- Aggressive profile gave an instant performance theme
- Cyclone II was their answer to the Dodge Charger 500
- Cyclones in '68 were the fastest thing on the track
The top-of-the-line Cyclone CJ
The 1969 Mercury Cyclone series was an intermediate-sized car and came in only one body style, a fastback, which the factory named "Sports Roof." The aggressive profile gave the machine an instant performance theme which not only looked cool, but the slippery shape also provided fantastic aerodynamics on high-speed NASCAR racetracks. During this era "Race on Sunday and Sell on Monday" really did apply, especially in the southern states where stock car racing was most popular.
The top-of-the-line Cyclone CJ model came with a variety of upgrades, including a close-ratio top loader four-speed transmission, special sport suspension, 3.50:1 rear gears with 9-inch ring gear diameter, dual exhausts, hood tape stripe, and most of all, the Cobra Jet 428 engine. This powerplant was the top-level version of the "FE" Series for 1969, incorporating a 4.132-inch bore with 3.984-inch stroke. The actual displacement turned out to be 426.544 cubic inches, however, Ford had decided back in 1966, when the Thunderbird and Police Interceptor versions debuted, to label it the "428" so as to not confuse it with the 427 engines.
The CJ 428 engine came equipped with 10.6:1 compression pistons, dished with built-in valve reliefs, and used sturdy Police Interceptor connecting rods with large 13/32-inch nuts and bolts. The camshaft was a 390 GT hydraulic .481I / 490 E lift, 270 I / 290E-degree duration using 1.76 ratio shaft-mounted rocker arms. A 735-cfm Holley carburetor sat on a dual-plane Police Interceptor type intake, and large cast-iron four-into-one exhaust manifolds were part of the package. Horsepower was listed at 335, an innocent number that Ford chose to help keep insurance costs down for buyers plus as an aid for NHRA class racers. According to a Ford engineer, who headed up development on the 428 CJ, the actual maximum horsepower figure was 411.
In their January 1969 issue, Car & Driver Magazine cranked out an impressive 13.94-second run down the 1/4-mile with a '69 CJ 428 Cyclone, running 100.89 mph, using 3.91 rear gearing. Motor Trend in their August '69 issue took a similar car down the track with 4.11 gears and ran even quicker and faster 13.85 et at 101.69 mph, both these tests showed the brute power of the Cobra Jet 428, especially with the fact that the vehicle that tipped the scales at 3836-pound range.
The vacuum-controlled flap allows fresh air to the engine when the throttle is wide open. Interestingly enough, the factory did not rate Ram Air cars with any horsepower increase, no doubt to help keep the number as low as possible for insurance rates for buyers.
The black-out grille was reserved for the Cyclone series, with center-mounted badge identification. The hood pins came when Ram Air option was ordered.
Bob Tasca, Sr., a Ford dealer, was involved in racing and responsible for creating the 428 engine, convincing Ford to put it into a Mustang. This car has his signature on it!
A set of Magnum 500 upgraded wheels have been added to the car, a non-stock feature, wrapped with Goodyear Polyglas GTF60-15 nostalgia rubber.
The fitting of a rear deck airfoil-type wing on Cyclone Spoiler and Spoiler II cars is where the "Spoiler" name was derived.
The elongated nose of this NASCAR-themed Mercury was fitted with a flush grille, sourced from a Ford Fairlane, that hung out some six inches longer than a standard front end. The nose was drooped at a 35-degree angle to the header panel between the hood and grille opening to better slice through the air.
The front bumper was actually a heavily-worked rear bumper off of the same car, however, it was cut and V'ed in the center to fit the application. The new front bumper didn't have cutouts for turn signals so Ford truck blinker lights were installed behind the grille. Mercury aero cars were considered superior to the Talladega because the nose angle of the Ford version was positioned at 30-degrees.
As a result of these wind-cheating FoMoCo cars, Chrysler Corporation was forced to up the ante in the aerodynamic one-upmanship game by releasing the high-winged, pointed-nose Dodge Daytona Charger for 1969, and followed by the matching Plymouth Superbird for 1970. By 1971 the NASCAR rules had changed and these special cars with their big block power plants were "outlawed" for competition, only allowed to race with an engine of 5-liter, 305-cid, maximum size. The era was over.
This Cyclone CJ is a pristine example and continues to be improved upon by the current owners. It is highly detailed inside and out, with a real focus on authentic original equipment. After a lengthy restoration, it has won numerous awards, including prestigious trophies from the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA. The Cyclone gets plenty of attention everywhere it goes, especially from those that know and appreciate the history of the FoMoCo Sports Roof fastback NASCAR racers from the era.
