Flamed 429 Restomod: 1971 Mercury Cyclone GT

Given how strong and capable a muscle car it was, the Mercury Cyclone’s unpopularity is really surprising, with sales nowhere near those of many other high-performance offerings from the good old days.  In a way, that’s sort of good news all these decades later, as they are now uncommon and less often seen than some of the better-known rivals from the period.  This final-year 1971 Mercury Cyclone GT is said to have been rotisserie-restored, and although there are a few minor blemishes on the exterior, this one’s all but guaranteed to still be a real head-turner.  Our thanks go out to reader Curvette for finding this one here on eBay in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, and providing the excellent tip!  The seller is seeking $49,500, but has also included a make-offer option.

Three variants were available for the Cyclone in 1971, including the base car, the Cyclone GT, and the heavier-hitting Cyclone Spoiler.  While this one has received several mods, a check of the VIN reveals it was indeed born a GT, as confirmed by the 16 in the ID number.  However, for the final year, the once-standard 429 in the GT had been downgraded to a 351, and the H in the vehicle identification number verifies that this is how this one began life.  Not to worry, as the small block has been swapped for a massive 429, so this one is now delivering big block power.  Horsepower is stated as 375, and there is a C6 automatic taking care of the shifting duties for you.

While a few enthusiasts will find the black flame decals groovy, they might be a bit much for some potential buyers, and unfortunately, the exterior isn’t without flaws.  Visible chips are present on some panels that extend onto the hood, and additional spider-web-type damage can also be found on the finish.  There’s no word on what caused this, and with all the work that obviously went into this restoration, it’d be a shame to have to redo the whole exterior.  However, this may be necessary if the buyer desires perfection, or to lose that fire effect on the front half.

Thankfully, there’s better news inside: the interior appears to be in mostly good condition all around.  The dash layout here is one of my all-time favorites, with the gauges extending well into the passenger’s area, and removing that aftermarket steering wheel and putting a factory helm back on should be a quick and easy task.  Considering the exterior defects, it’s probably wise for the seller to be open to offers, but overall, this 1971 Mercury Cyclone seems more favorable than not.  How much would you be willing to spend here?