1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E drag racing 1970 Mercury Cyclone | STOCK DRAG RACE

1970 Mercury Cyclone GT drag racing 1968 Mercury Cougar GTE. Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race. Factory Stock Drag Race.
First car is a 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT. The other, a 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E. The Cyclone has a 351 Cleveland V8 rated 300 horsepower, while the Cougar GT-E has a 428 Cobra Jet Ram Air rated 335-340 horsepower. Both cars have automatic transmissions. Rear gearing in the Cougar is 3.50, and the Cyclone has 3.89 rear gears. The Cougar GT-E weighs 3680 pounds, including the driver. The Cyclone GT comes-in at 4020 pounds.
Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race (PSMCDR). FAST Factory Appearing Stock Tire factory stock. Super Car Drag Race.
Remember, both cars participate in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race series, so please check out their website for the rules of this class: www.psmcdr.com
Also make sure you find them out on Facebook.
Disclaimer: The Cars And Zebras KZbin channel is a news channel bringing results/news of drag racing with added history of automobiles. All footage/pictures used were either captured by the Cars And Zebras channel, or used for critique purposes under Fair Use.

[@automophiliac3475]

Having trouble hooking up that 428!

[@markreisen7038]

A pair of slicks or 60's would have helped the Cougar a great deal...

[@CoyoteFTW]

August 1968 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine, the XR7-GT 428 Cobra Jet ran a best of 13.23, fastest muscle car tested in 1968

[@jayschmahl9206]

I am a hard core Mopar fan, but love Cyclone's and Cougar's. Two of the most beautiful car's ever!

[@brianmaynard7320]

Daddy Zebra's about 3 beers in, and she's looking TAAASTY!! Love it boss!! It truly is a sharp looking car!! GTE is also bad ass looking.. Props to BOTH owners for racing these 2 cars!! Thank you for bringing them to us, Zebra!!

[@WildDiamond07]

The old toilet humor is starting to come back.

[@garybattaglia4009]

@@WildDiamond07 ...and not a second too soon...

[@WildDiamond07]

True.

[@Sherman62]

Beautiful cars! If the Cougar could get off the line as well as it charged the top end, it would be something. Reminds me of my Dad's '67 Cougar GT. I was little and got to change the spark plugs he couldn't get to.

[@leedanner5071]

The cougar would be fun to drive, alot of engine in such a light car. Reminds me of a Thunderbird my Dad had, crazy power . Fun to run that car, never lost a race with it. Pop would have been furious if he knew what I was doing with the T-bird. Won a fair amount of bread with it. Cyclone is a boat but I got to drive a montego with the Cleveland from the same era. Heavy but had some power, THANKS C&Z

[@goldenltd1970]

What's better than a Mercury?? Two of them! 😄😄

[@sporty196071]

Way back in 83, I was lost on a dirt road. It was heavily wooded so I turned into a 2 track driveway and saw a black Cougar with a funny looking grille. It had 3 flat tires and 72 license plates. Talked to a old man got directions, he said not for sale. It was his sons car and he passed away. I've tried to find that place again with no luck.

[@garrisonnichols807]

That is kinda the same story I had. I was driving to a job interview when I was 17 years old and saw a 87 Mustang 5.0 convertible for sale. It was green with white interior and white convertible top. I really wanted the car badly but the owner wouldn't budge on the asking price. I had most of the money to buy it and was only $1,800 to short. He was asking $5,000 for it and the car was in mint condition with only 60,000 miles. I got the job and worked throughout the next month saving every dollar I could. Everyday driving to work I would see it in his driveway sitting with the for sale sign in the window. Then on the day I finally had all the money I went to the guys house but the car wasn't there so I knocked on his door thinking maybe he put it back in his garage. Nope the guy told me he had sold it to a guy who was looking for a car for his daughter who picked it up an hour ago. I was pissed. I had told the owner to call me if he changed his mind on the price or if another person was interested. He said sorry but he forgot and actually ended up selling the car for only $4,000.

[@gordocarbo]

@@garrisonnichols807 That was the 7up mustang?

