Comments on: 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT 500; We have the Proof!

By: Jason Stoller

Jason Stoller — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:48:26 +0000

I previously owned a Mercury Cyclone GT with the emblems. I bought the car back in the late 70′s in Haleyville AL from a private party.

The engine was a 390 and the car was white with red stripes as I have seen in some of the photos above. If I remember right I think this car had a red colored interior.

The engine compartment was so tight we had to loosen the motor mounts to put headers on this engine. I also remember it had disc brakes on the front. Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Jason

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 01:41:12 +0000

Steve,
See what you can dig up and let me know. This info would be extremely helpful as would the photos. You can send them directly to me at Richard@LegendaryCollectorCars.com and I will share them with the rest of our readers. THANK YOU!

By: Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:52:33 +0000

My dad took me to the saturday pole days and qualifier races at charlotte in the 1960s. i have a picture somewhere of a large group of orange mercury cars. I have a new car flyer with Burrough Lincoln Mercury pete pistone salesman that i picked up that day. Probably the May world 600 race. i was told that day there were 500 mercurys there.I remember some had black or white stripes.Some had black or white interiors.All were not fastback bodies.Some were 2 door coupes and some convertibles.They sat in turn one area outside the track.We spent a good while there as salesmen approached my dad to buy a car.They cant all be 428 cars i am sure and i didnt count them.I do know where on orange notchback car sits and it is 302 black bench seat and the owner says he made the deal thru the salesmen at the track and picked up the car that Monday!I will try to make a trip up his way again soon to see if they have any old documents about the car.There is also a 1 owner 428 black bucket seat automatic car a few blocks from me and no money can buy it. i can check it and get some pics for you.Interseting story that brings back some good memories.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:33:43 +0000

How can a send you pictures of a ’68 cyclone cj428?

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:05:34 +0000

Tom, as you know stuff for these cars is hard to find. You might give the Fairlane Club a try. They have a good classified section for members. They even let us Cyclone folks post on there!. You can also run a free Wanted Ad on our site just go to the Cars For Sale button on the top of the page and place your free ad. To contact the Fairlane Club try: http://www.fairlaneclubofamerica.com/

By: tom jennings

tom jennings — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:34:30 +0000

hi looking for front chrome can you help me out phone 1 709 699 3600 or tomrjennings@gmail.com

By: rcode

rcode — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:05:45 +0000

Joe,
My response is factual. Richard & I discussed this in private emails. Apparently Richard had switched servers and that created some posting issues. No harm no foul. You are correct about the 427, Cougar GTE’s only in 68. I have the production numbers somewhere but I don’t want to get off topic. If interested in those numbers, feel free to pm me.

Rod CJ, The only “428 CJ’S” built prior to regular production units were the 50, white Mustang FB’s, that were built Dec/67 – Jan/68 and dominated the winter nationals.

One additional side note: all but one of the 68 Torino CJ’s built for the 68 model were automatic’s. The “one” 4spd, was built for then Ford president (19 months) Bunkie Knudsen.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:34:25 +0000

Rod, I’d love to hear more on the statistics of your cars, such as how many were built.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:17:23 +0000

I don’t see what the problem is with R-code’s comments, as they are 110% correct.

The only 427 car built in 1968, according to Marti, is the Cougar GT-E.

By: Rod CJ

Rod CJ — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Oh ya…. And the 390 is a good one too…. I also have 3 1968 428 CJ Fastback Cyclones. All automatics. And a 1968 Torino GT 390 4 speed car. Iam not a show off expert, but you better not bet your ass! Because I do know these 1968 cars!

Rod………….rock on!

By: Rod CJ

Rod CJ — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:22:07 +0000

Ok …. I have the first 428 CJ car off the line. And “YES I DO” it was scheduled to be built April Fools day 1968. Buy My Marti Report; It was not actually built till APRIL 3rd 1968. First built car … 68 Cyclone Fastback, 428CJ. One of three hand delivered to yes..Mr Cale Yarborough himself! On the 5th day of April. Have original title too! Door code is 01-D 1968 = April Fools day car. Mid year change April Fools Day 1st day production for the 428 Cobra Jet engine Period. Fact. True. NO EARLY 428 CJS EVER INSTALED ANY EARLIER IN ANY CAR … THIS IS FACT. Everyone wants rare like in big block CJ. But most really are not so rare small block. Maybe these cars are rare, I don’t know for sure. But R Code means 428 CJ and I have seen some Q coded 428 CJ cars. My 5th digitin my vin# – the R is stamped huge, way larger then all the rest of the vin#s. They where proud of it! And I still think they did not know how to really stamp it. Try this guys I sold a 1968 427 Cougar all factory car. Maybe some had the 427 in it???? LOL………………
ROD…………..

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:07:55 +0000

rcode, you are absolutely wrong. The 428 CJ was available late in 1968 in the Cyclone. This has been documented both by the Marti-Report and Ford Motor Company. What more proof do you need?

