1 of 23: 1971 Mercury Cyclone GT Project

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The Cyclone was Mercury’s version of a mid-size muscle car in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Production numbers were never large compared to the competition. In 1971, a little more than 3,000 were built and nearly three-quarters were GT editions. So. finding a ’71 Cyclone today in any condition is a bit of a challenge, and one like the seller’s car is an even tougher endeavor. Located in Herriman, Utah, this weather-beaten GT is available for restoration here on eBay. The magic number is $7,500 (subject to OBO).

Based on the seller’s Marti Report, the GT is a rare company. Just 1,237 copies were built with the 351 cubic inch V8 and column-shifted automatic transmission as in this GT. And only 23 were assembled with the same paint and trim codes as this Mercury. The paint used to be Medium Blue Metallic, and the roof once sported a white vinyl top. What’s left of the interior is also blue. Rust is minimal as the car lived out in the sun in Idaho for 30 years.

The engine turns by hand, but that’s as far as the seller has gone in testing the car mechanically (it has no radiator). We’re told the vehicle is mostly complete, but the gunsight grill and the cool GT emblem are missing. When was the last time you saw one of these Mercs and the only way it could be rarer is to have been built with a 429 Cobra Jet V8.

This car is up for sale because the seller found a Merc that’s more unusual, a 1970 Cyclone Spoiler Super Cobra Jet. Of the two, I can see why the seller made his/her decision to let the GT go. A restoration will not come cheaply, and we assume the missing parts can be found without having to turn the world upside down. In a globe full of Chevelle SS 396s and Pontiac GTOs, does this seem like a desirable project?

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Comments

  1. Howard A Howard AMember

    Good grief, the site should be renamed, “Bottom of the barrel Finds”. Someone is trying to cash in on the “project” thing, but really, come on, it should at least resemble a viable starting point. All this is, someone thinks a has been like this still has some attraction. Newsflash, nobody is going to restore this, just shoot it already.

    Like 23
    • Stan StanMember

      Dial up 1-800-the-hook 📞 Howard
      🛻🪝

      Like 5
    • Not Again

      It is the bottom of the barrel, no more left,,,that is why everything is so expensive! Regardless, of your pros or cons, this is all…everything else has been picked up…I did not say picked over…these become really rare, and next year, these will no longer be available…that is why you see this site moving forward towards non muscle cars of the 60s,70s, …they are all gone!

      Like 3
  2. Steve R

    These are really good looking cars. There is a lot more damage to the grill than the seller suggests and the unique dash pad is missing. Either if those to find as serviceable cores are likely to cost well over $1,000. Unfortunately this car is probably worth more in parts than as a viable project.

    Steve R

    Like 15
  3. Dave

    But wait! It’s a 3514V. Sorry, but no. This is a merc version of a base Torino.

    Like 6
    • Halowe

      NO. Not the equivalent of the base Torino. That would be the base Cyclone, of which only 444 were made. This is a Cyclone GT (2,287 made), which is the equivalent of the Torino GT. The Cyclone Spoiler (353 made) was the equivalent of the Torino Cobra .

      Like 0
  4. Snotty

    See one of these parked in a denver suburb. No for sale signage. Cold knocked and bought for $2500. I guess 25 yrs. ago. Had the 351cleveland 4v. Buckets floor shift. Also the dash gauges. Sold it to a buddy of mine.

    Like 4
  5. HCMember

    I’m a Mercury lover and have a 65 Marauder survivor that’s now a dependable driver.Even it took 5 yrs getting it to its present condition. I’ve always wanted a Cyclone, but this one would take lots of time and funds to be a driver again. I’d rather pay more for one that didn’t need so much done.

    Like 3
  6. PL

    That’s a bold assumption on parts availability. With such low production numbers, and an extremely low survival rate, I would strongly assume otherwise.
    It may well be just a donor car, nothing more.

    Like 2
  7. Rickirick

    Gotta agree with good old Howard on this one. No witnesses please. Seriously tho, there’s not even much here as a donor car. I’ve seen two of these at car shows here in Georgia, one a 351 4bbl & the other a 429. Ask the owners what the rebirth $$$’s were. Forget about it.

    Like 0
  8. Ryan

    Hey man this is a sweet car my dad used to have one bak 9708254080 ryan call me up

    Like 1

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