[@jrsgarage3244]

Cougar capable of 13.90 on 275/60-15"🏁💯

[@brandaneakright6082]

Both cars are really cool cars, but I love that cyclone to be honest. You don’t see them very often, they’re cool cars which I personally like the 70-72 cyclone & torino’s the best. The cougar could’ve ran a lot better but traction was really hurting it, either way both were really cool.

[@WildDiamond07]

I prefer the Cyclone over the Cougar as well, same with the Torino over the Mustang, especially with Cobra Jet power.

[@jimmycline4778]

Very often? 😂 That’s a understatement!

[@williamweiss6128]

Nice seeing all these great cars I used to see driving down the street when I was kid.

[@danmyers9372]

Poor showing by the Cougar. That car should in the high 13’s - low 14’s all day long.

[@chadkimmel8957]

With a good set of tires and a driver with some finesse, absolutely.

[@Thedoug369]

No doubt, she needs some gears in er. Slicks wouldn't hurt either.

[@georgecooke9010]

OUR 68 MUSTANG WITH A 69 351W RAN HIGH 13S, 2V W/ AN OFFY SGL PLANE INTAKE. WITH A 512 COMP CAM IT WENT 12.9 AT 106MPH W/ 457S. ANOTHER GUY WITH A 351C 2V W A 4V ALUM UNKNOWN INTAKE AND CAM RAN MID 13S IN A 67. C WAS STRONGER THAN W.

[@genefortney9133]

It’s great to see the 351 on the strip, It looks like it could have won most of the red light races back in the day even if in a heavier car and against a big block. My buddy had a 70 Torino with the same 351 and he would run mid 90’s on our non-official drag strip, I believe the Torino was not too much heavier then the Cougar. Great to see the small blocks race!!

[@JBASH2011]

I can see why people don't care for the Cyclone's front end, but the rest of the car is absolutely gorgeous. Great lines. Great race too. No traction, no action!

[@big_burly_bro]

Fully agreed.

[@charlesdalton985]

Good match-up. The 351 doesn’t get the respect it deserves sometimes. This is going to be good. EDIT: Good match-up, both great cars. Thank you as always!

[@CoyoteFTW]

Best small block V8 ever made

[@robertstone9988]

Boss 351 is the ultimate Cleveland. My dad has a 71 mach with a 4 barrel and a top loader the 2 barrel makes a nice truck motor thats whats in my 77 f250 ranger 400 mod is its ass hole red headed step brother no one likes

[@kenwelch198]

I had a torino with the 351 Cleveland. With a mild cam swap and a Holley 1050 carb it ran the quarter mile in the middle 12 secs. Awesome engine!

[@mattsboatyard6891]

@@kenwelch198 Thats awesome. Yeah, it doesn't take much to really wake up a 351c. Awesome engine.

[@louiskats5116]

Goodday C & Z, Great to finally 2 Mercury's going for it. Looking at the MPH on the Cougar if it could hook up cut another sec off the ET. I recently read that you couldn't get a Cyclone in the fastback roof lining which only came in the Torino. Hope you are well Your number 1 Fan in Australia Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤

[@rosenb37]

The GT-E is currently for sale.

[@josephwirtz8352]

How much?

[@cammontreuil7509]

Probably $100,000.

[@velocita8842]

Love that Cougar,such a cool car.

[@garrisonnichols807]

My dad's first car was a light brown 67 Mercury Cougar XR7 GT with the 390 big block 4 barrel carb and 3 speed automatic transmission. He could do burnouts all the way down his street and still be in first gear. He sold it and bought a 70 Mach 1 mustang with the 351 Cleveland. He said if he had to choose the March 1 with the Cleveland felt faster off the line.

[@wtdonovan]

the cougar is a beautifully designed car, thanks for the video as always!

[@WildDiamond07]

I'm a Ford guy, and I thought the 351 Cleveland was kind of garbage at first, but now I love that engine. Its heads were also seen on the high-revving Boss 302, which I absolutely love.

[@ricktaylor3748]

Wrong, the 351 Cleveland heads won't fit on the 302 Boss.

[@badgerbait8351]

@@ricktaylor3748 Not a Ford guy, but I think with a minor tweaking to the water jackets, they do fit. I believe the 4V Clevelands and Boss 302 had the same heads?!

