This 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT is a nice looking car, but the seller does go to some length to ensure that any prospective buyers are aware that the car is not perfect. This is something that will inspire a certain amount of confidence for anyone considering this car. You will find it listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Glendale, California, and is offered for sale with a clear title. The seller has set a BIN price of $19,000 for this Cyclone, but the option is also there to make an offer. A big thanks has to go out to Barn Finder Miguel for locating this Mercury for us.
The Cyclone presents nicely, and the shots of the underside of the car look really good and solid. The paint has a nice shine to it, and the exterior trim looks pretty reasonable, although the seller states that it isn’t perfect. The negatives on this car that the seller reveals include a cracked windshield, and apparently, there is some Bondo in the car. He doesn’t reveal where it is or how much is present, but he does emphasize that the car is not of show quality.
The interior of the Cyclone presents really well. There are a couple of potential issues that need to be considered. The dash pad looks strangely rippled around where the clock and auxiliary gauges are set into the dash. The other thing that I noticed is that the rim blow ring on the steering wheel has started to come apart. It is hard to tell how bad it actually is. It may be able to be repaired, or it may require replacement. Otherwise, the interior is close to perfect.
Under the hood is the 351-4V engine, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The car is also fitted with power steering and power disc brakes. The owner states that the car runs and drives well, but that the brakes do need attention. He also states that the clutch and transmission both work smoothly. He also says that it won’t take much work to get the car to the stage where it could be used as a daily driver.
This Mercury Cyclone and its owner both appear to have one thing in common: They both appear to be very honest. The photos indicate a car that could easily be passed off as immaculate, but the seller seems to go to great lengths to explain that it isn’t. It’s a nice looking car that really would make a nice daily driver.
I may be mistaken but the wheels on this car sure look like Mopar items.
I was thinking the same thing. Either Chrysler was sharing their period rally rims with Ford, or someone thought they looked better on the car than what Ford provided.
You are correct! If someone is going to go to the extent o restoring a rare car like this, why not put the CORRECT wheels on it!!!??
I’ve just see the post and that was my first thought the wheels are not FoMOCo are Mopar
1973 and up Mopar wheels.
Yeah.thats the same thing i thought about those wheels!?
I can honestly say I’ve never heard of a Mercury Cyclone. Not bad looking.
I believe they only made about 16-17 hundred, so they are kinda rare.
Never heard of a Mercury Cyclone? That’s like saying you never heard of clean shorts? As for the other cry babies complaining about the wheels? Get lives, please. This is a Australian Charger. The bumpers aren’t the same as our. BANG!
Bang!
That green color looks really nice on this year cyclone. It would look nicer with magnum 500’s .
When I was about 9 or 10 yrs old my next door neighbor had a red Cyclone GT. I was in love with that car. I wish I had the 19 large, I would buy this car. It is beautiful!!!
The rims looked out of place to me as well as the black and yellow plates did.
It is a shame there are no covered headlights on this one.
Those plates are from a 1963 car.
Stay away.
There is a lot wrong with this car. It screams, “I was done on the cheap”. The paint is wrong, there should be black accents on the taillight panel and underneath the trim that runs the length of the body. It has Mopar rally wheels, no heater, the engine compartment and undercarriage look to have been spray bombed black, it has a cracked windshield, broken fan shroud, extended spring shackles, and no radio. Worst of all, they installed black California plates on the car for pictures even though it’s registered in Pennsylvania. On top of that, the car is way overpriced.
Steve R
Steve,
I think you just scratched the surface concerning the issues this car has. I think your list could have been much longer. If it sells, I hope the buyer isn’t too disappointed. It even looks like there’s been a fuel vapor explosion in the passenger muffler. Very rough looking car.
I didn’t want to be accused of being too negative.
If it sells, it’s only because the buyer wasn’t thorough with their inspection, which means they weren’t looking out for their interests.
Steve R
At a casual glance, I didn’t see the Pennsylvania connection. Then I looked at the e-Bay ad and saw the bondo around the outer door lock and side marker light, and it all became clear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEOeTX1LqM
Technically the car is not registered in PA, it is only titled in PA. If you look closely at the title you can see that the state has marked the title as Registration Not To Be Issued, Tax Unpaid. This is something that can be done here in PA, a buyer can have the title transfered to their name without paying the sales tax. This way you legally own the car but you cannot have a license plate issued to it until you pay the sales tax. Generally this is done if the buyer is going to flip the car or if it will be a long term project and will not be driveable as work is being done to it.
Omg yeah…fake license plates are definitely the worst thing to happen with a vintage car. They should just scrap the whole thing. Send it the crusher!! Driving it around with that plate would truly be a nightmare…
It’s presence shows an intent to deceive.
Steve R
I think the mopar rallies look good, but I’m a mopar/nocar kinda guy. Check out this seller’s other cars on ebay, there is something for everyone.
