Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

Performance Results;

Car Craft Magazine, March 1966
Writer; Roger Huntington
Test Location; Detroit Dragway
Transmission; 4-Speed, Top-Loader, Wide-Ratio (2.78 / 1.93 / 1.36 / 1.00)
Gears; 3.25
Tires; 7.75 x 14"
Results; 14.68 @ 95.5 MPH

Note: The car was prepared and tested by the 'Gass Hoppers Hot Rod Club', out of Morton Grove, Illinois.

Note: The car had a performance tune-up, including a spark-advance and a colder set of spark-plugs.
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Performance Results;

Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, April 1966
Contributor; Tom McCahill
Test Location; Daytona International Speedway
Transmission; 4-Speed, Top-Loader, Wide-Ratio (2.78 / 1.93 / 1.36 / 1.00)
Gears; 3.50
Tires; 7.75 x 14"
Results; 14.40 @ 96 MPH

Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

Performance Results;

Cars Magazine, March 1966
Writer; Martyn Schorr
Test Location; New England Dragway
Transmission; 4-Speed, Top-Loader, Close-Ratio (2.32 / 1.69 / 1.29 / 1.00)
Gears; 3.90
Tires; 7.75 x 14" Firestone 500's
Results; 14.95 @ 98 MPH

Note: This Comet Cyclone GT was the 'Press Test Car'. It had 8000 miles on it, mostly hard-driving testing.

Note; New Firestone 500 tires were installed on the car before testing.

Note: The car (based and registered in Michigan) was delivered to Cars Magazine in New York. The car was taken to the famous performance shop 'Pacers Auto', in Oceanside, Long Island, New York, for a complete tune-up before the performance test.

Note; The test crew then drove the car 500 miles, to the testing strip, New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.

Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

Wow 7.75x14 inh tires with a 390 and 4spd. I had forgotten how
small thje rubber was back then. What would have that Comet
gone with todays hi performance tire and wheel package?

Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

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'.

Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

1966 Mercury Cyclone GT production numbers;

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

April 1966, Print Ad
http://www.jcs-group.com/cruisin/alpicts/_mercury6.jpg

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.

Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

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

http://gallery.carphotos.org/data/91...Cyclone_GT.jpg

Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
 

Probably would run AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/SA in todays NHRA rules.