At what point do you allow yourself to step over the budget line? Is it the right car that is close to the line that meets the demands you’ve placed, but is just over? That’s where I found myself when I found this 1970 Mercury Cyclone for sale in Little Rock, Arkansas with a price of $5700.
There is a lot to love with this one, isn’t there? It’s rough but complete, it’s not an out-and-out rot box from the pictures, it’s got the “beater muscle car” patina going strong, and best of all, it’s a big-block Mercury Cyclone. Those things aren’t easy to find in any condition, let alone at this price. The cousin of the Ford Torino, the Cyclone was positioned as an upscale mid-size option that could still show all of the flash FoMoCo could spool up. It was a NASCAR stormer and is now a rarely-seen beauty.
While all visual cues point to a “day 2” Cyclone Spoiler, there’s a small voice in the back of our heads that is doubting the truthfulness of the stickers. But if it’s a fake, there’s a lot of right going along with the paint job: the rear wing is right, the hideaway headlights are a plus, and if the seller isn’t BSing about the engine, it’s a score and a half.
From the ad: 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT. Motor 429, automactic trasmission C6, power steering, bucket seats. Car was originally equiped with four speed transmission. Cluth pedal and assembly still in car. No rust in trunk or floor boards. Runs and drives.
Anybody feeling generous? We could use a Ford in the BangShift Project Cars list…
Craigslist Ad: 1970 Mercury Cyclone
Checking the VIN over the internet says it’s a cyclone GT but it came with a 351 4v. Those were bad ass engines if he still has the original tucked away.
If it still has the factory rear axle I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s packing a 4:11
Love how these cars look, that front grille is ridiculous. Don’t see them very often though. Their same year Ford brethren was awesome too.
Off the top of my head that price tag is about £4000!
This car is awesome and I appeal to any Bang Shifters here in the UK to buy it!
Budget for a full on pro touring make over or a subtle restoration either way it would be worth doing just to have this baby on our roads!.
Someone email this to Frieburger or Fin for a future episode of Roadkill. They’ve paid more for way less.. Price could be talked down to 5 grand or less, which is a good price, and with that engine added in… Plus, just look at it. I’ve always thought these cars were ugly, but it’s the kind of car that embraces it’s ugly, in a “I don’t care, so FU” kind of way. With the prices of old cars these days, this seems like a helluva deal, and you can’t get much more different than this when it comes to muscle cars.
Man had a yellow one back in the mid 80s it was already rotten beyond repair back then . Everyone of these 70/71 cars I’ve had Torino / Ranchero Falcon were all massive rust buckets thats why you dont see them alot .
Everything was a massive rustbucket back then. My late older brother had a ’70 Nova that got rearended, and the car that hit him ended up literally in the back seat. That Nova was rusted almost in half.
Sheetmetal subframes
I’d jump on it.
$5700 is just an asking price. Start making offers at $4K and who knows?
I’ve got rotted out ’70-’72 Chevelles needing full floors and quarters going for twice this much in my area.
This is something you won’t see a whole bunch at your local cruise night.
I’m not a FoMoCo guy, but I’d go for it, hell, even if it’s not the real deal, restored “tribute” cars go for pretty big bucks!
Always liked 70-71 Torino/Cyclones. Just keep the 429 and put back in the 4-speed.
my parents owed one that was blue and had the 429SCJ bad ass car wished I had it. Very few had the 429SCJ
Cool car for sure and the price isn’t all that bad.
One of those really cool, but almost completely unknown cars to mainstream car show goers. Buyer beware. You will be endlessly answering “what is it?” for the rest of your days.
The front sub-frames are stamped ,and boxed sheetmetal ,and unlike GM they do not unbolt. As such a carefull,and thorough inspection to determine structural integrity should be performed,lest you get it home and the front end collapses. On a brighter note if it has the correct engine mounts for a 429 then those are worth at least $350.00. They consist of three pieces per side. Does it have the guage package ?
At $5,700 it’s going to sell fast. I’ve seen total rust buckets with no engine go for that much. These cars get no respect so you have to do them for the love of them because you’ll never get your money back.