Black plates too early for 1970.
1963 to be specific.
Woof!
Some Bondo??
Mostly Bondo I would say. Too bad. A 351C 4V 4 speed with AC would be about the perfect Cyclone IMHO.
TTBMK the wheels are factory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJGyBPLUOqo
STM, those are not the same wheels. The wheels in your video have five slots, the wheels on this car have at least twice as many, the center cap doesn’t cover the lug nuts either. This car definitely early-70’s Mopar rally wheels.
Steve R
Funny, the comment about never hearing of a Mercury Cyclone, buyers didn’t exactly break the doors down to get one of these machines. I’d say these Cyclone GT’s are the reigning champions of forgotten muscle.
Really like that dash, had one of these back in ’84 for a very short time and thought that gauge set up was pretty cool. Nice looking car too.
I like the car just as it is. It’s in better shape than me and I’m younger:)
Carefully check that gun sight grill, the plastic is very fragile and 50 years old at this point. I’ve seen very few that are still in good shape. Last winter I had a local shop plasma cut each and every part needed to build a new one out of aluminum sheet stock. Haven’t had a chance to start welding up the parts, my 71 needs a grill.
I like the 351 coupled with a 4 speed manual whatever the 351 is Windsor or Cleveland
Unless the engine was swapped, a 351 4V in 1970 should be a Cleveland. 351 2V could’ve been either a Wndsor or Cleveland.
This is not a GT. The GT did not have exposed headlights they all had concealed headlamps. . The base and Spoiler had exposed standard with concealed optional.
According to the Serial Number this is a Cyclone GT. Having the wrong grille combined with the misalignment strongly suggest rather poor front end damage repair in it’s past.
The hood doesn’t line up nor the trunk lid; there is something wrong with the dash – looks like a vinyl-fabric cover of some kind (looks lumpy); as noted, the right muffler is toast; rear light panel is wrong (supposed to be satin black); VIN breaks down to an Ohio built car, Cyclone GT 351 4 brl. It might be a factory 4 speed car but the trans is not on the VIN. I’m thinking they put a Spoiler hood on on a GT as best I remember GT’s had a ‘regular’ scoop but not the Spoiler scoop. And most definitely those are Mopar wheels. Don’t look bad, just not correct. Can’t push it too far tho as I once put a set of 66 Charger spinner caps on a 64 T-Bird.
How ’bout a set of Halibrands?
It’s what I would call a great 50 footer. Even the dash looks rough. I love the Cyclones, just not this one.
She has a nice a$$ but I am not sure about her nose.
Story of my life! 🤣
I had a 70 Cyclone GT with the 428 cobra jet ram air. It had the hidden headlights. One of the fastest cars I’ve owned, & coming from a Chevy guy. They only produced 1595 of this model. They were built to compete with the LS-6 cars. At this price I would want a personal inspection with an experienced Ford/ Mercury guy. GLWS.
Being a Chevy guy, we’ll forgive your mistake (well, no excuse for being a Chevy guy, just the 428 part). A ’70 Cyclone would have had a version of the 429 as would the ’70 Torino/Fairlane/Cobra/Falcon line; Mustang and Cougar switched to the 385 series engine (unless you count the Boss 429, which had their origins in there somewhere) in 1971. I’ve always wondered, if Ford wanted to compete with GMs 454 and 455, why didn’t they build a 460SCJ – simple matter of dropping in the stroked crank?
The price needs to be adjusted for the fact the car is not a G.T. model,as well as not having correct wheels.
Herbee – the VIN indicates it is a GT, just not a Spoiler
Who can help me with a CA license plate question? I believe to be true that license plates issued to a vehicle in CA NEVER leave the car, they just continue to get transferred UNLESS obviously the car leaves the state.
With that said, what is the LAST year of a vehicle in CA that could have had a black plate?
The next year did they go to Blue?
I have purchased a 67 Oldsmobile 442 and a 59 El Camino out of CA with full documentation and both were black plate cars.
Just trying to get me facts straight! Thanks, T.
Tom, the last year the black plates were issued was 1969.
A few early 1970 models had the few black plates that were left.
The plates belong to the car not the owner in California so yes they do stay on the car when it is sold.
My 1963 Plymouth Fury was issued an FTX plate when sold new in California, which is why I know this plate on this car is from 1963.
California started allowing black plates to be reissued to old cars if the plate was issued to that year car and it has a sticker on it from the year of the vehicle.
That is not the case here.
If this was an early 1970 model, it would have had a very late Z on the plate, not an F
Your El Camino would have had commercial plates which is a different series altogether, and also when it was new it was issued gold plates. In 1963 all gold plates were turned in for the black plates.
Wow, thanks for that education!! Really appreciate you taking the time.
In 1970 the, did the plates go to a dark blue with yellow/gold print on them or ??
Thanks again, Tom.