MERCURY CYCLONE GT 2-DR FASTBACK 1968
General Information
| Category | Survivor / Daily driver |
| Make | Mercury |
| Model | Cyclone GT |
| Body Style | 2-dr Fastback Sport Coupe |
| Price | SOLD |
Engine Specs
| Engine & Transmission Specs | Ford 'Cobra Jet' Big Block |
| Engine Type | 7.0L 428cui V8 CJ |
| Transmission | C6 3-spd console-shift automatic |
Additional Information
| Length | 5.16m (16' 11") |
| Weight | 1702kgs (3752lbs) |
| Fuel Capacity | 76 ltrs |
| Exterior Colour | Bright Aqua Metallic |
| Interior Colour | Black Vinyl |
| VIN | 8H15S571040 |
Car Description
1968 Mercury Cyclone GT 2-Dr Fastback powered by a 7.0L 428cui V8 Ford ‘Cobra Jet’ big block engine and driven by a Ford C6 3-speed console-shift automatic transmission.
1968 to 1969 saw the 3rd generation of the Mercury GT, and the Cyclone received Mercury’s biggest facelift in 1968, switching from 1967’s boxy, Fairlane-derived coupe body to the super-streamlined Torino-based fastback. Several V8 engines were available for the Cyclones:- the 4.9L 302cui, the 6.4L 390cui and the 7.0L 428cui Cobra Jet, which became available mid year. The GT Equipment Group added bucket seats, performance handling package, and upper and lower tape stripes and started with the 302cui V8 engine. Cale Yarborough found success in NASCAR with the Cyclone, but it didn’t translate to sales in what was a banner year for the performance market.
Very Rare Cyclone GT
Marti Report Verified
Factory Bucket Seats w/ Floor Shift Console
Upgraded 428 ‘Cobra Jet’ Engine
C6 Automatic Transmission
9″ 3.25:1 Track Loc Rear Axle
Power Front Disc Brakes
Power Steering
Factory Air Conditioning
This 1968 Cyclone GT is a rare find. Very few ’68 Cyclone GT’s were produced and very few survived the gas crunch of the 70’s (as well as drag racing, drinking & driving, idiotic engine swapping into trucks, road salt & general poor driving skills). Somehow this one survived and actually thrived thanks to an engine upgrade as well as some super dry storage.
The body on this one is top notch for the breed. There are no obvious signs of accidents or off-road adventures. These do appear to be the original body panels with the exception of the factory 1969 hood scoop that has been added. The only rust we could find is in the lower rear quarter panels, as shown in the photo’s. The floors, trunk, cowl, rear window channel all look good. Factory red oxide paint is still readily visible around much of the car. The exterior was repainted some time ago and there have been touch ups since. The paint is old, scratched, faded, checked and pretty much worn-in, not out and the patina look which has evolved on this car would easily qualify it as a survivor.
Inside, the bucket seat interior is a game changer. The front buckets had some small repair done and look good but still show some wear. The consoles in these cars are stupidly expensive as they are known to be brittle, this one has been repaired. It isn’t obvious except on closer inspection. The tach & gauges all appear to work correctly. The fuel gauge works but has the normal ‘reserve tank’ gauge as we call it that claims low fuel at 1/4 tank. There are rare options everywhere including the speaker control, rear window defrost, air conditioning, etc. The A/C hasn’t been charged for years and the heater core is bypassed. The heater controls do work nicely and the system changes levels properly which is quite rare. The carpet & door panels do show wear but again, these are 53 years old and present pretty well.
Under the hood the original S-code 390 engine has been replaced with a 428 ‘Cobra Jet’. Yes, its a CJ, and yes, it has C8OE-N cylinder heads and CJ specific exhaust manifolds. Yes, the flexplate has a counter weight, etc. Upgraded to the CJ engine are an F-coded Police Interceptor aluminum intake manifold and solid lifters with factory adjustable valvetrain. Sitting atop the big Holley carburetor is a factory high dollar ‘ram air’ air cleaner assembly. The engine runs excellent and even sounds good through the original 1968 FoMoCo mufflers!!! The mufflers are rusting out so their functional life is nearing an end rapidly but they still sound good.
The C6 Automatic transmission goes into gear nicely. Since it has been sitting for 20 years we expected it to have some issues, luckily it seems to be working fine and it hasn’t been leaking like we expected either.
The Magnum 500 wheels still sport nice chrome with only minor blemishes. Brand new tyres have been fitted with 275/60 on 15″ x 8″s at the rear and 235/60 on 15″ x 7″s at the front.
Features & Options
- 7.0L 428cui V8 Ford ‘Cobra Jet’ big block engine
- Ford C6 3-speed console-shift automatic transmission
- 4-barrel Holley carburetor
- ‘Police Interceptor’ aluminium intake manifold
- Power steering
- Power assisted front disc brakes
- ‘Ram Air’ air cleaner assembly
- Bonnet air intake scoop
- 9″ Trac-Lock rear end w/ 3:25 ratio
- ‘Whisperaire’ factory air conditioning (non operational)
- Dual exhaust
- Front bucket seats
- Centre console
- Original factory Magnum 500 rims w/ new tyres
- Original AM radio
Cars for Sale
SOLD MERCURY CYCLONE GT 2-DR FASTBACK 1968
Car Description
1968 Mercury Cyclone GT 2-Dr Fastback powered by a 7.0L 428cui V8 Ford ‘Cobra Jet’ big block engine and driven by a Ford C6 3-speed console-shift automatic transmission.
