1970 · Mercury · United States
1970 Mercury Cyclone
A new, longer Montego-based Cyclone in three versions: the 429 Cyclone, the small-block Cyclone GT that outsold both others, and the Ram Air 429 Cobra Jet Cyclone Spoiler.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
For 1970 the CJ name was dropped and the Cyclone line split into three models: the base Cyclone with a standard 360-hp 429 four-barrel and dual exhaust, the small-block Cyclone GT with a standard 351 Cleveland two-barrel and three-speed manual, and the Cyclone Spoiler with a standard Ram Air 429 Cobra Jet. Over-Drive Magazine's compilation and Wikipedia's own relay of Holder and Kunz agree on all three production figures: 10,170 Cyclone GTs, far outselling the other two; 1,695 base Cyclones; and 1,631 Cyclone Spoilers, the last limited according to the page by its own high price.1,2
That price pattern shows up directly in the tabulated factory prices: the Cyclone GT hardtop is printed at $3,025, actually below the base Cyclone's $3,037 despite the GT carrying the smaller standard engine, while the Cyclone Spoiler hardtop runs $3,530. This record carries the GT's lower price as printed rather than assuming a transposition, since no second price list was found to check the table against.3
The 351 two-barrel, standard in the GT, is rated 250 hp at 4,600 rpm and 355 lb-ft at 2,600 rpm. The optional 351 four-barrel is rated 300 hp at 5,400 rpm and 380 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm, though a companion Ford Fairlane-Torino fact sheet on the same site gives the same engine's peak at 4,800 rpm instead, a discrepancy this record notes without resolving. The 429 Thunder Jet four-barrel, standard in the base Cyclone, is rated 360 hp at 4,600 rpm and 480 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm; the 429 Cobra Jet, standard with Ram Air in the Spoiler, is rated 370 hp at 5,400 rpm and 450 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm; and the optional 429 Super Cobra Jet is rated 375 hp at 5,600 rpm and 450 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, available with a 3.91 or 4.30 Traction-Lok rear axle.1
A 3-speed manual was standard in the Cyclone GT; a 4-speed manual, geared 2.32, 1.69, 1.29, and 1.00 with the 429, and a Select-Shift 3-speed automatic were both optional. Among priced options, air conditioning ran $388.60, a sun roof (Montego two-door hardtops only) $375.70, high-back bucket seats $119.20, and an AM/FM stereo radio $212.50; a trailer-towing package bundling the 351 two-barrel, power disc brakes, a competitive handling package, extra cooling, and a heavy-duty alternator and battery ran $151.60 with air conditioning or $159.40 without it.1
Twelve exterior colors were charted, each carrying a Ford paint-code number but no separate brochure letter code in the source excerpted here, from Competition Orange and Competition Yellow through Grabber Blue, Dark Ivy Green, and Green Stardust. The Cyclone measured 209.9 in overall on a 117.0-inch wheelbase (114.0 in for wagons), 77.3 in wide, with a Cyclone-models height of 52.3 in, G70-14 tires standard on any 429-engined Cyclone, GT, or Spoiler (F70-14 with the GT's 351), and shipping weights of 3,449/3,434/3,464 lb for the Cyclone/GT/Spoiler respectively, with the GT the lightest of the three despite outselling both by a wide margin. No interior trim or upholstery listing specific to the Cyclone, and no performance-test or identification detail, was found in an accessible documented source for the year, so those sections carry nothing further in this record.1,3
Fact sheet · 1970 · United States
The numbers
1970 Mercury Cyclone — A new, longer Montego-based Cyclone in three versions: the 429 Cyclone, the small-block Cyclone GT that outsold both others, and the Ram Air 429 Cobra Jet Cyclone Spoiler.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 1970 Cyclones (conceptcarz total)4 all Cyclone · as published A Cyclone-line total stated by the page (equals 1,695 + 10,170 + 1,631); same lineage as the rows below, not an independent count. The rows below carry mixed sold and delivered bases from Over-Drive Magazine; conceptcarz calls all three production. | 13,496 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyclone (429)1,2,3,4 Cyclone · 429 4V standard · as published Two citations, possibly one lineage. | 1,695 | sold, model-year | Reported |
| Cyclone GT1,2,3,4 Cyclone GT · 351 2V standard · as published | 10,170 | delivered, model-year | Reported |
| Cyclone Spoiler1,2,3,4 Cyclone Spoiler · 429 Cobra Jet Ram Air standard · as published | 1,631 | sold, model-year | Reported |
Rows are separately scoped; do not add them. The conceptcarz total row states the Cyclone-line total, which equals the sum of the series rows (same lineage).
Neither source states the body designation or splits by engine or transmission.
