1970 Mercury Cyclone GT Sports Rare Drivetrain Layout, Marti Report Reveals Repaint

Things obviously became a lot more interesting in 1966, when the Comet became an intermediate model. The larger car gained the 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V8, which came with a whopping 335 horsepower on tap in S-code four-barrel carburetor form. In 1968, Mercury added the then-new 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet with 335 horsepower to the options list.

The following year, Mercury introduced the Cyclone Spoiler II, an homologation special that allowed the muscle car to join NASCAR racing. It’s perhaps the most desirable Cyclone out there, but it’s not the only iteration that’s a rare sight today. This 1970 Cyclone GT, for instance, is also scarce.

The 1970 Cyclone was a notable upgrade over its predecessor. Mercury introduced a more aggressive front fascia, which included protruding fenders and an elongated nose. Available in base, Spoiler, and GT models, the 1970 Cyclone was available with either a 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) V8 or a 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet.

Like most muscle cars of the era, the Cyclone sold poorly in 1970. Records show that Mercury delivered only 13,496 units. Exactly 10,170 units were ordered in mid-range GT trim. However, the engine and transmission combo make this Cyclone GT quite the rare classic.

How so? Well, it was ordered with the N-code 429-cubic-inch V8 engine. This one’s not a Cobra Jet. It was actually known as the Thunder Jet and delivered 360 horsepower (the CJ came with 370 horsepower on tap). The mill mates with a four-speed close-ratio manual, and the Marti Report says that only 192 examples were equipped with this drivetrain combo.

There’s a catch, though. The powerplant is now pretty much an original block upgraded to 545-cubic-inch (8.9-liter) specs while also sporting aluminum heads. It’s unclear how potent it is, but the good news is that the owner still has the original engine parts. He could revert the Cyclone to factory specs anytime.

The Mercury also got a color change. It’s now wearing a Grabber Blue finish, but the Marti Report says it was actually born in Competition Orange. Well, at least both are high-impact colors, and repainting the car shouldn’t be an issue. Would you restore this Cyclone back to factory specifications?

That’s actually recommended if an owner wants to get most out of the car when (and if) he decides to sell. While the standard Cyclone rarely exceeds the $30,000 mark, the GT cars can fetch a lot more. Granted, the N-code 429 is not as desirable as the Cobra Jet engine, but some of these manual setups can fetch over $50,000. And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen at least one example go for more than $70,000 in recent years.

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