| Lincoln-Mercury
Division Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan |
| Engine |
335-hp, 390
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
4-speed manual |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Heavy-duty |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Very
Good |
| Noise Insulation |
Very
Good |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Good |
| Synchro Action |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Very
Good |
| Response |
Very
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Very
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Very
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Very
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Good |
| Driving Position |
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Fair |
| General |
| Vision |
Fair |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Excellent |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Good |
|
The Cyclone GT is
Mercury's -sporty intermediate-head to head with the Dodge Coronet
R/T and Charger, Plymouth GTX, Pontiac GTO, Chevelle SS 396,
Buick GS 350/400, Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and its own sibling, the
Ford Torino GT. Available with either a formal or fastback roof,
the Cyclone GT is designed to have an appeal broad enough to
challenge all of them. Like
many of the industry's high-line cars, the Cyclone GT comes
standard with much of the equipment that is optional on lesser
models; bucket seats, heavy-duty suspension, wide-oval tires,
V-8 engine, and Comfort Stream Ventilation are all part of
the Cyclone GT package. Our test car was pretty well loaded;
with 335 horsepower coupled to a 4-speed transmission, performance
was spirited (but not breathtaking), and the special suspension
and power disc brakes completed a well-matched package. Despite
the firmer-than-standard suspension, ride comfort was very
good, with at least part of the ride quality attributable
to the seats.
Our only criticism of the Cyclone
GT is of an abstract nature; it does not strike us as being
special enough to compete on today's specialty car market.
The fastback rage, for example, went out with the old Dodge
Charger and the Marlin. |
