Key Takeaways
As the 1968 - 1969 Mercury Cyclone GT came along , the Mercury boy , once again following the lead of Ford , turned their dip Cyclone into a Torino clone . certainly enough , sales just about doubled . Unfortunately , the 1967 total had sunk so low that even twice that figure was n’t probable to induce euphory .
Most of the attention plump to the jaunty , long - profiled fastback 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT with its vast rear quarter pass on back in a straight dividing line from the roof . Bodyside ransack stretched from headlight to dog , kicking up at the after part window to accent the trick of endless length on the GT variant . Another stripe flow between GT roulette wheel openings , help to spotlight its graceful contours .
Though less dramatic , the conventional - roof notchback hardtop – also offered in substructure and Cyclone trimness – displayed a pleasing shape . Evidently , however , it was not pleasing enough , as it would fade away after 1968 .
Both versions give the imprint of tot size , but wheelbase were unchanged at 116 inches . The notchback ’s growth was n’t totally illusive ; it evaluate three inch longer than the fastback . Either 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT model start at $ 2,936 , nearly a hundred buck less than a 1967 GT hardtop .
Beneath the exhaust hood of both base and GT Cyclones sat a 302 - Criminal Investigation Command V-8 , delivering 210horsepowerand driving a three - speed manual gearbox . Checking the choice tilt brought a more potent 302 ( 230 bhp ) , or a Marauder 390 stockpile four - barrel carburetion and 10.5:1 concretion – along with a hefty 325 bhp . Settling for a 390 with two - barrel and 9.5:1 condensation meant only 265 horses . Any of those mills could be put with Select - Shift Merc - O - Matic or a four - hurrying manual box seat .
Topping the lean was a 427 - cid V-8 , detuned to a still - sizable 390 horsepower . Also usable in the Cougar GT - E , the 427 do only with Merc - O - Matic and included overweight - obligation cooling system . By the time the model yr got turn over , Mercury announced deletion of the 427 as a Cyclone option . No problem . Availability of the Cobra Jet 428 with its 335 - bhp whirr aside was almost as good .
1968 Mercury Cyclone GT bucket seats were upholstered in Comfort - Weave vinyl radical , able-bodied to " suspire . " Higher - rate natural spring and shocks , and large - diameterstabilizer , were part of the functioning / handling GT package . Turbine - style cycle covers further augmented the image of ready - to - roll heftiness . So did the down - to - basics black - out grille perched behind a trio of uncomplicated horizontal bars .
A few dollars more bought a tachometer to hold out the activity . More yet : an AM radio with Stereo - Sonic taping , or a Whisper - Aire conditioner . Styled sword wheels could be ordinate for $ 96 , but wire wheel cover apace left the option leaning .
1969 Mercury Cyclone GT
Among other alteration to the 1969 Mercury Cyclone GT , the GT was demote from an official Cyclone theoretical account to a simple coming into court option mathematical group , while the dramatic fastback come in base and CJ trim .
close related to Ford ’s performance - packed Cobra , the CJ measured two inch longer . CJs wore a pitch-dark - out interpretation of the revised Cyclone grille , with start center segment and a slender silvertone nerve center bar .
But the real goodies lay behind that lattice : a standard 428 - Criminal Investigation Command V-8 , its 335 horse eager to pillory a CJ off the mark with the great of comfort . grade Ram - Air induction for $ 138.60 added a hood easy lay to gulp in the fresh , cold air demanded by the four - barrelcarburetor , plus a set of hood lock pins . A four - speed was standard ; Select - break optional . Both a tachometer and bucket seats cost extra .
Did public presentation tally the CJ ’s assertive stance ? Definitely!Car and Driverneeded only 5.5 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour , and just 13.9 endorsement to mosh through the quarter - mi . Even in 1969 , that was traveling .
This is not to say , however , that its precursor was any slouch . A year in the first place , Motor Trendtook just 6.1 second to dash to 60 with its automatic - equipped Cyclone , also launch the quarter in 13.9 seconds .
cyclone do well not only at the puff comic strip , but around NASCAR oval as well : notably the 1968 Daytona 500 , won by Cale Yarborough at an average 143.25 mph . No matter how hard Mercury render , though , customers were n’t exactly beating down the doorway for a hazard at a Cyclone . product would rise in 1970 , but slide down to an even grim mark in 1971 , the final time of year for these quick but unnoted remnant of American muscle .
Rarest of all is the Cyclone Spoiler II , which must be cite before leaving the Cyclone series in the debris . Only 519 were built , forNASCARhomologation , wearing two-dimensional front ends like the Talladegas that did similar duty for Ford .
1968-1969 Mercury Cyclone GT Specifications
The restyled 1968 - 1969 Mercury Cyclone GTs carried over with few changes , though the GT became an pick package in 1969 , replace by the CJ as Cyclone ’s performance poser .
Specifications
Engines : all ohv V-8;1968 GT:302 cid ( 4.00 x 3.00 ) , 210/230 bhp ; 390 Criminal Investigation Command ( 4.05 x 3.78 ) , 265/325 bhp ; 427 cid ( 4.23 x 3.78 ) , 390 bhp ; 428 Criminal Investigation Command ( 4.13 x 3.98 ) , 335 bhp1969 Cyclone:302 cid , 220 bhp ; 351 cid ( 4.00 x 3.50 ) , 250/290 bhp ; 390 Criminal Investigation Command , 320 bhp ; 428 cid , 335 bhp1969 CJ:428 cid , 335 bhp
Transmissions:3 - upper manual ; 4 - speed manual and 3 - speed Select - Shift Merc - O - Matic optional
Suspension front : upper A - limb , strut - stabilise low-down arms , coil leap , anti - sway bar
suspension system rear : alive axle , leaf spring
Brakes : front / rear drum ( front discs optional )
Wheelbase ( in.):116.0
Weight ( lbs.):3,273 - 3,634
Top stop number ( mph):GT ( V8 - 302 ): 112 ; CJ 428 : 116
0 - 60 mph ( sec):CJ 428 : 5.5 - 6.1