Searched 2026-09-29: conceptcarz spec pages (re-read), Over-Drive Magazine tables and Wikipedia already cited; OpenLibrary search-inside of Heasley's Production Figure Book returned nothing for Mercury mid-size totals.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclone 2-door fastback hardtop (65F)3 | $3,037 | factory price as tabulated by Over-Drive Magazine (Standard Catalog-style table; basis not stated), 1970 model year |
| Cyclone GT 2-door fastback hardtop (65H) - as printed, below the base Cyclone3 | $3,025 | factory price as tabulated by Over-Drive Magazine (Standard Catalog-style table; basis not stated), 1970 model year |
| Cyclone Spoiler 2-door fastback hardtop (65G)3 | $3,530 | factory price as tabulated by Over-Drive Magazine (Standard Catalog-style table; basis not stated), 1970 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 351 Cleveland 2-bbl1 351 cu in · 2-barrel | 250 hp @ 4,600, 355 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE gross) | standard in Cyclone GT | Not yet sourced |
| 351 4-bbl1 351 cu in · 4-barrel | 300 hp @ 5,400, 380 lb-ft @ 3,400 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 429 Thunder Jet 4-bbl1 429 cu in · 4-barrel | 360 hp @ 4,600, 480 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | standard in Cyclone | Not yet sourced |
| 429 Cobra Jet 4-bbl1 429 cu in · 4-barrel | 370 hp @ 5,400, 450 lb-ft @ 3,400 (SAE gross) | standard with Ram Air in Cyclone Spoiler | Not yet sourced |
| 429 Super Cobra Jet 4-bbl1 429 cu in · 4-barrel | 375 hp @ 5,600, 450 lb-ft @ 4,000 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| 3-speed manual1 | standard in Cyclone GT | Not yet sourced |
| 4-speed manual1 | optional; 429 ratios 2.32, 1.69, 1.29, 1.00 | Not yet sourced |
| Select-Shift 3-speed automatic (429)1 | optional | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Air conditioner1 | $388.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
High-back bucket seats1 | $119.20 | Not yet sourced |
|
Front disc brakes1 | $64.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Instrumentation group1 | $77.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering1 | $104.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
AM/FM stereo radio1 | $212.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Sun roof1 | $375.70 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl roof1 | $99.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Styled steel wheels1 | $38.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Bucket seats, high-back with comfort vinyl trim1 | $119.20 | Not yet sourced |
|
Cross-country ride1 | $9.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe seat and front shoulder belts1 | $15.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe seat belts with automatic seat back release on two-doors1 | $38.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Extra cooling1 | $7.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heater and defroster1 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy-duty 55 amp alternator1 | $20.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy-duty battery1 | $7.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
High level ventilation1 | $15.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Left-hand remote-control racing mirror1 | $13 | Not yet sourced |
|
Low gear lockout1 | $6.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power bench seat1 | $73.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power windows1 | $104.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Protective vinyl body side molding1 | $25.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM1 | $60.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM/FM stereo1 | $212.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rear seat speaker, dual1 | $27.30 | Not yet sourced |
|
Seats, Comfort weave vinyl, MX with bench seat1 | $32.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Seats, Upbeat spectrum stripe, MX two-door with bench seat1 | $32.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Seats, Upbeat watch plaid, MX with bench seat1 | $32.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Steering wheel, Rim-blow1 | $35 | Not yet sourced |
|
Sun roof, Montego two-door hardtops only1 | $375.70 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass1 | $36.30 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass Windshield,1 | $25.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires, Mud and snow1 | $7.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires, traction F70-14 with 250, 302 engines ($77.80); with 351 engines ($59.60)1 | $77.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires, traction G70-14 whitewall, with 250, 302 engines ($83); with 351 engines ($64.80)1 | $83 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires, traction G70-14, with 250, 302 engines ($95.90); with 351 engine ($77.80); with 429 engine ($59.60)1 | $95.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires, whitewall F78-14 with 250 or 302 engines ($31.10); with 351 engines ($49.30)1 | $31.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires, whitewall G78-14 with 351 engine ($49.30); with 429 engines ($64.80); with 351 engines ($46.70)1 | $49.30 | Not yet sourced |
|
Trailer-towing package includes: 351 two-barrel engine; power disc brakes; competitive handling package; extra-cooling package; heavy-duty alternator; heavy-duty battery, with air conditioner ($151.60); without air conditioner ($159.40)1 | $151.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheel covers, Deluxe1 | $25.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheel covers, Luxury1 | $41.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheels, Styled steel1 | $38.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Windshield wipers, Interval1 | $25.90 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
Competition Orange (M1730)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Competition Yellow (M3470)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Competition Gold (M3659)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Competition Green (M3658)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Grabber Blue (M0470)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Raven Black (M1724)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
White (M1619)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Red (M2008)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Bright Blue (M3077)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Dark Ivy Green (M3323)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Medium Lime (M3075)1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Green Stardust (M3667)1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 117 in | all except wagons (114.0) |
| Overall length1 | 209.9 in | 2- and 4-door |
| Overall height, Cyclones1 | 52.3 in | Cyclone models |
| Overall width1 | 77.3 in | all |
| Tires, Cyclone with 4291 | G70-14 size | Cyclone, GT and Spoiler with 429; GT with 351 F70-14 |
| Shipping weight, Cyclone / GT / Spoiler3 | 3,449 / 3,434 / 3,464 lb | Over-Drive table |
Identification
Read a 1970 Mercury VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1970
- AMC AMX The last two-seat AMX: a restyled nose, a 360 base V8 and a 325-hp 390. At 4,116 cars it was the rarest of the three two-seat years.
