This is quite a find, it’s a genuine 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler, not a Cyclone GT, but a performance car that came equipped with some pretty serious hardware. Unfortunately, time has gotten the better of it, but there is still plenty here to explore. This Competition Yellow bruiser is located in Kinsley, Kansas and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,100, reserve not yet met. Thanks to Larry D for this tip!
If you lump the Mercury Montego in with the Cyclone, 1970 was a respectable year with about 120K units moved. While only a quarter of what Ford managed to do with its similar Torino, it was a sales improvement for Mercury over the 1969 model year. The Cyclone Spoiler however was just a modicum of those 120K cars, coming in at a bit over 1,600 units according to Hemmings. But the Spoiler had a pretty impressive list of standard features, not the least of which was its 370 HP, 429 CI “CJ” V8 engine. Other standards included Ram Air induction, a four-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter, Traction-Lok (limited slip) differential, competition handling package, front and rear spoilers (what else, right?), full instrumentation, and “competition” colors.
The VIN for this car indicates that it is what the seller claims and the engine decodes to a 375 HP, 429 SCJ, or code C. That being the case, this Spoiler will have, as the seller states, a drag-pak 3.91 axle ratio and an external oil cooler. One BIG problem, however, the original engine is gone, and in its place is a non-descript 460 CI V8, connected to the original four-speed manual gearbox. Yup, it’s a “youstabee”. The seller adds, “the original engine was replaced by the last owner with a 460. I’m in the middle of tracking down the engine for it“. How unfortunate! No word if the 460 lump is operational.
The exterior of this Cyclone is rough. The seller suggests that the floors are solid but does note, “The other rust issues on the car is lower quarters, lower fenders, inner fender wells, and radiator support and bottom side of the trunk lid“. That’s quite a bit! Interesting is the passenger door as it looks as if it was repainted somewhere in the not too distant past – it clearly stands out. The prominent beak grille has some problems but the front bumper looks to be unkissed. Sadly, that’s not the case for the rear bumper and roll pan. The seller does mention that he has the original Mercury wheels. This Spoiler is pretty well spoiled, it’s going to need a lot of metalwork.
The interior shows a bit better than the exterior and is a curious color choice with the yellow exterior. I guess it works but it wouldn’t have been my first choice. The seats aren’t split but they are showing signs of wear and the headliner is earthbound. It also looks like a quarter window, or windows, have fallen out and are resting on the back seat. The console trim and lid have some hi-jinx going on but the Hurst T-Handle outfitted shifter is still where it belongs. Honestly, if this were my Mercury, I’d remove all of the occupying junque, clean the interior to the best of my ability, and then photograph it. It may be in better condition than it appears in these images, but it’s hard to say with any certainty.
To add to the rareness, Racing Junk claims there were only 341 Cyclone Spoiler SCJ’s, equipped as such that were assembled in ’70. But now, with a toss-away Lincoln engine and the deleterious, overall condition of this Cyclone, its best days are probably behind it. It’s going to take a huge amount of work to make this formidable muscle car presentable, much less restored, and as for “tracking down” the engine, I wouldn’t count on finding it, it’s a very special piece. What do you think, a worthy project due to what it was, or a full pass?
Gosh. Tough call on this one. Too bad that scj went on to another incarnation. These models don’t have the value, and then leaving the restorer underwater.
If you never saw the pictures, you would be tempted to say H#$K YES, restore this puppy. Unfortunately, the pictures put a massive dampener on anyone’s enthusiasm for this car. It looks like the car was involved in a sort of hailstorm situation at one point, only the hailstones were made of salt. It has definitely been driven quite a bit on gravel roads.
I had a 68 Cyclone GT, in that pale yellow with an all black interior. This looks a tiny bit odd, like it’s trying to go for an upscale/luxury look with the white and black combo, but I believe 70 Cyclones were usually this combination.
The missing engine drops the value of this car, with the substitution of a Lincoln engine dropping the value even further…assuming it runs.
Sadly, this once decent looking car (the 70 Cyclone Spoiler is THE greatest looking 70s Montego) will need a mountain range of money dumped on it IF someone restores it even partially (the engine alone will nearly double the cost, I would think) to its as new condition.
I wish them good luck.
*damper, lol…not dampener. A dampener is a harmonic balancer.
That’s what happens when autocorrect ” corrects” your spelling and you don’t catch it.
My other error is using thinking faster than I can type so that essential words get left out.
If only BF had an edit function.
Don’t you still have a four-minute correction window?
JO
Jim, the window to edit a post for non-members disappeared more than a year ago. Once you hit send, that’s what’s posted to the site.
Steve R
I did not realize that. I’ll ask the Managing Editor about it and see if it can be reinstalled.
JO
Steve R
You should still be able to utilize the four-minute edit function but you have to have cookies either turned off or at least turned off for Barn Finds.
JO
Not a big fan of big fords but this one WAS a great looking car. Always love competition yellow over white interior!!
Tons of work involved here, from metal patching to sourcing ver rare parts. A date code correct engine will run 15K ++
You would have 6 times that in restoring the rest of the car, but what a car it would be!!!
