The Cyclone began life as the performance variant of the 1964 Mercury Comet. It moved to mid-size status in 1967 and shared the stage with the Montego when that intermediate was introduced in 1968. This Cyclone is said to be the GT edition, the middle ground between the base Cyclone and the Cyclone Spoiler. This is a project car that has been treated to a lot of new parts, but the engine doesn’t run as well as it should. Located in Howard, Ohio where a sale is pending here on Facebook Marketplace, the asking price was $7,500.
With a “swoopy” new body style in 1968, Mercury built more than 13,600 Cyclones that year. The GT edition was distinguished by an upper-level body stripe, wider tires, special wheels, a sportier handling package, and a bucket seat interior. While a 302 cubic inch V8 (2 and 4-barrel versions were offered) was standard in the regular Cyclone, while the GT got the big-block 390 V8 that was rated at 230 hp. For those who really wanted speed, they could go with a Cyclone Spoiler with a 335 hp 428 engine.
The seller believes the 302 under the hood of this car is original, but wouldn’t that make this car a regular Cyclone rather than a GT? New components include the gas tank, exhaust system, tires, some suspension parts, and disc brakes (2-wheel or 4-wheel?). It has an automatic transmission, but the seller is having trouble getting the machine to run the way it should.
Though the Merc has the appearance of a Cyclone Spoiler, the seller says this was a cosmetic upgrade that a previous owner did. The stripes, hood scoop, and rear deck spoiler are said to have been lifted from a ‘69 model that resembled the ‘68. The car may have already been sold by the time you read this. It looks like a solid car overall. Thanks for the muscle car tip, Barn Finder “Ted”!
Ok,it’s not done in the style of a Spoiler with the Torino C-Stripe,while still retaining the GT side stripe..lol,The 302 2bbl was the standard engine in the GT whilst the 4bbl 302 was very rare as the upcharge was about the same as 390 so more went for the 390 thinking the performance difference would be huge.It wasnt really..the 302 4bbl saved a lot of weight and made the car quite sprightly especially in the corners so i could hold it’s on and was much more economical…The 428 CJ was available in the GT in 1968 and the Spoiler didnt come along until 1969 anyways..lol.
You don’t come across Cyclones very often. SOMEONE got a great deal at $7500. I seen one of these here in Georgia couple of weeks ago at a car show with that massive 390. What a beauty she was!
So it’s a Cyclone GT Spoiler, but not- and it has parts “lifted” from a ‘69, including stripes? I’d like to see that operation from the peanut gallery. 😏 Regardless of it’s identity crisis, it will make a nice cruiser when sorted out.
I’d swap in the far more attractive four-nacelle dashboard from a Fairlane of similar vintage. Wouldn’t be correct, but given the various bits on this one, would it matter? Loved the 68-69 FoMoCo midsize cars.