1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT

Paul Ceasrine · 10-24-2011, 02:18 PM

1966 Mercury Comet,,,,,,,,390/335 HP

#3315 lbs., with a 9.89 wt/hp factor

Built for the highly competive 1966 NHRA C/Stock class.
In 1966, the 9.50 - 10.59 wt/hp class was considered the
'proving ground' for production built street performance musclecars.

* Hydraulic-lifter camshaft, with .481/.490 lift and 270*/290* duration.
* Dual-rate 265 lb. valve springs.
* 10.5 - 1 compression ratio pistons.
* #C60E-R Cylinder heads, with intermediate size valves (2.037" Intake / 1.56" Exhaust)
* A high-flow / dual-throat, medium-riser cast iron intake manifold.
* A Holley Model #4150 600 CFM carburetor (1 9/16" x 1 9/16").

At the 1966 NHRA Winternationals, Mercury shipped out '8' 'special factory'
prepared white w/red-striped cars to attack both the C/S and C/SA class.

Mercury even hired top A/FX racer Billy Lagana, and 'Fast Eddie' Schartman
to each run one of Comet Cyclone GT's at the National Event.

The C/S cars were running 13.00's @ 106 MPH.

C/Stock E.T. National Record: 12.73
C/Stock MPH National Record: 113.17

dennis dunlap · 10-24-2011, 08:09 PM

Paul , Were the 66 Comets the pace car at indy????

CycloneFE · 10-24-2011, 09:35 PM

Yes it was Dennis.

Geerhead55 · 10-24-2011, 11:46 PM

Come to think of it, 1966 WAS the year I got Mercury poisoning,, I think a Comet caused it, and it was on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine,,, possibly April, if I remember right. I'm sure Dyno Don had something to do with it!
Danny Durham

dennis dunlap · 10-25-2011, 08:35 AM

Bought one of those out of someones back yard years ago,Got dog-bit trying to get it out. Had to take the fence down to load it .After we got it cleaned up you could see the lettering. Pace Car ect. on it. I wasn,t a Mercury guy but i new it was something special .The car was pretty impressive. Loaded it up and sent it to the Hoosier swap meet at Indy and it sold before we could unload it !!!!!!

Charlie A · 10-25-2011, 09:57 AM

The chrome wheels on those were actually hubcaps.

Very stylish car.

Never understood why they and the Fairlane GT were not as street popular as the GM mid size counterparts of the day.

10-24-2011, 02:18 PM	#1
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT 1966 Mercury Comet,,,,,,,,390/335 HP #3315 lbs., with a 9.89 wt/hp factor Built for the highly competive 1966 NHRA C/Stock class. In 1966, the 9.50 - 10.59 wt/hp class was considered the 'proving ground' for production built street performance musclecars. * Hydraulic-lifter camshaft, with .481/.490 lift and 270/290 duration. * Dual-rate 265 lb. valve springs. * 10.5 - 1 compression ratio pistons. * #C60E-R Cylinder heads, with intermediate size valves (2.037" Intake / 1.56" Exhaust) * A high-flow / dual-throat, medium-riser cast iron intake manifold. * A Holley Model #4150 600 CFM carburetor (1 9/16" x 1 9/16"). At the 1966 NHRA Winternationals, Mercury shipped out '8' 'special factory' prepared white w/red-striped cars to attack both the C/S and C/SA class. Mercury even hired top A/FX racer Billy Lagana, and 'Fast Eddie' Schartman to each run one of Comet Cyclone GT's at the National Event. The C/S cars were running 13.00's @ 106 MPH. C/Stock E.T. National Record: 12.73 C/Stock MPH National Record: 113.17 Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 10-26-2011 at 01:08 PM.

10-24-2011, 08:09 PM	#2
dennis dunlap Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 221 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT Paul , Were the 66 Comets the pace car at indy????

10-25-2011, 08:35 AM	#5
dennis dunlap Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 221 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT Bought one of those out of someones back yard years ago,Got dog-bit trying to get it out. Had to take the fence down to load it .After we got it cleaned up you could see the lettering. Pace Car ect. on it. I wasn,t a Mercury guy but i new it was something special .The car was pretty impressive. Loaded it up and sent it to the Hoosier swap meet at Indy and it sold before we could unload it !!!!!!

10-25-2011, 09:57 AM	#6
Charlie A VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 2,483 Likes: 68 Liked 87 Times in 63 Posts	Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT The chrome wheels on those were actually hubcaps. Very stylish car. Never understood why they and the Fairlane GT were not as street popular as the GM mid size counterparts of the day.

10-24-2011, 09:35 PM	#3
CycloneFE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Decatur Illinois Posts: 634 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT Yes it was Dennis. __________________ Steve Jackson

10-24-2011, 11:46 PM	#4
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT Come to think of it, 1966 WAS the year I got Mercury poisoning,, I think a Comet caused it, and it was on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine,,, possibly April, if I remember right. I'm sure Dyno Don had something to do with it! Danny Durham