There are times when ambition and reality collide in an unfortunate way. That is the case with the 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler. It was a car that received a rapturous reception from the motoring press at the time, but this didn’t translate to success in the showroom. Today the model has gained recognition in the classic market, and values have begun to rise accordingly. This particular car underwent a rotisserie restoration around 10-years-ago. It has had limited use since then and is now set to go to a new home. It is located in Granite Falls, Washington, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Spirited bidding has pushed the price along to $39,500. With the reserve met, the new home is only days away for this Mighty Merc.

The owner supplies a great collection of photos, but he does admit that the color is inconsistent across the set. When the Mercury was treated to its restoration, it received a fresh coat of its original Competition Orange paint. The vehicle has spent most of the time since then in storage and only sees the light of day a couple of times per year. Therefore, it is no surprise to see that it still presents superbly, with no apparent signs of any deterioration in its shine. The panels are laser straight, while the gaps are tight and consistent. Rust is not a concern with this beauty because it is as clean and sound as you could ever hope to find. The tinted glass is as flawless as the rest of the exterior, and the correct front and rear spoilers are present and in good condition. The Cyclone has recently been fitted with a new set of 15″ Magnum 500 wheels in place of the 14″ items. I hope that the seller has retained those wheels because the relative rarity of the 1970 Cyclone may mean that the buyer would want to refit them.

When it came to the question of power outputs, Mercury didn’t lie outright. However, there has always been an overwhelming belief that they were probably quite frugal with the truth. The Cyclone features the 429 Cobra Jet V8, which was claimed to produce 370hp. There has been plenty of speculation over the subsequent decades, and conventional wisdom seems to agree that the truth sits somewhere closer to 400hp. This V8 is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission, which channels the power to a 3.50 Traction-Lok rear end. That combination should be capable of firing the Mercury through the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. If you were hoping that the Cyclone is a numbers-matching classic, I do have some bad news. The engine block is date-coded for 1971, while the Ram Air intake base is a reproduction item. When the restoration was performed, the camshaft was given an upgrade. That means that the V8 now pumps out more power, but it doesn’t idle as smoothly as the original. The seller doesn’t expressly state how well the vehicle runs or drives, but the impression that he conveys is that it performs both of these tasks well.

The interior of the Mercury is a delight, upholstered in a combination of Black and Pewter. The limited use over the past decade is best reflected in the interior’s condition. It is spotlessly clean, with no problems to report. The original Hurst shifter pokes out of the console, while the driver can keep an eye on the Cyclone’s mechanical health via a comprehensive set of factory gauges. Apart from the cover on the wheel, I can’t spot any aftermarket additions, and the seller doesn’t mention any in the listing. If you are searching for luxury equipment, what you will find is an AM radio. Still, that leaves fewer distractions and should allow the driver to focus on enjoying this classic.

With impressive levels of performance and a multitude of positive reviews in the specialist motoring press, the stage was set for the 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler to be a run-away sales success for the company. To the surprise of many, this didn’t happen. During the 1970 model year, only 1,631 buyers slapped down their cash for a Cyclone Spoiler. No-one has ever conclusively been able to determine why sales were low, but plenty have put forth various reasons that sound plausible. Today, the Spoiler is recognized as a special car, and values have begun to rise steadily. The proof of this is graphically demonstrated by the bidding on this car. The auction opened at $1,970, and it has taken a little over a day for it to skyrocket to its current level. This is a classic that has sparked interest in a lot of people, and I’ll be interested to see whether it has done this with any of our readers to the point where they are tempted to join the bidding war.