“ 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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