I never understood the boot spoiler on these; why isn’t it angled to give downforce?
It’s really a moot point with 3.90 or 4.30 gears, isn’t it? I mean, this car likely would never see the high side of 55 mph for more than a few seconds, lol. Relax, it was just for looks on these (or any other) muscle car.
Look closely at the top of the supports, you can see bolts, those are there so the angle of the wing can be adjusted.
Steve R
No matching motor no big bucks for this car!! I see on here all the time rollers that were SS cars or 442’s with the drive line changed!! Where’s the value of a special car like this that doesn’t have all its original equipment??? I ask this because when there beat this bad how can a seller expect to put a reserve on a car that isn’t what it originally was????
I had one of these. The slanted square gauges on the dash in front of the passenger well hard to see, but very cool.
I always liked the styling of the gauge pods, but yeah, always thought they would be hard to keep an eye on!
Best thing on this car is the huge silver hood scoop. Oh, wait, that’s a trailer.
This ‘Spoiler’ has NOT been spoiled.
curdled?
JO
How can somebody bid $5,000 on this rusted car without the only thing that made it worth anything?
Sorry, a rusty car that used to house a desirable engine doesn’t equate to an “amazing find”, at least not in my book. I love these-but this one leaves me cold.
FYI: C engine code = 429CJ. Not 429SCJ, which had a 4 bolt main. Horsepower rating was only 5 different, which of course is pure fiction.
I based it on this translation:
https://www.racingjunk.com/news/todays-cool-car-find-is-this-1970-mercury-cyclone-c-code-for-37499/
Plus the statement that the seller claims that his car has the required drag-pak.
If the SCJ is not a C code, then what is it?
JO
What makes the SCJ is the presence of the Drag Pak, when a car so equipped it automatically got the engine upgrade to the SCJ with the beefier internals, hotter cam, aluminum intake, Holley carb, but did not change the engine designation on the VIN. The seller needs to provide the Marti report, if the car was ordered with the Drag Pak it will show that as well as the SCJ. If it came with any other gear it will show CJ.
Steve R
Is there a difference in the engine code for a CJ and an SCJ? We know this one is a C from its dashboard VIN tag. I would imagine the answer is yes, considering the degree of internal difference.
JO
Mine is a “C” code and it is a CJ not a SCJ. Also the SCJ was a 4 bolt main block with a solid lifter cam, the CJ was a 2 bolt main with a hydraulic cam. Both had cast steel intakes, the CJ with a Quadrajet and the SCJ with a Holley.
Additionally a SCJ car should a staggered rear shock setup.
Thx Carl! That means the seller’s description is not exactly accurate.
JO
I am in the middle of restoring my 70 Cyclone Spoiler 42CJ that I have owned since 1977. The only positive thing about trying to restore one of these is that in the end (if you ever get there) when you take it to a show or Cars & Coffee you will have the only one in the parking lot.
Being that the structure is the basically the same as the Torino there has been an increase in the availability of some replacement structural sheet metal. And actually the trunk lid is the same as a formal roof Torino.
Looks like most of the hard stuff to locate in still one this one.
It would definitely have to a labor of love or a large checkbook to bring this one back.
And if it is with the checkbook you will not recoup the investment. While these cars have finally started to move in value with the exception of one that sold at auction for over 100k, most of these struggle to hit the 40k mark.
Additionally the competition yellow with white interior is the same as the original sales brochure picture for the car.
How sad that someone just left this one to rot. They probably like watching paint dry too.
Well now that the numbers motor is gone, go big, while ford built the cammer and the 427 dual quad fe, they knew how to make horsepower.Maybe its time its time we do what shpuld have been done all along.Maybe we could have gave that Ls6 Chevelle ( great motor had one)a run for its money. Ok if the 429 and 460 interchange, i believe science has proved that there is no substitute for cubic inches. So you build the SCJ 460, you up the compression only for the Drag pak option cars, naturally we also go with a deep 4.11-4.30 gear. And we could also tweak that rear spoiler ( good eye Steve every little bit helps)We dont fret about the Marti report right now. Imagine if Ford had done this to this car. I love my chevelle and my GTO even mote . But the nose on these cars? A big block 4 speed? Congratulations Carl , these are awesome rigs, nothing looks like this. And if it could have wrestled the Title from the ls6 or the Hemi??? Which one was faster? Then Dynacorn would br stamping out cyclones instead of Chevelles
Hey my dad had one and loved it I wish this wasn’t so dam expensive I’d swoop it up
This car does have the staggered shock package on it. Thanks for the write up on it!
One of the few FoMoCo products that I really like. Really like the style and it’s a 4 speed.If you can’t find the right 429, build a 428 SCJ. I always thought it was a better motor. Too bad this one has been neglected, it would be a tremedous amount of work and a labor of love.
Scraps up a little maybe 150 bucks if you drive it in
Bid to over 7K! And still didn’t meet reserve! Maybe he will think twice and lower the price….
The car sold before the auction ended.
Jim,
I am also wondering what happened to the edit feature?
Paolo:
You should still be able to utilize the four-minute edit function but you have to have cookies either turned off or at least turned off for Barn Finds.
JO