Few traditions last in NASCAR. Drivers come and go. Teams get sold or go out of business. Cars change shape, and tracks get added and subtracted at the whims of the France family and Bruton Smith. However, one team has managed to survive all of this change, and their cars still have the same color scheme at nearly every race. The Wood Brothers, Glen and Leonard, started racing “stock cars” in 1950, and their team is still competitive today. Wood Brothers cars are known for two things: meticulous preparation and a red roof and white body paint scheme. The Wood Brothers are also known for hiring some of the best drivers in the world, and that list makes up twenty of NASCAR’s official best drivers list. Of those drivers, Cale Yarborough was one of their most successful. In 1968, with a Mercury Cyclone as his weapon, Yarborough won six major NASCAR races. If you are a fan of the Wood Brothers, Cale Yarborough, or just fond of this very competitive era of racing, then today is your lucky day. This fairly solid 1968 Mercury Cyclone, sporting Wood Brothers colors, can be found in Byron, Georgia on Craigslist for just $3850.
In the late sixties, manufacturers were in an all out war to win on Sunday and sell on Monday. Aerodynamics and horsepower were the order of the day. Mercury took NASCAR by storm in 1968 with their aerodynamic Cyclone. It was named the fastest car of 1968 after a specially prepared Cyclone lapped Daytona International Speedway at 189.22 miles per hour. That wasn’t all. The Wood Brothers, with Cale Yarborough behind the wheel, captured the 1968 Daytona 500 with a Cyclone. The team managed to also win at Atlanta, Martinsville, Darlington, and at the July Firecracker 400 at Daytona. With those wins, Mercury was able to sell a lot of Cyclones. Mondays were never as sweet again for Mercury salesmen.
Mercury was so proud of the Cyclone’s winning ways that a special edition was built for a promotion tied into the Atlanta race. Customers in the southeast sales region could order a special edition Cyclone in either Wimbledon White or Calypso Coral, and have it delivered to them at the Atlanta race. The 160 lucky customers were driven to the track by the dealer, given two tickets to the race, had a meet, greet, and eat with Cale Yarborough, Tiny Lund, and Lee Roy Yarbrough, and were even got to take two parade laps with Cale leading them in the race car. At first glance, this car’s exterior color and proximity to Atlanta raise questions as to whether or not it might be a promotion car. However, it seems to be missing the proper badges and may be a repainted blue car. As for badges, it seems all of the special edition cars had Cyclone 500 badging on the rear quarter panels. A Marti report would be a nice way to confirm this and any other interesting options, but there is no mention of the car having one by the owner.
The car is, by late sixties Ford standards, in fairly rust free condition. There is a rusted through area in the passenger rear floorboard, and the owner states that the front floor pans have been replaced. He does have the original bench seat, but there is no mention as to where the rest of the interior is. One thing to note is that it is missing the fuel tank, and it is currently being moved around using a hose and a fuel can. If you go look at it, remember to bring your fire extinguisher.
Under the hood, we see more evidence that the white exterior color may not be factory original. Overspray appears on the rubber hood stops and seems to have drifted into other areas. As for the engine, the owner has replaced the carburetor and intake manifold, and has done some other freshening to get it back in running order. He did keep the original carburetor and intake manifold, so returning it to factory original shouldn’t be a problem. It would be nice to know what size engine is resting under the hood, but we aren’t in the know on that. Some more details could go a long way in selling this car.
With prices for bigger sporty Ford products of this era on the rise, this one may merit a closer look. The racing pedigree for the model is an added bonus. Prospective buyers will have to accept that Mercurys usually don’t quite bring the same prices as Fords of the era, but that also lowers the cost of entry. It is a fairly solid car that would be good for building a Wood Brothers/Cale Yarborough tribute car. My concerns would be replacing the interior if it were not saved, and what the underside looked like as far as rust is concerned. My guess is that it was a base car, or at least one with few options. If so, then I wouldn’t feel bad shoe horning in a big block engine and a modern transmission to make it a very fast cruiser. It just seems right to repaint it in the Wood Brothers paint scheme. The red and white paint scheme compliments this particular body style, and is a fitting tribute to a glorious year for that historic race team.
