The Cyclone was the performance version of Mercury’s mid-size Montego in the late 1960s/early 1970s. And the Spoiler was the cream of the crop with a standard 429 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 engine. The Spoiler was a rare car at 1,631 copies in 1970, but if it came with either the Drag Pak or Super Drag Pak, the number drops to 341. The seller doesn’t mention this and may not be aware of it since he’s listed the Merc for the widow of a friend. Located in Ligonier, Indiana, this Cyclone is offered here on eBay where the bidding has reached $11,300. Thanks again, Larry D, for another interesting find.
Though the Cyclone was a Mercury product from 1964-71, for its last couple of generations it was an intermediate that was sandwiched between the Cougar pony car and the Marquis/Marauder full-size models. Often overshadowed by the Cougar, the Cyclone was positioned as a muscle car, representing the Mercury brand in NASCAR. During 1970-71, three versions of the Cyclone were offered: the Cyclone, Cyclone Spoiler, and Cyclone GT. For 1970, 13,496 Cyclones in total were built.
The seller’s car’s VIN identifies it as a Cyclone Spoiler as does its own badging. With the Spoiler came front and rear spoilers, racing stripes that went from front to the rear of the car, a hood scoop that was functional with optional ram air induction, a 140-mph speedometer with an 8,000-rpm tachometer, vinyl bucket seats, dual racing mirrors, and a competition suspension package. As should be the case with the seller’s car, a 429 CJ V8 was standard fare. No reference is made if this car has the Super Cobra Jet upgrade which provided a boost from 360 to 370 hp. One of the colors offered was Competition Blue which is on this auto, and it may be original paint.
As the story goes, this Mercury was last driven in 1978 and the odometer says 23,852 miles, but it could very well have circled the globe already. So, it’s been in a garage ever since and may just now be seeing the light of day after 43 years. The seller’s friend had always planned to restore but other priorities seemed to come along. The engine won’t turn over, so who knows what it will take to get it going again besides a thorough fuel system flush. The manual transmission shifts easily and doesn’t impede the car’s ability to roll.
Primer red can be found along the bottoms of the fenders and quarter panels where there is some rust. Some well-done patches will work, but don’t discount having to find some new sheet metal. A ’70 Cyclone with the 429 engine can easily be worth more than $30,000 in top shape and the Spoiler version likely adds a premium as so few were built. If this car is one of the 341 with the Drag Pak option, add even more to the price tag. This car might turn out to be a bargain.
The Cyclone was never one of my favorite muscle cars. That said, this one must have been quite a looker when new, and when restored would look that way again. I would definitely make it an exception. It will require metalwork, however considering it’s rarity and price, would be worth the investment. It has much going for it. Cobra Jet, 4-speed, Ram Air, and possible Drag Pak. What is the difference between the Drag Pak and Super Drag Pak? It will be interesting to see where it does with a little over one day left in bidding.
The Houndstooth seats can’t be common on a Cyclone Spoiler.
The drag pack came with a Holley and an oil cooler.
That is a Holly on there. Cant see if there is an oil cooler on it or not
Why inject the SCJ theory when it isn’t even a suggestion by the seller. The car stands on its own merits, many of which were left out of this writeup by going down an unsubstantiated rabbit hole.
Steve R
The seller writes: “The red primer paint makes the rust areas look worse than they are” ….
No, in fact I think the primer points out more hidden issues.
I sold one like this at Barrett Jackson several years ago. Was competition blue (or grabber blue) with original white interior, original powertrain, 4spd, documented SCJ car, had original window sticker and Marti report. While I am of the believe that no car is “perfect” unless it is a wrapper, it was extremely nice, everything worked, all original body panels, no rust repair, paint like glass, it sold for $80K.
If this Cyclone Spoiler is a true SCJ car (Marti report will confirm), has the original motor and transmission and you can do the paint, rust repair and body work yourself, you would probably be ok. I do not have that level of talent. If not, from the pictures posted, this is obviously a complete restoration and it would be a costly one to pay for.
Yes IMO the ugliest of all muscle cars. Can not believe any one bought one of these.The front end is just a eyesore.
I think it’s quite cool…but I see your point. I always liked these better than the Torino, just because they were very rarely seen but, yes, the Torino had better lines.
Great car… really great car…and-the red primer does make it look worse as the rust looks pretty minimal, by Midwest standards and grading off my familiarity with Cyclones. A simple purchase of a Marti report by a potential buyer would affirm the original build of the car.
I like it.. Has potential to be a great collector.
That would be strange…what will the car be collecting? Perhaps more dust?
Donny… Any classic muscle car has value if it’s in the right hands to make it so. I fully agree that if it had to be farmed out to a restoration / body shop, there may not be much value added. That said, I’ve seen cars go thru Mecum and the other auction houses that are not worth the bidding price put on them. Don’t forget that many of these old cars had no rust prevention from the factory and were driven hard in the day. They were a novelty back then and that’s why people bought them.
Donny. Seems I’ve struck a negative nerve in you. Hagerty valuation guide is just what it is (a guide). You can insure your classic for any amount you want. And, as everyone in the industry knows, the true value of a classic car is in what the market will bear. Your nasty email comments to me are contrary to what this site suggests. Please keep them to yourself, and do your best to enhance the industry. I restored many, many classic vehicles in my time and do not preach as an authority, but offer much needed information from a lifetime of experience to help others..
Hagerty evaluation tool does not show a “spoiler” version after 1969. So lets say this is a GT, or even a 69 spoiler for that matter, poor condition valued at 18,500. Good is 26,000 and Excellent is 37,300.. Concourse is a wopping 48,800. I’d be careful on this one.. May not be all it’s wrapped up to be..
They did make a spoiler in 70 & they made a GT in 70 as well. The article say’s they made a little over 1600 spoilers and I know they made like 1595 GT’s so pretty much about the same # of both versions.
I really like the oddness of it all , 4 speed 429,that nose, but my arms are kinda short so it may be out of reach, Keep em coming!
Did your cyclone end up in Canada? Sounds like one near where I live.
I had a ’71, for a really short time, dark blue with a laser stripe down the side, factory hood scoop, and the dash had gauges that angled towards the driver, kinda neat. That bullet front end. I knew very little about Cyclones when I bought it in 1984, and most other folks didn’t know anything about them either. These weren’t well known machines in any way, forgotten about probably in 1972.
The front end is part of the ram air induction system, the air cleaner seems to be missing on this one. I guess the originals bring a pretty penny nowadays
Montegos have a tight little following of devoted fans. The grilles are unobtanium, as are some of the 429 ram air bits.
There was an orange 70 429CJ/Auto car locally that was famous for having been wrecked in the early 80’s and parked under a tree. The owner was a young woman who was inspired to buy one by her neighbor who pulled his jet boat with a SCJ Montego.
Legend has it she was distracted by her kids fighting in the backseat and hit a fire hydrant. It was parked at her parents house and by the time they had a moving/retirement auction around 2008, it was too rusty to save.
Everybody in town tried to buy it at one time or another but at the sale I was pretty much the only bidder. Got it home and made it run later. Ended up parting it out as a donor for a ’71 429 Cougar. The paint even buffed up and looked great, but the frame was shot…
SG, we had a similar storied car , a Saturn Yellow GSX. A little rich girl daddy bought it for her and she wrecked it four or five times, blew the original motor and it ended up with a 350 in it. Don’t know where it ended up.
Gotta love people that think spraying rust color primer from a can will stop rust. LOL I actually love these and had one. The gauges on the dash in front of the passenger is a rare option too.