1968 to 1969 saw the 3rd generation of the Mercury GT, and the Cyclone received Mercury’s biggest facelift in 1968, switching from 1967’s boxy, Fairlane-derived coupe body to the super-streamlined Torino-based fastback. Several V8 engines were available for the Cyclones:- the 4.9L 302cui, the 6.4L 390cui and the 7.0L 428cui Cobra Jet, which became available mid year. The GT Equipment Group added bucket seats, performance handling package, and upper and lower tape stripes and started with the 302cui V8 engine. Cale Yarborough found success in NASCAR with the Cyclone, but it didn’t translate to sales in what was a banner year for the performance market.
Very Rare Cyclone GT
Marti Report Verified
Factory Bucket Seats w/ Floor Shift Console
Upgraded 428 ‘Cobra Jet’ Engine
C6 Automatic Transmission
9″ 3.25:1 Track Loc Rear Axle
Power Front Disc Brakes
Power Steering
Factory Air Conditioning
This 1968 Cyclone GT is a rare find. Very few ’68 Cyclone GT’s were produced and very few survived the gas crunch of the 70’s (as well as drag racing, drinking & driving, idiotic engine swapping into trucks, road salt & general poor driving skills). Somehow this one survived and actually thrived thanks to an engine upgrade as well as some super dry storage.
The body on this one is top notch for the breed. There are no obvious signs of accidents or off-road adventures. These do appear to be the original body panels with the exception of the factory 1969 hood scoop that has been added. The only rust we could find is in the lower rear quarter panels, as shown in the photo’s. The floors, trunk, cowl, rear window channel all look good. Factory red oxide paint is still readily visible around much of the car. The exterior was repainted some time ago and there have been touch ups since. The paint is old, scratched, faded, checked and pretty much worn-in, not out and the patina look which has evolved on this car would easily qualify it as a survivor.
Inside, the bucket seat interior is a game changer. The front buckets had some small repair done and look good but still show some wear. The consoles in these cars are stupidly expensive as they are known to be brittle, this one has been repaired. It isn’t obvious except on closer inspection. The tach & gauges all appear to work correctly. The fuel gauge works but has the normal ‘reserve tank’ gauge as we call it that claims low fuel at 1/4 tank. There are rare options everywhere including the speaker control, rear window defrost, air conditioning, etc. The A/C hasn’t been charged for years and the heater core is bypassed. The heater controls do work nicely and the system changes levels properly which is quite rare. The carpet & door panels do show wear but again, these are 53 years old and present pretty well.
Under the hood the original S-code 390 engine has been replaced with a 428 ‘Cobra Jet’. Yes, its a CJ, and yes, it has C8OE-N cylinder heads and CJ specific exhaust manifolds. Yes, the flexplate has a counter weight, etc. Upgraded to the CJ engine are an F-coded Police Interceptor aluminum intake manifold and solid lifters with factory adjustable valvetrain. Sitting atop the big Holley carburetor is a factory high dollar ‘ram air’ air cleaner assembly. The engine runs excellent and even sounds good through the original 1968 FoMoCo mufflers!!! The mufflers are rusting out so their functional life is nearing an end rapidly but they still sound good.
The C6 Automatic transmission goes into gear nicely. Since it has been sitting for 20 years we expected it to have some issues, luckily it seems to be working fine and it hasn’t been leaking like we expected either.
The Magnum 500 wheels still sport nice chrome with only minor blemishes. Brand new tyres have been fitted with 275/60 on 15″ x 8″s at the rear and 235/60 on 15″ x 7″s at the front.
Features & Options
- 7.0L 428cui V8 Ford ‘Cobra Jet’ big block engine
- Ford C6 3-speed console-shift automatic transmission
- 4-barrel Holley carburetor
- ‘Police Interceptor’ aluminium intake manifold
- Power steering
- Power assisted front disc brakes
- ‘Ram Air’ air cleaner assembly
- Bonnet air intake scoop
- 9″ Trac-Lock rear end w/ 3:25 ratio
- ‘Whisperaire’ factory air conditioning (non operational)
- Dual exhaust
- Front bucket seats
- Centre console
- Original factory Magnum 500 rims w/ new tyres
- Original AM radio
General Information
| Category: | Survivor / Daily driver |
| Make: | Mercury |
| Model: | Cyclone GT |
| Body Style: | 2-dr Fastback Sport Coupe |
| Price: | SOLD |
Engine & Transmission Specs
| Engine: | Ford 'Cobra Jet' Big Block |
| Engine Type: | 7.0L 428cui V8 CJ |
| Transmission: | C6 3-spd console-shift automatic |
Additional Information
| Length: | 5.16m (16' 11") |
| Weight: | 1702kgs (3752lbs) |
| Fuel Capacity: | 76 ltrs |
| Exterior Colour: | Bright Aqua Metallic |
| Interior Colour: | Black Vinyl |
| VIN: | 8H15S571040 |
