
Way too many things wrong with this car.
The owner has no idea.
Remembering my cousin Al Davis, back in 1970 his 69 cyclone 429 two tone possibly green/brown metallic C6 was a speed shop special, those large Mickey Thompsons on the rear were not for show, all go and then some for that era.
Obviously this Cyclone is rough and needs a ton of work. As Russ points out, likely there aren’t more than a few hundred still around. The gunsight grille was always a point of controversy, but it does give the car some distinctiveness. I thought they all came with the cool canted gauges, but not this one? Does that make it a base Cyclone? (Maybe one of you experts can chime in).
I like them. I’d sure like to see it restored, but not sure how realistic that is.
Here’s another one. I realize this is a site called “BarnFinds”, and caters to people that understood projects, mostly “armchair restorers” by now, but please, correct me, is there anyone that is taking on projects like this anymore? Why would you, is their mindset. As time marches on, less and less people care if it’s a rare car with a “Thunder Jet” motor( yawn), they get a chunk of money from wherever, and think, hmm, yeah, a classic car might be fun. You think for a second they are going to tackle an ambitious restoration like this? Hardly, and another thing, I suppose this shnozz grill looks okay, but the AMC doesn’t? All this shows, is one last gasp before the crusher.
If I was a Ford guy I would consider it. I would contact the owner and definitely want to negotiate a better price but even if you got it for free, I doubt you could restore it and sell it for much of a profit. You are doing it for the love of doing it, not for the $’s.
Really a downright shame that ppl let classics get to this point. Idk how long it’s been in the seller’s yard but, if any time at all, he should have been downsizing long ago. For shame, for shame.
The cool, canted gauge package was an option. Mercury’s always seemed to have more factory gauges than fords. The canted gauges were located in the dash in the middle. So, taking your eyes off the road to check engine variables could be a distraction tooling down the road at 100 mph.
But it’s better than looking at the bottom of the dash for your Stewart-Warners! I like this car, but not at that price.
…or watching your console mounted tachometer!
That’s a rough one, original drive train is gone and the 429 shoved in place. Good luck to the buyer.
$5000 dollars? Based on all the cancer on the floorboards and engine compartment I don’t think it’s even worth $.05 cents! Seller let it sit way too long in the salt air environment.
Not even a parts car. 5k. These days are gone. A very nice drag pack one in yellow rolled across the block this week in the 70k range, numbers matching, blah, blah, blah. I junked a butterscotch base 429 one that had the nifty dash gages. This thing doesn’t even have right steering wheel. 300.00 piece of scrap metal after the 429 is removed.
With the holes that are presenting in those floorboards? Don’t try out those bucket seats, anywhere but in your garage. This Cyclone has whirled it’s last, at his asking price.
I like this rare car and would love to see this restored but unfortunately it ain’t a Chevelle, so despite its rarity it won’t garner the interest it needs. Just hope a FoMoCo fan with deep pockets will notice this car and appreciate it for what it is.
Seller is way out of line with those prices. I don’t care if this is the only one left, rare doesn’t always mean valuable. Considering the low numbers built and the lack of desirability, I highly doubt any repop sheet metal is being sold. That means it’ll all need to be hand crafted. No thanks.
This year 71 Mercury Cyclone is one of my dream cars. But this one is in pretty rough shape.Rust, rot etc. With floorpans in this condition, no telling what other surprises lie underneath. I wish I had the garage, time and money to take this one on as a project.
It’s too far gone, who is doing these rust buckets anymore?
Checked the price of uber-rare parts, and labor lately? It’s just not that desirable.
There is still a few far better examples out there, even if they are more money.
I knew a buddy who sold a Purple 1970 Cyclone in restored, turnkey condition, for $23,500 about 10 years ago. It’s a better deal to get one that’s already been done and completed, and that you can drive. You’re much further ahead without having to bring one back from the brink like this one.
If this is how you look after a once stunning FORD/MERCURY you don’t have the right to own suck beautiful cars. Should have sold it a long time ago.
To far gone for a full restoration, a cheaper route:
Woods Brothers #21 NASCAR street clone.
Years back a buddy of mine had one similar to this one, it was a Spoiler edition with a 429 SCJ and a 4 speed. This car was factory with a Rochester Q-Jet carb. It was and still is the fastest car I’ve ever ridden in. He took me out for a “ride” in it one night and 50 years later I’m still in awe of this car. We went out about 5-6 miles from the small town we lived in, and he did a u-turn in the road and stopped. He said put your seat belt on and hang on. He revved it up to about 3,000-3,500 and side stepped the clutch. It was laying down two ribbons of smokey tire marks, he was rowing the gears and then he said pay attention to the car. At about 80-85 mph you could feel the car getting lower to the road, the rear spoiler and the front air dam were pulling the car lower to the road. A few seconds later I looked over and the speedometer (140 mph speedo) needle was hanging straight down, way beyond the 140 mark. There was a block on the factory ignition that was supposed to shut the engine down at 6,000 RPM, it didn’t work. The tach needle was also pointing straight down way past the 6,000 rpm point. I’ve never seen an off the showroom car/engine before or since that could bury the tach and not run out of air at the top end.
Another time he had this car in at the gas station we hung out at, putting fresh plugs in it. He had just put the new plugs in, the distributor cap and the wires were off the car. He said watch this, and bumped the ignition key and it started to run (dieseling). He had to smother the carb with a hand full of shop rags to get it to shut off.
SCJ didn’t have a Rochester.
The seller shows a photo of the dash VIN tag. The VIN starts with a 0 which means that this car is a 1970 model.
I watched this one sell for 198K on BJ the other day. These, with the right options, are bringing some serious money. https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1970-MERCURY-CYCLONE-GT-429-SCJ-DRAG-PAK-271622
The 1971 Cyclone GT was not watered down for 1971. Virtually identical in specs to 1970.
I’m a Mercury lover, and have a driver 1965 Marauder, and these Cyclones especially this bigger block 429 are so tempting to fall in love with. I did some reasonable updates to my Matauder a few years ago. Edelbrock alluminum heads, milodan pushrods, air gap, dual plane Edelbrock intake and carb. She’s closer to 350 hp now, and gets better gas mileage with additional airflow and delivery.
did not sell. $o. wanted $12k. bidding started at $5k. no bids. what a surprise!!! 😲😲😲