1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT

[Paul Ceasrine]

Performance Results;

Car and Driver, April 1966
Article; Super Cars!
Editor; Brock Yates
Test Location; Westhampton Dragstrip
Transmission; 4-Speed, Top-Loader, Close-Ratio (2.32 / 1.69 / 1.29 / 1.00)
Gears; 4.10
Tires; 7.75 x 14" Firestone Super Sport 500's
Wheels; Hurst (14' x 6" Forged Aluminum)
Results; 13.98 @ 103.80 MPH

Note: Car and Driver sponsored a Super Cars Test, with 6 of the new street musclecars.

Note; 'Formula One' Racer, Masten Gregory 'The Kansas City Flash', test drove each car.

Note; Though the cars were supposed to be 'showroom stock', the
Comet Cyclone GT delivered to Car and Driver came out of a South Carolina Mercury Dealership, and 'super-tuned' by Nascar racer, Bud Moore.

Note; The car came through with the 'delete option', no heater, radio and sound deadener.

Note; Besides the 4.10 gears, special 'Drag Shocks' were installed, and the rear-axle spacers were modified. (The car sat 1 1/2" lower)

Note; A 'special' exhaust system was installed, which included unbaffled mufflers.

Note; The 390 engine was 'super-tuned' by Bud Moore, including a set of 'blueprinted' cylinder heads, re-jetted carburetor and performance curve distributor.

Note: Typically, the 390/335 HP engine would top out at 5300 RPM, but this engine in the test car pulled 6500 RPM's.

Note; Car and Driver labeled it 'a loaded car'.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1966 Mercury Cyclone GT production numbers;

13,812,,,,,,,Hardtops
...2158,,,,,,,Convertibles
15,970,,,,,,,Total

April 1966, Print Ad


In the April 1966 Super Stock & Drag Illustrated Magazine,,,,,
the article listed information about a 'special drag package' option,
which would be available prior to the 1966 Super Stock Magazine Nationals,
held at New York National Speedway (August 5, 6 and 7).

The special order 'Drag Package ' included;
* Delete option;,,,, Radio, Heater and Sound Deadener
* Special High-Efficiency Tubular Headers
* Explosion-Proof Bell-Housing
* Heavy-Duty Drag Shocks
* Traction Bars
* 4.57 Gears

A complete 'factory blue-printed' 390/335 HP engine (legal for NHRA C/Stock) would also
be available.

[Hemi Moose]

This was Dyno Don's Comet, I think it was the first fiberglass funny car built.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

This was Dyno Don's Comet, I think it was the first fiberglass funny car built.

Probably would run AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/SA in todays NHRA rules.