- AMC Javelin Penske and Donohue brought the Javelin to Trans-Am, and the showroom answered with 2,501 Mark Donohue Javelins and 100 red-white-blue Trans Am Javelins, while total production fell to 28,210.
- AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine AMC's intermediate supercar: a 340-hp 390, four-speed and Hurst shifter in the Rebel hardtop, first in white with red-white-blue stripes. Totals reported for the one-year run range from about 1,200 to 2,326.
- Buick Riviera The 455 (370 hp gross) arrived with a restyle; production fell to about 37,300 with some 3,505 GS cars.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX Buick's GS went to a 455 rated at 510 lb-ft, the Stage 1 option added 10 advertised hp, and a mid-year GSX package was built 678 times in two colors.
- Buick Wildcat The final Wildcat, Custom trim only, with the 370-hp 455; 23,645 built.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The year the Chevelle Super Sport split into RPO Z25 SS 396 and RPO Z15 SS 454, with the LS6 454 rated at 450 gross horsepower.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Last year the source engine table lists the big-block (as 402) in the Nova. Enthusiast-compiled production: 307,280 cars; Super Sport 19,558.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The Malibu/Custom El Camino could carry either RPO Z25 SS 396 or RPO Z15 SS 454, including the 450 hp LS6; the El Camino share is not separately published.
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS The first Monte Carlo, with the SS 454 as RPO Z20: 3,823 of 145,976 Monte Carlos per Chevrolet-report-derived tables.
- Dodge Challenger Dodge's first pony car arrived as a 1970 model with nine advertised engines, base, SE, R/T, and R/T SE hardtops, two convertibles, and a one-year Trans-Am homologation special, the T/A.
- Dodge Charger The last year of the second-generation body: a new full-width grille, three series (Charger, 500, R/T), the 440 Six Pack added to the R/T, and production roughly half of 1969's.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The final Coronet-based R/T and Super Bee: the R/T fell to 2,615 cars, while the Super Bee added a 3-speed manual and kept its Six Pack and Hemi options.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon With the GTS gone, the Swinger 340 was the only performance Dart; it kept front discs, Rallye suspension and a twin-scoop hood and sold about 13,800 beside the new Challenger.
- Ford Fairlane The last Fairlane year: the name survived only on the Fairlane 500 beneath the new Torino, with a mid-year Falcon sharing the body at the bottom of the range.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The Grabber appearance and tire package arrived in mid-1970 on the new two-door Maverick; no Grabber count for 1970 was found.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Torino-based Ranchero GT could take the 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet; reference counts give 3,905 GTs, while Barn Finds rounds the GT figure to about 3,600 of 21,640 Rancheros.
- Ford Thunderbird The 429 at 360 hp was the standard and only engine listed in the 1970 catalog.
- Ford Torino A new, longer body on a 117-inch wheelbase; the Torino Cobra became its own model with the 429, offered in 360, 370 (Cobra Jet) and 375 (Super Cobra Jet) horsepower forms.
- Mercury Cougar The last first-generation Cougar moved to the 351 Cleveland, kept the Boss 302 as an Eliminator-only engine, and built 2,268 Eliminators.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The second and last year of the 1969-70 Marauder: production fell to about a third of 1969's, with the X-100 near half of it.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 got a standard 455 rated at 365 hp, the W-30 went to 370 hp, and the small-block W-31 moved to the Cutlass and F-85 coupes.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The E-body redesign split the line into Barracuda, Gran Coupe, and 'Cuda hardtops and convertibles, put every Chrysler performance engine through the 426 Hemi on the order form, and added the one-year AAR 'Cuda for Trans-Am homologation.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 Plymouth's new Valiant-based fastback coupe arrived with a 275 hp 340 performance model priced at $2,547; the Standard Catalog lineage counts 24,817 Duster 340s among 217,192 Dusters.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite Now hardtop-only, the GTX fell to 7,748 cars while its 440 Six Barrel option cost just $119.
- Plymouth Road Runner Production halved from 1969, the 440 Six Barrel became a regular option, and the winged Superbird was built as a Road Runner hardtop to put Plymouth back on NASCAR superspeedways.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A late-arriving, coupe-only second generation: 48,739 Firebirds, 3,196 of them Trans Ams, and 88 Ram Air IVs.
- Pontiac GTO A new Endura nose, a 455 added beside the three 400s, and GTO production falling to 40,149.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The SJ took a 370 hp 455, Hurst built the SSJ, and production fell to 65,750.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The T-37 and GT-37 bring budget performance to the Tempest.