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Known History! 1970 Mercury Cyclone 429 Four-Speed

Often overlooked and under-appreciated, Mercury’s Cylcone offered potent performance with luxury and a long list of options. This 1970 Mercury Cyclone on Cincinati, Ohio craigslist deserves a new owner who appreciates this specimen, one of fewer than 1700 built. Thanks to reader Pat L. for chasing this Cyclone into our reader tips. Equipped with its original numbers-matching 360 HP 429 cid V8, four-speed close ratio manual transmission, 3.50:1 Traction-Lok differential, power steering and power brakes, this Mercury also comes with a known history, as the father of the seller’s friend bought it new.

The seller reports that this Cyclone lost its fury after suffering a clutch failure at 69,000 miles. Lacking any description of running condition we must assume the engine is locked up. The partial VIN provided and lack of other documentation seems odd for a car with known history and, presumably, nothing to hide.

The seller removed the Cougar console pictured here as this Mercury left the factory without one. The original sales brochures at oldcarbrochures.com describes the Cyclone’s standard and available equipment. These high-back buckets were optional on the standard Cyclone, but a floor-mounted Hurst shifter would have been standard.

By the 1990s, Mercury became mostly known for transporting blue-haired retirees looking for an upscale Ford. In the classic muscle car era, Mercury’s Cougars attacked road race courses in the Trans Am series, and this Montego-based Cyclone offered a perfect storm of luxury and performance with engine choices from its platform sibling Ford Torino. Cyclone buyers could choose from three 429 cubic inch V8s packing 360 to 375 HP. The four-speed makes this otherwise modestly-equipped rather interesting. What would you give for this Torino-alternative?

Comments

  1. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    What a mess – not irretrievable – but a long road

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Jack M.

    Nice change from the usual Mustangs and Camaros. Definitely worth saving. You would surprise quite a few people at the stoplights as you show them your tail lights.

    Like 19
  3. Avatar Lance Nord

    If this was a 69 Cyclone Cobra Jet, I would be all over it like fleas on a hound dog. I don’t care for the 70 body on the Cyclone.

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Karguy James

    Rare car for fair money. These are really spectacular when finished nicely. The factory chin and tail spoilers would be a nice ad on.

    Like 14
  5. Avatar Vance

    I don’t know what you guys are looking at or where you live. But I would take this car all day long. Yeah, it’s off the beaten track and unusual, but that’s what makes it desirable. You can have your run of the mill Camaro, Chevelle,Charger, or Challenger. And it’s not in that bad of condition. This car done properly would make you want to own it and give you great personal satisfaction. Be a leader not a follower

    Like 38
  6. Avatar Rock On

    Buddy that I worked with had a 1970 Cyclone Spoiler with the 429 Super Cobra Jet engine and 4 speed. Pretty rare cars. I have only seen one or two in person.

    Like 10
  7. Avatar David

    Like the Torino of these years this car is really something to look at when done cleanly. What a performer too. The 429’s really pack some heat.

    Like 11
  8. Avatar mike D

    This is a welcome change to the Mustangs, Torinos believe me if I had the $$ I’d be all over it , what’s that they say? diamond in the rough?

    Like 5
  9. Avatar stillrunners

    Agree….like and hope it finds a happy home !

    Like 4
  10. Avatar DG

    The irony of a Cyclone Spoiler with no spoilers on it.

    Like 2
    • Avatar z28th1s

      It isn’t a Cyclone Spoiler!

      Like 10
  11. Avatar Troy s

    These are cool, for one thing you just don’t see these everyday, probably didn’t see them all that much back then either! Had a Cyclone like this for a very short time, looked good but just about everything needed to be rebuilt or replaced, had a nasty built 351 Cleveland.Sold it to a friend at work, and to be honest I’ve seen maybe two in my lifetime besides mine. 429Thunder jet in this one, pretty tame compared to the real deal 429 Super Cobra Jet or the slightly friendlier Cobra Jet, but I’d love to have this one with any of those 429’s! 👏

    Like 4
  12. Avatar J Paul Member

    Always thought the anteater front of these were kind of weird looking, but I really love the idea of showing up at a car meet with something so unusual and rare. The four speed just adds to the appeal.

