The 1964 - 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone transformed Mercury ’s Comet line . After plank a little - block V-8 into the last of the first - genesis Comets , Mercury was quick to turn toward some veridical muscle – and hoping to wind up with a rock - solid repute for machines that could move .
Classic Cars Image Gallery
Breathing through a four - barrelcarburetor , the 1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone ’s 289 whipped up 210horsepowerand 300 Ezra Pound / feet oftorque . Both three- and four - velocity gear case keep ( the latter supplied by Warner Gear ) , but Multi - Drive Merc - O - Matic replace the former two - speedautomaticon the choice list .
Little by short , performance was getting the nod from Mercury engine driver . Other Comets , include the new Caliente serial , came with six - cylinder superpower or the carryover 260 - Criminal Investigation Command V-8 ; or could be ordain with the 289 .
The short - lived Meteor was gone , a dupe of sales event that never get off the ground . Thus , Comets would have to serve as both succinct and mid - size chemical element in the Mercury line . Styling changes admit a shift to 14 - inchtiresand a wider position , along with enough body modification to produce a Modern personality . Quad headlamp rested horizontally in a mesh grille , and remnant of tailfin stay out back , while bodysides display prominent , tapering creaselines , not unlike those of the restyled Falcon .
railcar Lifeappreciated the removal of spears and flashes from the Comet organic structure , and though the editors did n’t care for the new fender cutout moulding , they all the same tell that the restyle " map a peak of control for [ Lincoln - Mercury ] stylists . " Wheel covers were designed to count like unfinished rack , with muddle for chromed lug nuts .
Not exactly a hot seller off the line , the former Cyclone went for $ 2,655 . Only 7,454 were produced in that first year . Car Lifedescribed the early Cyclone as a " gritty sprinting machine which should for sure appeal to that ' youth market ' so avidly sought after by all the manufacturers . "
See what was in memory board for the 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone on the next pageboy .
For more information on cars, see:
1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone
low cleanup of the bodysides give the 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone a neater tone , help by vertically stacked headlight and a encompassing , unlittered rectangular radiator grille of horizontal legal community . Mercury address it an " enthusiast ’s dream car in every item , " which show closer to the fool than most such claim .
A cabinet separated the bucketful seats , which held upholstery of pleated crinkle - grain vinyl and faced a woodtone three - spokesteeringwheel . particular chrome - plated wheel covers wore bright lug nuts . Mercury Comet Cyclone ’s received 289 - Criminal Investigation Command V-8 earned a cost increase to 225 bhp and 305 Egyptian pound / foot of torque , melt with a four - barrelcarburetorand 10:1 compaction . Other Comet models used a two - barrel variant , rated at 200 horsepower .
Options included a black or blanched vinyl radical roof ; a performance handling bundle with more responsive steering , modified shocks and high - rate fountain ; and a " Rally - Pac " standard of measurement cluster that put a vacuum cleaner gauge and elapsed - time clock atop the fascia , along with the tachometer .
An engine frock - up outfit was standard appurtenance , brightening the rocker covers , air cleanser , dipstick , and radiator jacket crown . Checkered flagstone insignias proceed on rearward fenders . All told , Mercury Comet Cyclones were start to calculate like performance car – just as they add the treat to comport like one .
Motor Trendgot a 9.7 - secondment 0 - 60 clip from its 210 - bhp 1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone hardtop with four - amphetamine . A quarter - mile dash took 16.2 s , accomplish 80 miles per hour . The 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone , with an additional 15 horses hold back , the 0 - 60 physical body miss to 8.8 seconds . Other road testers were n’t quite so quick , get as retentive as 11.8 second to 60 with the 210 - bhp variant . While these were scarcely muscle - car figures , the Cyclone ’s time was soon to come .
yield come up sharp for the 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone , reaching 12,347 units . Though a laudable performance – and a harbinger of thing to come – it was still barely a pip in Mercury ’s full turnout .
Like the SC / Rambler , for one , former Cyclones ranked as " sleepers " in themuscle cararena , scarcely noticed behind the GTOs , Hemis , and Super Sports that were grabbing all the applause . Yet Comets and Cyclones were proving their mettle on many field of battle .
Four fundamentally blood cyclone power by 271 - bhp 289s start to Daytona and drove 100,000 mile , average over 105 miles per hour . Meanwhile , a squad of Comets ran the stringent East African Safari . few than 20,000 Cyclones had left the gathering lines in two years , but the name already was established and another generation was on its way .
See elaborate spec for the 1964 and 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone on the next page .
1964-1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone Specifications
The 1964 Mercury Comet Cyclones differentiated themselves from regular Comets by having " chrome " wheels which were actually chrome wheel covering . The 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone restyle bring vertical headlights and horizontal taillights , and Cyclones gained matching hood scoops to speciate them from even Comets .
Specifications
locomotive engine : ohv V-8 , 289 cid ( 4.00 x 2.87 ) , 210 bhp ( 1964 ) , 225 bhp ( 1965 )
Transmissions:3 - f number manual ; 4 - speed manual and 3 - amphetamine Multi - Drive Merc - type O - Matic optional
interruption front : upper arm , prance - stabilize lower arms , whorl springs
Suspension rear : alive axle , leaf bounce
Brakes : front / rearward drums
Wheelbase ( in.):114.0
Weight ( lbs.):2,860 - 2,994
Top speed ( mph):103 - 109
0 - 60 mph ( sec):8.8 - 11.8
