You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

[Lee Stewart]

The reason why the 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was only available with a 351-4V was to reduce the loss on each car.

[Lee Stewart]

Though it made it's debut for the 1967 model year, it wasn't until 1969 that the Cougar was offered in a convertible. Prior to 1969, it was the only pony car not available as a convertible

[Lee Stewart]

The reason why the 1968 427 Cougar GT-E has a hydraulic cam instead of a solid cam was to meet increasing Federal mandated emission standards. It was found that if owners did not keep up with maintenance, excessive valve lash would increase said emissions. So the decision was made to take away the maintenance requirement. This resulted in a loss of 30 HP.

[Lee Stewart]

The original equipment fan belt used on the 1963 427 Mercury Marauders was molded with a Dacron insert liner that shrank when heated helping to tighten the belt and reduce both fan and water pump slippage.

[Lee Stewart]

Unlike it's Ford cousin the Mustang all 1967 - 1970 Cougars had a HD Ford 9" rear. Only high performance Mustangs got it. All others got a medium duty 8" rear.

[Lee Stewart]

The base MSRP on a 1965 289 B/FX Comet was $4,776 which included a K code 289. There were only two options. For an additional $249.50 you got dual Holleys or you could go all the way for $595 and get 4 webbers. These cars weighed 2600 pounds. Unlike the 427 A/FX Comets, anyone could walk into their LM dealer and order one. 15 of them were made.

[Lee Stewart]

Though all the sales literature says that the 1968 427 Cougar GT-E came standard with FR70x14 radial ply tires none were delivered with them. Instead you got F70x14 WSWs.

[Lee Stewart]

Because of a rule change made by NASCAR for 1970 models which raised the number of production cars needed to qualify a car from 500 in 1969 to almost 3000 in 1970 the cost of making nose cones for the King Cobra and Cyclone Super Spoiler II out of metal would run more than $2 million dollars ($12,440,876.29 in 2016 dollars). Yes the cost could be driven way down if fiberglass was used but getting that many warp free units was a headache that both Ford and Mercury wanted to avoid so steel was the material of choice. All 6 prototypes do have a fiberglass nose cone though. Both cars were given the axe by incoming Lee Iacocca who slashed Ford's racing budget by 75%.

[Lee Stewart]

There is evolutionary and then there is revolutionary and that is what the 1966 "flip up" Comets were. At 1700 pounds powered by an injected 427 SOHC they won a staggering 86% of all races they participated in. The weight reduction program was so severe - there are no brakes on the front. The brakes on the rear were experimental Kelsey-Hays all aluminum (including the rotors) disc brakes.

[Lee Stewart]

The reason why Chrysler Hemi powered cars were not available with a trailer towing package was due to the Hemi being very sensitive to high combustion heat which was created when towing up hills. This resulted in serious detonation which would lead to burnt pistons and/or valves.