Sometimes a car comes along that feels like a time capsule more than a project, and this 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT—now listed here on eBay—fits that description. The seller calls it a documented original survivor, powered by its 390ci four-barrel V8 and paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The Cyclone GT was one of Mercury’s standout offerings during the late 1960s, and this example appears to have been kept with long-term care in mind. According to the listing, it has been garage-kept, smoke-free, and maintained in a way that preserves its originality rather than restoring it.
Finished in white with a red GT stripe and a matching red interior, this Cyclone GT still carries several of its factory components. The seller highlights that it retains its original tachometer, a detail many cars lost long ago, and that the original brake booster has already been rebuilt. Power steering is also part of the package, making the big Mercury easier to handle than some of its contemporary muscle cars.
As with any survivor, there are a few quirks. The seller notes that the right-hand turn signal and gas gauge are currently not functioning. A Marti Report has been ordered and will be included once it arrives, giving the next owner documented proof of how the car left the factory. That alone can make a big difference for buyers who want verifiable history instead of guesswork.
The seller’s notes emphasize that this is not a restored showpiece but an honest, preserved example—solid, original, and well-kept. The mileage is listed as zero on the eBay form, which typically indicates the seller does not know the exact mileage, but the drivetrain details and mechanical notes suggest a car that has been maintained rather than neglected. Being stored indoors and kept away from smoke adds to the impression that this Cyclone has led a sheltered life.
For collectors who appreciate authenticity over modifications, or enthusiasts drawn to Mercury’s lesser-seen performance models, this Cyclone GT may be a rare opportunity. Survivor cars tend to carry their own charm, and this one seems to be exactly the kind of machine that rewards careful ownership. As always, the seller encourages buyers to inspect the vehicle prior to purchase.
Would you preserve this Cyclone GT exactly as it sits, or would you start bringing different components back to full functionality first?
Class,,class, class,,,WAKE UP!!( Sister Mary Elephant) Apparently, as the months and years drift by, less and less people will realize what this was. A gussied up Torino? Perhaps to some, but the Cyclone GT was a lot more than that. I read the base GT cost $2768, pretty close to the Torino. Like this, probably more like $3600, and the 428 added a whopping $1000 to THAT!
Again, sorry for calling these women’s cars, but any red blooded guy in 1968 that ordered a Cyclone GT, would most assuredly have a 4 speed. That’s who the car was marketed for. Thing was, little sis didn’t want to be left behind, dad knew it and she drove the guys nuts.
Epilogue: ( A Quinn-Martin production) Didn’t get any cooler than this, although that shift needle in between P & R makes me nervous,, didn’t these pop out of park?
A tip of the hat to the author, who doesn’t list the price, and get fools like me all angried up 1st thing, but a big mouth like me can’t keep his mouth shut, and am flabbergasted it currently sits at just under $9 grand. Considering what comes through here, I’m confident cars like this are sadly losing appeal.
Newsflash: The ’68 Cyclone GT was one of the coolest cars, period.
Yes they are..owned 2 of them…
The 4 speed was much more fun, but both were great cars!
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Owned 2 of them…the 4 speed car was a lot more fun…but both were very good cars.
AJ seems to have the same problem as me . you type it in and press enter it all goes blank. then you end up with 2 copies of your response. even though it says you duplicated your comment.
Simple adjustment under the car all thread/ready rod type rod connects from C-6 to gear indicator. Will get you lined up. Same in virtually all fomoco vehicles from this era. Never had one jump outta park. I guess anything is possible.
Who doesn’t love your tell it like it is style Howard. Words well spoken, always from the heart and soul, always with true intent.
390, C6 all ways meant ‘truck’ to me – but what’s a ‘hot rod’?
A car w/truck engine (back then anyway).
Now the FE here? A race car. May B a modern cam grinde? Not sure -but- these things (torino/cyclone) havea huge FB (by modern standards). I cant
believe how huge they seem standing @ 3/4s rear looking forward, or @ trunk (same)!
Smaller (up to a point) is better like the stang FB, falcon, sm fairlane model, WITH the ‘truck’ engine (well, not quite) 302, 5 oh, 351… (dont stop there – 5 lug spindles, big breaks, etc).
The 390FE was Ford’s car engine, used from 1961-1971. The truck engine, or 390FT, debuted in 1967 and ran through 1976.
I worked at a Mercury dealership in 1968 and if I rember correctly the Gt emblem would mean standard transmission. If it was a automatic it would have been a GTA emblem.
No, it had a GT emblem regardless of whether it was an automatic or a stick shift.
The ’67 Mustang and the ’66-’67 Fairlanes were a GT with a stick and a GTA with an automatic.
#1, Liz did a great write-up on this beautiful mercury. I was around in 69 also, and there wasn’t as many of these as there torino’s of which i owned 2. one 390 and one 351 windsor, but the cyclone’s were fast. I love this white and red colors.
I owned an orange one… for a whopping 6 hours… I totaled it when I hit a patch of black ice doing over 80 mph…
Ouch…
Kept away from smoke? What’s burning in Elkhart, Ind?
LMAO
Not sure what the rear gears are. But a 3.31 would be right at home. Beautiful automobile.
Ford didn’t have 3.31 gears. It is most likely a 3.25 gear in this car.
Why is the paint cracking, bad repaint?