In the late 1960s, Mercury unveiled a series of luxury cars. The Mercury Cyclone was available in multiple generations. A special version named Cyclone GT 390 was part of this set-up. It was only available in 1966 and 1967. Known for its sporty features and robust technology, these vehicles dominated during the muscle era. Here is everything about the 1967 Mercury Cyclone GT 390.
FE V8 Engine
Cars with the FE-V8 engines always delivered raw performances. The beauty of these engines is it could dominate with its torque. Cyclone GT 390 was built around 390 cu in V8 engine with a top speed of 123mph. Being a speed package, the speed was great. It was one of the fastest Mercury vehicles in the muscle car era. The engines and internal components powered the overall performance and handling of this Mercury car. It was also designed as a straight-line speed car with tech from GT vehicles.
Incredible Engineering
The mechanics of the 1967 Mercury Cyclone GT 390 were simple yet powerful. High-performance tech like 4-barrel carbs, dual exhaust, 3-speed manual gearbox, and rear live axle were available. The disc brakes and heavy-duty suspension powered the handling resulting in high speed. It had the features for a muscle car like bucket seats, radio, power steering, heater, AC, and dashboard. Overall, the engineering for this package was derived from the regular Mercury Cyclone models with some tuning.
Strong Torque
Mercury Cyclone GT 390 surprised everyone with its output, especially the amount of torque. This edition delivered around 425 lb-ft of torque which was humongous. The vehicle’s dominance was all because of the torque and technology. With the big-block V8 engine, it was all possible. Though it was a luxury muscle car, the Cyclone GT 390 delivered a performance that was on par with race car. The addition of front disc brakes was something rare and this helped the vehicle with its performance.
Unique Styling
Mercury incorporated a different styling for this model, but some designs were retained as well. The exterior had a wide stance with a long hood. Another interesting thing about the styling was its duplicate twin hood scoops. Quad headlights, black matte, side sculpting, and rally stripes were retained.
Racing Vehicle
Mercury Cyclone GT 390 was a racing vehicle. It was a part of the street racing culture in the late 1960s. Although it didn’t feature in NASCAR like Mercury Cyclone, the vehicle was involved in numerous street races. Cyclone GT 390 was also a part of the local drag racing. With its V8 engines, suspension, and torque, it was well suited for racing. Racing owners modified the vehicle and exploited the tuning potential to the maximum.
Not a Mass Selling Vehicle
Cyclone GT 390 was not a regular mass seller. In two years, around 5k units were produced and sold. The production numbers were limited as it was a special package from Mercury. This vehicle was available as convertibles and hardtops. Another reason for the low production numbers was the high pricing. It was sold around $3,000 USD to $3,300 USD. Today, the vehicle has great collector value, especially the restored versions.