1970 Mercury Cyclone GT 429 Super Cobra-Jet

After more than 20 years of searching for this particular muscle car, we finally acquired the most perfect example that we could have ever imagined finding! ‘Red Hills Rods & Classics’ is thrilled to offer you this absolutely gorgeous, numbers matching, fully documented, and extremely rare 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT 429 Super Cobra-Jet! A no-expense spared, nut & bolt rotisserie restoration was recently completed on this outstanding machine, and the final result is nothing short of breath-taking!

1970 was the absolute pinnacle for Ford/Mercury when it came to creating asphalt-scorching muscle cars, and the 429 Super Cobra-Jet engine was at the heart of everything. Mercury's factory literature made clear that the Cobra Jet could be trumped by ordering a performance axle package (Drag Pack), which yielded the 429 Super Cobra-Jet motor, upgraded w/ forged aluminum pistons, a solid-lifter camshaft (versus a hydraulic cam fitted into the lesser 429s), a 780-cfm Holley 4150 series carburetor, four-bolt main bearing caps, and an external engine oil cooler. Like the previous incarnation of the Cyclone, the 1970 models were part of the Montego family of intermediates, and built as a semi-fastback hardtop. But what a hardtop it was! Color-keyed racing side mirrors, blacked-out tail panel, and a low-profile hood scoop that is linked directly to the massive 4V carburetor was just the start. The Cyclone’s most prominent feature was the completely restyled nose, its blacked-out grille featuring a jutting ‘bombsight’ flanked by deeply recessed running lamps and hidden quad-headlamps. The leading edge of the front fenders also jutted forward, ultimately creating a very pronounced ‘W’ from above. It all came together to create one of the most ominous looking muscle cars that Ford/Mercury ever produced.

This absolutely perfect example was shipped from the factory on November 17, 1969, and delivered to Sesi Lincoln Mercury Inc., in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Factory options include: Competition Yellow Paint, Black Comfortweave Vinyl Hi-Back Bucket Seats, 429ci Super Cobra-Jet Engine, 3.91 Traction-Lok Axle (Drag Pack), 4-Speed Close Ratio Transmission, Competition Handling Package, Dual Racing Mirrors, Courtesy Light Group, Electric Clock, G78 x 14 White Sidewall Tires, Power Front Disc Brakes, Rear Window Defogger, Am Radio, Dual Rear Seat Speakers, Tinted Glass-Complete, and Tachometer Instrumentation Group. This 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT is one of only (16) finished in Competition Yellow, one of only (2) equipped w/ the 429 SCJ engine, and the Rear Window Defogger option makes it a ONE of ONE (see Elite Marti Report). So, when I previously stated ‘extremely rare’, I stand by my statement 100%. This Cyclone GT was a 15,300 original-mile car when she underwent the comprehensive nut & bolt rotisserie restoration that was just completed in 2020. She now sits on our showroom floor here in Saint George, Utah, and looks just as perfect as she did 51 years ago, when she arrived brand new @ Sesi Lincoln Mercury. The bodywork is absolutely ‘stellar’ w/ laser straight original body panels, and precise gaps throughout. The Competition Yellow paint is simply flawless, w/ a brilliant shine that literally explodes in the sunlight, and all of the chrome & stainless-steel trim is in show-quality condition. There are absolutely NO chips, NO scratches, and NO blemishes whatsoever. She has a perfect stance, and sits on the original 14” slotted-steel wheels w/ chrome beauty rings/hubcaps, wrapped w/ 14” BF Goodrich Silvertown G78-14 whitewall tires. You can walk around this car a hundred times and you will not find a single distraction. The undercarriage is as nice as the topside of the car, featuring correct red oxide paint, and ‘brand new’ components from front to back, including every nut, bolt & washer (see photos).

When you open the driver’s door and slide inside the perfect interior, it feels just like it’s 1970 all over again! The interior is factory stock in appearance in every way, and looks like it just rolled out of the factory. Features include: black comfortweave hi-back bucket seats, rim-blow sport steering wheel, 140-mph speedometer, an instrumentation group that provides an auxiliary gauge suite (four units within individual recessed pods in the dash, including an 8,000-rpm tachometer), AM radio, rear window defogger, and of course the Hurst 4-speed shifter. I can’t express how awesome it feels sitting in those hi-back bucket seats w/ your right hand firmly gripping the Hurst shifter, while looking out over that massive scooped hood. Please look closely at the photos to see how ‘perfect’ this interior truly is.

Now, let’s get to the heart of this beast, shall we?

Pop open the hood and nestled inside the beautifully detailed engine bay resides the original #’s matching 429/375hp Super Cobra-Jet motor, lathered in Ford blue, and featuring Motorcraft & Autolite parts everywhere that meets the eye. The ultra-desirable ‘Drag Pack’ option not only added a 3.91 ratio to the 9” Traction-Lok differential, but also added a beefier 4-bolt main block w/ forged pistons, solid lifters, a better-flowing intake manifold w/ a big 785-cfm carburetor on top, and an external engine oil cooler. According to Ford, all of this was good for a 5-hp increase over the standard 370hp 429 CJ engine, but the experts estimate that the true horsepower of the Drag Pack equipped 429 SCJ engine is much closer to 425-430 ponies! The 429 SCJ motor is linked to the original Toploader close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission, which feeds power to the 3.91 Traction-Lok rear end. She fires up instantly, settling into a nice idle, and she runs, drives, and performs beautifully in every way. These 429 SCJ cars are wickedly fast, and an absolute BLAST to drive! They simply have torque for days, and the Competition Handling Package helps keep it steady on the curves. That being said, and having just completed a no-expense spared, nut & bolt rotisserie restoration, this Cyclone GT is not your average driver-quality car, but rather a show-car in every respect, and a candidate to win major awards @ the Carlisle Ford Nationals, Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN), etc. The new owner will receive the factory original Eminger invoice, original owner’s manual, original 1970 Mercury paint-chip leaflet, (2) original 1970 Mercury Cyclone brochures, (5) original 1970 Ford/Mercury shop manuals, and the framed ‘Elite Marti Report’.

This 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT 429 SCJ car has all of the attributes that define an investment-grade muscle car, and it will only appreciate in value in the coming years. If you have been searching for an ‘ultra-rare’ FOMOCO muscle car that rarely if ever surfaces, and one that can be the centerpiece to any high-end American muscle car collection, I believe that you have found your car!