“ Under the Cyclone GT ’ s hood rested Ford ’ s 335-horsepower , 390 FE engine . This powerhouse included a Holley four-barrel carburetor mounted on a cast iron intake manifold .” dress-up kit finished off the underhood niceties . All GTs were equipped with a 3.25:1 axle unless otherwise specified .
To improve ride quality and interior space for 1966 , the wheelbase was increased two inches , to 116 . Overall vehicle length was stretched to 203 inches , adding seven inches to the 1965 specifications . Body width was also increased to add additional shoulder room . Doors had curved glass and for the first time , air conditioning was a factory-installed option . A padded dash and seatbelts were standard . New options for 1966 were power windows and a two-way power seat . An improved heater and sound-deadening package provided additional comfort to passengers .
Outside , the Cyclone GT was nearly a mirror image of Ford ’ s Fairlane with a slab-sided body , a front end with dual stacked headlamps , and a wide grille split horizontally by a body colored division bar . All GTs included a standard fiberglass hood with dual non-functional scoops . While it didn ’ t add any horsepower , the hood certainly added to the visual effect of the GT being a performance vehicle . From the side , a special identification stripe ran across the lower body section . Simple horizontal taillamps rested in the rear tail panel .
All GT models included bucket seats , heavy-duty suspension , body striping , special wheels , and dual exhausts . Transmission availability was limited to a floor mounted standard three-speed manual , four-speed manual , or three-speed automatic .
The Comet Cyclone GT wasn ’ t the hit the Mercury division had hoped for , selling only 15,970 during the model year . Perhaps it was the additional cost of buying a Mercury , or perhaps the stigma of believing a Mercury wasn ’ t a real performance car . However , time has validated the Cyclone GT as a true performance car , and today it is a highly sought after muscle car for Ford and Mercury enthusiasts .
Special thanks to Melvin Benzaquen at Classic Restorations and car owner Geoff Malloy for allowing us to shoot this Cyclone GT .
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