I have a picture somewhere that is of a special edition cale Yarbrough special cyclone. It has a different nose and some other things. This merc. looks to have been painted over,so I think it might still be a cyclone-not the cale one though.
One of my first cars way back was a 68 Torino gt with a 4spd. Great $500 driver and lost my -You know what in that big back seat!!!
The one with the different nose was a Cyclone Spoiler, the Mercury version of the Torino Talladega. These were the cars built to compete with the Mopar winged cars on the race track.
Cathouse, this is not correct.
The NASCAR version was the Cyclone Spoiler II. The regular Spoiler is the regular street model.
My freind got a 68 cyclone in 77, it was a 429 CJ, It was a tourqe monster, scary. We were 17 years old,
Saw a ’68 Torino GT last weekend with 427 badges. I thought that didn’t sound right, though I would have believed a 428.It seems the 427 Torino (and presumably Cyclone) was a dream that Ford never delivered. Anyway I like these but not as much as the 70-71 Torino / Cyclone. And, even though the Mercury is more rare and arguably more interesting, all things equal, it will never match the value of the equivalent Ford. Still, even though it’s probably not a Wood Brothers car, I’d rather see it made into one, then driven, than see it become another perfectly restored example.
I agree, make it a tribute car. But one you can drive. When the Wood Brothers no longer field a car it will truly be the closing of the Golden Age of NASCAR. These gentleman were true innovators in the sport.
While I sure it is restorable, first impressions mean a lot. When I saw the photo on the home page I thought to myself, “Hmmmm, looks pretty good”. But then I saw the interior photos. As with many cars seen here it is really a let down when you see it go from one extreme (body shots) to the other (interior shots).
Car has 1969 grille and paint job.
1968 Cyclone 500 was a regional promotion.
And 68 side marker lights/reflectors.
Because it prob is a 68.
The eng. is a 289 or 302, since that was the last year for 289 and the first for 302. It being a Merc., is probably a 302.
Just $.02 again.
Mercurys had both. May depend on when it was built, as I think earlier cars had the 302.
I was just guessing about it being a 302 because it’s in a Merc., but why would you think an early car would have the 302 and not the 289 that was being fazed out? Wouldn’t it be the opposite?
Rocco, here’s my evidence:
https://ccco.s3.amazonaws.com/kb_photos/332/2595_1968_Mercury_Product_Changes-01_low_res.jpg
I understand it goes against logic, but that’s how it was.
Even Ford did it with the Torino, as evidenced by this brochure revised midyear:
http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/NA/Ford/1968_Ford/1968-Ford-Fairlane-Brochure-Rev/1968-Ford-Fairlane-Rev–18
@Trey,
I see your point. That’s just crazy.
Ad may have been updated. Claims it is a 302.
My friend has one of the 1968 Mercury Cyclone 500 cars that were produced for the World 600 race in Charlotte. It is verified with a Marti Report as 1 of 60 built and 1 of 7 with the 390-4V motor and 1 of 4 with the 390-4V and 4 speed trans combo. It still has most of its original paint and 78K original miles. It was off the road and stored in the original owner’s basement from 1979 until the fall of 2016.
Close up of the Cyclone 500 badges.
Still has the 1979 VA state inspection sticker and the 1979 Franklin County sticker on the windshield.
The 60 were the second set of 500s, as about 150 were previously built for the Atlanta 500.
That is why I said for the World 600 race, not the Atlanta race.
You said “It is verified with a Marti Report as 1 of 60 built” which is not exactly true according to the Talladega Spoiler Registry.
Generally when one talks about production statistics, it’s for the grand total. My car being 1 of 248 built in the Baltimore plant is no different.
Here is a picture of the breakdown of the Marti Report. It is 1 of 60 built for the World 600 race.
I understand, as I’ve seen Martis for these cars based on this link:
https://www.talladegaspoilerregistry.com/mercury-cars/1968-mercury-cyclone-gt-500-2/
But if you read further, Marti made a mistake and only counted the cars at the World 600. Including the Atlanta race, around 200 were built, I believe.
I like the direction this car is going, Nascar clone all the way. I am thinking at least a 351 should be in there with a loud exaust, would be a real head turner.