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Mike

    The front end treatment is hideous.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar Lroy

    These 429 were bad ass they loved to rev. The boss motors needed 4 inch exhaust pipes to to keep up with those massive valve ports. Not these. I Had 69 tbird with the Thunderjet motor, on cool eveing she would kick down at a buck 10 and run up to abuck 40 is a no problemo. This merc with the dooer heads . Les just say “buckle up butter cup.”

    Like 6
  15. Avatar Tom Justice

    The Cyclone won more than a few races in NASCAR but that Torino Talladega cleaned it up until the Daytona/Superbird came along. I agree, it is nice to see a Mercury and yes, the 69 would be a better car but it would be good to see this car saved.

    Like 6
  16. Avatar Bruce Fischer

    There is a guy down the road from me that has one and then last year I saw he had brought another one home, so that makes 2 hes got. Not in the best shape but they are just sitting there and he isn’t doing anything with them. I would ask him but I am a station wagon guy. Bruce.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Harry Hodson

    In it’s 1970 new product line teviews, Car and Driver described the Cyclone as , ” Having a shape that makes a tear drop seem obtuse. ”
    I know of a std Cyclone wearing original paint, stashed in a 2nd store storage loft. It”s 351 Cleveland on the floor next to it.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar brian wilkinson

    hi i am brian wilkinson i had one of this car and i have been looking for one can you get up with me .i what to see if we can work it out so i can get it soon cuz it wood make me happy to have it you can call me at 9192580399 i am in nc but i will come there to get it

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Carl Samuels

    There were several trim levels for this car…
    Montego, Montego MX, Cyclone, Cyclone GT, and Cyclone Spoiler
    Only the spoiler trim level had the front and rear spoilers as standard equipment.
    Cyclone GT’s had a narrow stainless steel molding down the side from front to rear and all of them in that trim level I have seen had black out paint below the trim molding.
    According to the Marti report on my 1970 Spoiler, there were only 1631 produced with the Spoiler option and all were 429 CJ engines (some of those 1631 were 429 SCJ engines, but I don’t know that number)
    It seems you have either a love or hate the grille…….
    Me…(as several have said) I like that its different……
    And Just FYI…the Fairlane Club of America is having their nation meet in Dayton Ohio this weekend and being that the Cyclone platform is the same as the Torino there include the Cyclone in their list of vehicles.
    And as for NASCAR, the Wood Brothers ran a 1971 model with several drivers including A.J. Floyt, and of course David Pearson. I believe it was their most winning model.

    Like 1
  20. Avatar DBD

    I don’t think this is a Cyclone, at least not a Spoiler. Tail light pods were 3 to a side, 2 to a side denoted the Montego. Those had a blacked-out, horizontally-barred grill which would break where the “gun-sight” sits on a Cyclone. Sometimes we’d fond a wrecked Cyclone and swap parts. Might be the story here…

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Mercury Muscle

    The “base” Cyclone is mine and it isn’t locked up OH15N527564 is a cool car. I’ve been so busy with my yellow car I didn’t put enough details in my add apparently. The dayton show is Saturday and I still have a lot to do! Mike’s Dad Claude bought the car new after it showed up on a new car lot in Nov. of 1969. He also had a 1970 Cyclone GT but Mike’s sister got that one. It was hit hard when parked and totaled at some point. It was a Comp Orange GT C code 429cj automatic. She was very upset about it and sold it to my friend Shawn. He used the engine, Ram Air and other parts in a 71 J code 4 speed base Cougar Convertible. It was one of the 16 or so show cars for 71 and was missing its engine and 4 speed transmission. I should have waited until next week to put it up for sale. I’ve been working on my car before and after work to try and get it fixed for the Dayton FCA show. It’s another base 429 4 speed Cyclone but it has the optional Sunroof. That was another Barn find like this one.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Todd Fitch Staff

      Hey Mercury Muscle. Thanks for chiming in! This is a great car and I hope the new owner brings it back to its glory. It’s always a plus to buy a car from someone who knows at least some of the car’s history. Good luck with the sale and your other projects!