By: rcode

rcode — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:58:40 +0000

Ryan,

I hate to be a bubble burster but the base engine in a 68 Cyclone was the 302-2V. Optional was the 390, 2V or 4V and late in production, the mighty 428CJ. Although mentioned in early literature, the 427 was never actually built for the public in the Cyclone. You still own a unique vehicle.

rcode

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:27:58 +0000

Ryan,
Thank you for your comment. The very best things you can do right now to get quick info are to:
1. look for your build sheet; most likely under the front or under or behind the rear seat.
2. Get a Marti Report; go to http://www.martiauto.com.
3. Get the info off your data plate on the driver’s door and decode it. You can purchase a decode book or simply seed us the info in an email and we will do it for you, no cost.
Great car, have some fun.

By: Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:36:15 +0000

Hello and THANK YOU! I have been seeking information for years as I own a 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT hardtop, not fastback… optioned with the 302 and buckets. Simply a GT without the “500″. I contacted FoMoCo many years ago in hopes to find out more information and had much difficulty in getting results. I was told it is 1 of 334 optioned as such but very little more and hopefully your site will lead me to finding out just exactly what Cyclone I bought in high school. I have just begun reading the information you have compiled, but wanted to add a comment right away… I am tickled!!!

THANK YOU!!!

Ryan Parker
Rosemount, MN
1968 Mercury Cyclone GT
Hardtop, 302, Auto, Bucket Seats

By: bryan

bryan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:31:22 +0000

390 2bbl, sorry, thnx bryan

By: bryan

bryan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:29:48 +0000

i have a 63 mercury monterey custom breeze way, it is a factory mess up!!! extremely great shape barn find. it was supposed to be a two door breeze way, but is a 4 door breeze way,i know its not a cyclone, but were talking about factory mess ups too, sold out of the atlanta district also. axle code is one, 3:50, one tire fire, and transmission vin is 4, fmx. standard 390 sbbl. can any one find out why this is a mess up??? thanx, bryan

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:06:19 +0000

I am unsure how one arrives at the conclusion that a regional promotion signified competition for a corporate cousin. Isn’t it almost obvious that Mercury’s success in NASCAR was being used to sell cars?

Addtonally, how is Ford’s marketing dept doing “it” today?

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:32:19 +0000

Could it just be that Mercury wanted to compete with the GT 500 Mustang from Shelby…. so it was a case of adding badges and adding a name.. You now have a 68 Mercury Cyclone GT500..Ford Marketing do it today so why not back then.
Interesting read thou thanks for posting it up.

By: rfleener

rfleener — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:25:34 +0000

Rod, I am not sure on the first day the 428 CJ went into the Cyclone/Torino body. However, as it impacts the use of the car on the track has no revelance. NASCAR did require 500 cars be built prior to being able to hit the track but that was not a problem. All that was required was that 500 Torino or Cyclone fastback (sportback) bodies be built. They did not have to have the 428 cj engines. NASCAR required the body and the engine to meet the 500 requirement but had no requirement that the engine and body be in the same car. Remember in 1969 the Ford Talladega was produced with the 428 CJ engine and the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was sent out of the factory with a 351 but both raced with a Boss 429 engine. What production car got the
Boss? The Mustang! Hope that answers part of your question.

By: Rod

Rod — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:35:54 +0000

Now wait….. 1968 April Fools day was the 1st day the 428 CJ was put in to any 1968 car, Iam sure Iam right. Some have claimed to have this huge option but does anyone have solid paper proof of such an option BEFORE 01/D/1968?. Proof real proof. I have 1st day production 68 Cyclone. 428 CJ non-ram air car. 01/D. All where Non Ram air in 1968. And it was not manufactured until APRIL 3rd. And I have the Marty Report on this car to prove so! And I have two more 1968 428 CJ Cyclone cars! All Factory. Ford plant was slow putting the FIRST CJ cars together, FACT. Some like to claim real rare, and we have all seen that before. I also thought 500 production cars have to be sold first to the public, so that the factory can race that body style? It has to be a actule production car. Am I right here? Rod

By: Alan J Miller

Alan J Miller — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:50:42 +0000

I went to the Darlington Historic Racing Festival yesterday.A guy had a white Cyclone 500 with original paint.It was a 302 car but he installed a 351, nine inch rear,some 21 decals,and other racing decals.I can send photos of the show if you want to post them. There are about 170 photos.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:24:28 +0000

@Darrin: Huh?

By: rfleener

rfleener — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:14:58 +0000

Darrin, good point on the don’t believe everything you read. I almost always look for 2 sources on any information that seems a little off track. However, this will somewhat depend on the source of the info but as I have found out even info straight from the manufacturer is not always correct. As you know, there certainly were 428 cj Ford products produced in 1968.

By: Darrin

Darrin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:16:39 +0000

hi i have a 1968 cyclone in 1968 my book i purchased said no dealer in 1968 in this country sold a 428 cobra jet .it was optioned none were ordered .and a little over 300 were ordered with 390 gt thanks but we all you cant always beleive what you read