Beginning in the 1960s, the Cyclone was the performance version of the compact Mercury Comet, then the mid-size Montego. In 1970-71, the Spoiler was the edgiest of the Cyclone offerings (there was also a GT), with a 429 cubic inch Cobra Jet engine. This 1970 edition of the Spoiler left the factory with the Super Cobra Jet offering, meaning it had the Drag Pack option and 375 hp. But the engine has since been stroked to 468 CI and an output of 513 horses, making it one formidable foe. Located in Napa County, California, this hot Mercury is available here on craigslist for $40,000. Another boffo tip from Tony Primo!
Compared to other muscle cars of the era, the Mercury Cyclone was a slow seller. According to the owner, in 1970 just 1,631 Spoilers were built, and this was probably the most desirable with the Drag Pack and a 4-speed manual transmission. With a 780 CFM carburetor instead of 720, the Super Cobra Jet engine was capable of an additional five hp (doesn’t seem like much, does it?) with Ram Air induction. Spoilers came with (what else) front and rear spoilers, racing stripes, functional food scoop, and an upgraded gauge package.
The seller doesn’t provide any real history on this rare car. It wears one of the core Spoiler colors, Pastel Blue, which we’re told could stand a repaint after some body work is done (what areas need help?). The photos provided are few and none include the interior, which the seller also says needs refreshing. The odometer reading is 80,000 miles, but how many of those are with the upgraded engine (is it numbers matching?)?
Mechanically, it’s said to be a stout car and will break the quarter mile in under 13 seconds in race trim. The buyer will get to take home some extra parts which include pieces for the interior, the car’s original distributor, and even an 8-track tape player (gadzooks!). As a bonus, the seller is throwing in a sizeable set of Cyclone collectibles (model cars?) and will entertain reasonable offers for this machine.
All this and a functional food scoop! Man I want one of those😁 Seriously though, you never heard much about these back in the day. It was mostly GTOs and Chevelle’s and Mopar.
It would have come with a real ram air system, with a factory hood and an air cleaner assembly with an operation flap on the lid sealed to the hood. This is just a scoop, used on several Mercury models, with a hole cut underneath and an open element air cleaner. It might provide some cold air to the carb, to provide any real benefit someone would need to fabricate a way to seal it to the hood.
These are cool cars, I almost bought a 1970 Cyclone Spoiler years ago, I’m not a big fan of some of the changes on this car. Some look like they were made to to save money at the detriment of the cars overall presentation.
Steve R
This is one of the greastest cars in American superspeedway, race car,history.
In this condition with these features..
It may not look as cool as a 70 Torino or Mustang but in its appropriate ‘outfit’ its a mighty legend.
Ya, id paint it and put power windows in it, but hey, i cant afford it..
someones about to live a dream
ENJOY !
Cool car, but missing the original hood and needing cosmetic work, 40k is pretty high. No mention of the drivetrain being original either. You can find legit Spoilers that are numbers matching and restored for not much more money. What I really don’t get is, as seems to be too often with sellers, is why only five pics, and one is a piece of paper? CL allows what, 16, 20 pics…just lazy and you’re not doing yourself any favors as a seller trying to garner interest in your vehicle. Interested parties will inquire and ask for more pics, so just put as many pics as allowed in an ad to give the best, most complete presentation possible. It’s not that damn hard. I just don’t get it. We’re in 2024, not 1994 listing a car in the Diablo Dealer with one picture.
My thoughts exactly Mike76. Needs interior refresh, some body work, and paint? Show me why. And in the process you could show the coolest part of the car: the canted gauges.
Should have left it stock … 429 Boss hood scoop looks way out of place.
Uncommon especially with SCJ setup and 4 speed.
I feel ill – thanks bubba for ruining a unique Mercury.
It is hard to read but what it looks like to me when looking at the little bit of the Marti report that is shown in the ad this car was originally a C6 automatic car, not a factory 4 speed.
Alas competition for the lowly C3 454! Don’t ask me why but these don’t sell well even now & here I am not a dyed in the wool blue oval Ford Guy on a soap box preaching the righteousness & virtues of a super cobra jet holy grail car that doesn’t go for much ! Don’t ask me why I sure would drive a Ford like this lately If I could!
Russ, far more than just the bigger carb (Holley 780cfm) the SCJ 429 was a 4 bolt Main, solid lifter cam, forged piston beast with an engine oil cooler hanging in front of the Radiator. Defined by gear picks of either 3.91 or 4.30 the super cobra jet was really a testament to durability.
My ’69 Torino SCJ 428 with 3.91 gears came with 427 rods and capscrews factory but would fly apart at the rpms this beast could handle.
It was also an additional 15hp over the 429 Thunder Jet, which was the base Cobra engine
Nope, it’s an automatic car and it is non-numbers matching. I wouldn’t want it unless it was so cheap that I couldn’t refuse…like $10K cheap. Sorry, I have never messed with cars that have zero provenance and have been pieced together. You might as well buy a base model that has been built nicely.
More pictures would surly help sell it,,,,,
A much better offering than the rust bucket last week in the Mustang yard but still…More pics would be nice. And a lot of changes for 40k. Should have left it original imo.
Nice try…BUT that is NOT a true Spoiler.