      Like 0
  22. Avatar Steve

    Is this a true Cyclone… I thought they had different dash, three tail lights per side, and a small scoop on the hood. Can anyone verify or am I remembering it wrong??¿???

    Like 1
    • Avatar z28th1s

      The standard Cyclone had 2 tail lights, no hood scoop and no gauges on the passenger side of the dash.

      Like 4
  23. Avatar Carl Samuels

    There were several trim level editions of this body style: Montego, Montego MX, Cyclone, Cyclone GT and Cyclone Spoiler.
    The Spoiler trim level was the only one to have a factory installed front air dam and rear deck lid spoiler as standard.
    All of the GT trim levels that I have seen had a narrow stainless steel molding lower on the car running from front to back and had black out paint below that molding.
    Also as stated I believe the Montego and the Cyclone trim level had two tail lights and the other trim levels had the complete finish panel with three tail lamps per side.
    According to my Marti report there were 1631 Spoilers built in 1970 and all came with the 429CJ engine (there were some with the 429SCJ in that count, but I don’t know that number), and I believe there were less than 750 Spoliers built in 1971.
    The 429CJ has a 2 bolt main bearing setup with a Rochester carb, the 429SCJ has a 4 bolt main bearing setup with a Holley carb, and the base 429 (Thunder Jet) has a 2 bolt main and an Autolite carb
    As previously stated, you either love or hate the front end…..me, I like having something different…
    The Woods Brothers campaigned a 1971 Cyclone with A.J. Foyt and David Pearson for several years and was their most winning body style.

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Hide Behind

    The Ford NASCAR engines had a seperat e nametag, Blue something or other but were an option on only the Cobra Jet and police options; something along lines of so many “street” in order to race.
    Yes needed huge exhaust, higher than he’ll higher compression and large valves. Many found way into Anglias and Willys’ US drag machines.
    Needed ball peen hammer to gain clearance for hi-po headers from Seattle Custom Exhaust.
    Forget gas mileage even with lowest HP engines.
    When set up right, exhaust crossover they could realy breathe and the sound of big Holley sucking air, took ones breath away.Torque that moved , to 80, with least go in mom and pops sedans caught a few 396 Chelles and small block Nova- Camaro drivers at stop light to stop light.
    Interiors, at least ones I remember were more than two notches in quality above of even Ford’s Torinos and even on Galaxie 500’s.
    You guys are right as to tailight and Interior trim on S C J compared to regular Cyclones, looking at one an hour ago.
    Ford 4 spd seemed slower, longer throws, than Chevy but damned near, just as with 9″ rears, bullet proof.
    Sorry but if I had I would be sorely tempted to put a good 4 or 6 Jimmy blower on it, with those heads.

    Like 1
  25. Avatar Carl William Samuels

    There were several trim level editions of this body style: Montego, Montego MX, Cyclone, Cyclone GT and Cyclone Spoiler.
    The Spoiler trim level was the only one to have a factory installed front air dam and rear deck lid spoiler as standard.
    All of the GT trim levels that I have seen had a narrow stainless steel molding lower on the car running from front to back and had black out paint below that molding.
    Also as stated I believe the Montego and the Cyclone trim level had two tail lights and the other trim levels had the complete finish panel with three tail lamps per side.
    According to my Marti report there were 1631 Spoilers built in 1970 and all came with the 429CJ engine (there were some with the 429SCJ in that count, but I don’t know that number), and I believe there were less than 750 Spoliers built in 1971.
    The 429CJ has a 2 bolt main bearing setup with a Rochester carb, the 429SCJ has a 4 bolt main bearing setup with a Holley carb, and the base 429 (Thunder Jet) has a 2 bolt main and an Autolite carb
    As previously stated, you either love or hate the front end…..me, I like having something different…
    The Woods Brothers campaigned a 1971 Cyclone with A.J. Foyt and David Pearson for several years and was their most winning body style.

    Like 2

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