You may notice that the nose is sitting a little high on this 1969 Mercury Cyclone since a prior owner removed the numbers matching Ram Air 428 engine back in the 1980’s. This Cyclone is a rare one. One of only fourteen built in 1969. It is for sale here on eBay with a starting bid of $15,000. With 3 days left in the auction, there are so far no takers. That’s right not even one bid for this 100k mile car that comes with the original engine (in parts)!
This car was originally owned in California and is not located in Las Vegas, Nevada. There is no evidence of previous damage or rust. The interior looks original and just shows some damage to the driver seat. The story is that it was bought by the mayor of Redlands, California who sold it to a local high school teacher. The teacher sold it in 1977 to a high school senior who kept the car until recently. Apparently, the seller has not titled it in his name because he states that it is a three owner car.
What makes this car so special is what is sitting in the garage but it should be under the hood. The car was originally equipped with a Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet engine and automatic transmission. The engine is said to be bored 30 over stock and includes the original intake and exhaust manifolds. It even has the correct Holley carburetor with a manufacture date of September 20, 1968. That is almost as old as me!
The car is sitting on aftermarket wheels but the seller states that he has one of the original wheels. The front suspension has been rebuilt and the radiator and gas tank have also been flushed. I am surprised that there are no bids on this rust free project. Please share some comments and let me know why this car is not getting any attention.
Looks to have the potential to be a very nice car but seller/flipper needs to start the auction at more reasonable number. A running example in decent shape featured here recently sold for $17,300.
Good question. Don’t know, to me it’s better than a sportroof fairlane of the same yr. Rarer and a tinsy bit slippier than its Ford counterparts on the big ovals in 69. Plus more factory gauges. Bidders waiting till the auction ticks down. Nice rust free muscle.
I think it’s a really cool car. I did some online research into the 69 and the only way to get A/C was to have the C6 with a 3:00 axle ratio. Also the bucket seats were an option along with the ram air. I assume this is a CJ and not a SCJ engine but it would be easy to see in its current condition. SCJ got the 4 bolt mains. It’s frustrating when you see a car you want but the timing is wrong. If you want a car like this you might not ever have the chance.
No 428CJ or 428SCJ came with 4-bolt mains; the blocks were the same 2-bolt design. However, some earlier FE 406 and all 427s featured cross-bolt mains (3of 5 mains). The later 429SCJ (385 series) did feature 4-bolt mains.
Now, about those three other missing original wheels . .
Don’t you always love an overpriced car with “Some assembly required”?
Sorry but for the stuff apart currently, it’s overpriced IMO.
But are batteries included?
It is not a cyclone. I have a cyclone. This is a sport coupe. Different package. Missing chrome on side of roof and cyclone badges.
You don’t know what you are talking about. It clearly has ’16’ in the VIN which is a 1969 Cyclone CJ.
The VIN 9h16r is consistent with a Cyclone CJ (one year only model). This car came standard with a 428CJ, hood locking pins, and a blacked-out grill just like its counterpart…the Ford Cobra model. The Cyclone was not a Montego or Comet (Sports Coupe?) just like the Cobra isn’t a Torino or Fairlane for 1969 (1970 was different). This car has clearly been repainted at some point (note the painted rocker clips) and Cyclone CJs has decals and not metal emblems like lesser Cyclones. The dash pad is black instead of blue like the rest of the interior. Maybe the original cracked dash was swapped for a good one out of a Comet Sports Coupe?
Because after you spend 15k for this and 60k to restore it. It will be worth -35k.
What about telling us how much over the crank has been grinded? Some/just a little work to get running? Floor pans??
The mayor of Redlands must of been into the street racing scene, I think that’s great! It’s a fine machine, looks a tad better than the Ford version to me, I really dont know why. I remember those turbine mags, or were they called cyclone mags?.
One thing about Ford products is they have never had the same interest among collectors at least that I can remember compared to certain GM and Mopars, Mercury would have even less. The starting bid is optimistic for a tough old Merc that needs assembly.
428 ram air car could go for 25k to 30k all done
Mustang people only like mustangs and have blinders on
First off. Its not a cyclone. Says sport coupe on the dash. No cyclone badging. Its way way overpriced. The owner is either fishing or does not know Mercury cars very well. In my humble opinion.
Did they make a 1969 Comet Sports Coupe in a Fastback? I thought the Sports Coupe and Montego coupes were hardtop roof only. I believe the fastbacks were Cyclones.
I think this was already settled with the VIN number.
An old friend had what I believe was a Fairlane Cobra. We had done some drag racing together and he stayed at it when I went to university. I dropped by to see him at the garage with the car on lift. I asked what he was up to. He said come here and had me feel the transmission hump near the gas pedal. Him, “Feel those lumps ? ” Me “Yes. ” Him. “They ain’t supposed to be there.” I don’t know if they found all the pieces of the bell housing. He shifted and the lever fell to the floor. He put a steel plate clutch ( I think that what it was called ) in it and that could pull wheelies in street trim.
Steel bell housing or scatter shield won’t break.
The stock bell housing shattered. The steel clutch and matched pressure plate was surrounded by a new scatter shield of course.
Nice Entry Level project. Parts alone are worth $15k. Original 428 CJ cars are getting rare!
Because 10,000 baby boomers are dying every day
Yeah, I dumped a 383 in a 1970 Duster and twisted a couple bell housings before I upgraded.
Without the motor the car ain’t worth 5k. End value around 35-40k with the motor and restored. Losing proposition here having 50 k in a non numbers matching motor car combo.
Mr. Haas, the numbers matching engine is not installed but it is definitely included with the sale
Read it again. Has the original motor
I would love to find a restored Cobra Jet car for $40k!
Some of these guys seem to think its not even a Cyclone at all. 15k for a rolling chassis with an engine I didnt rebuild myself and dont know what they did, is too big of a risk.
If you would take the time to read the description and to view the photos you would see that this car does come with its original numbers matching engine.
Read more about the engine, it says it has been bored 30 over. I think that it would have been more valuable in it’s original condition.
It”s a Mercury. Ever compare Cougar prices to Mustang? Sort of like trying to get the same price for a ‘56 Pontiac as a ‘56 Chevrolet.
I do know some about the FE engines,but just enough to sound stupid in present company. My Q-ton is what is the Mercury 428 Super Meraders equivelance in Ford?