[@WildDiamond07]

Badger's right.

[@chrisgreenaway6696]

Back in the day you would’ve been whooped my dad had a 73 mercury montego coupe with a 351 cj. His brother tuned it up and it was beating 390 mustangs

[@WildDiamond07]

@@chrisgreenaway6696 Holy smokes, that's epic.

[@thomasconnolly7452]

That was something seeing how the Cougar could reel in the Cyclone .

[@randallburgess46]

I had the family car given to me when I was 18. 1971 Mercury Montego wagon with a 351 Cleveland in it. I can tell you why it was the number one racing engine Bob Glidon used in his cars and was a consistent winner. Of course the 429 Cobra Jet would take it in the long run because it was a much bigger motor. Like putting a v-6 against a Hemi, the six weighs a lot less and gets out first, but the Hemi will smoke it like a Texas brisket! 📕

[@save16thave]

I like them both, that's a coffin nose Cyclone. My first car was an XR-7 Cougar and I currently own a 66 Comet Caliente. I'm a Ford man by blood, but I especially love the Mercs. You gotta get with the sign of the cat, man!

[@politicallyincorrectgrandp1351]

Thanks for the full break down & the attention to detail! Sincerely, GP

[@aguyinnc2865]

Wish I could like this video more than once, absolutely love these cars!

[@Thundercougarfalconbird27x]

Got a a 67 cougar and a 71 cyclone gt as well as a 69 cougar sport special. Love the mercury muscle

[@granddad-mv5ef]

Because of being a Mercury fan, I had no favorite. Guessing it was the first time on the 'strip for the Cougar driver and possibly both. Very happy to see both cars!

[@badme9684]

Thank you so much your the man dude. You get thumbs up :)

[@KenVic02]

Love both cars. I like comparing the exhaust notes of the cars, and I must say the Cougar was one of the quietest cars I've seen in a while. A suprisingly tame exhaust note for a car of this era and large of an engine.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

switch engines . Cleveland's were under cam . The 2'19 intakes came alive when You put a .500 + lift on them . I never rebuilt a 428 Cobra Jet motor , I have no info on them . Good race .

[@ronlind1757]

🎶 ... nothing moves you.. like a Mercury.. 🎶 🤣🤣🤣

[@hoost3056]

The Cyclone is Ford's interpretation of the Buick Riviera. It's an acquired taste.....I like it.....it's odd.

[@josephwirtz8352]

My great aunt had a few Rivieras…as I remember there weren’t many on the road.

[@fernandochaves9665]

I like it too. That front has a lot of personality.

[@brianaust8897]

My GT-E (see my channel) had a 427 and the thing goes off like dynamite! These are indeed quite a handful off the line. This particular track looks really glazed over, too.. Traction Masters' traction bars make a huge difference, as well as 15" wheels with a little bigger tire. I've never dared to go to a drag strip with it, but need to some day! Nice commentary on both cars. Good info and stats. The interesting thing about these two is that they both have the extruded aluminum body side mouldings all the way down them. I'd never noticed that on the Cyclone. It's part of the very exclusive package details on the GT-E only

[@Johnnycdrums]

1968 was the last of the 427's in America. They just eased the last of them out the back door with regular exhaust manifolds, single 4 barrel carb, and auto tranny.

[@johnkalberer2277]

Excellent coverage on video. Thank you!! JPK

[@68dart]

Awesome , Thanks C&Z

[@iggyfritz7150]

Cougar is one of the sexiest cars ever made, but with that monster 428cj leaf spring rear and 70 series tires, it's a recipe for ice skating. I have heard some 428cj owners talk of breaking leaf springs or spinning the cragar spokes out of the rims from the torque. With the right tune suspension and slicks, it was common to see them in the 12 sec range. Being a rare car I would not want to beat on her. The 351 Cleveland was known as a big block killer.

[@nofortunatesonII]

I knew someone many years ago who bought a 1968 427 GTE Cougar from a Ford dealer who could not get it running. Guy bought it off their used car lot for $500, put a new starter solenoid on it at the dealer and drove it home. From what he said, car was in nice shape (45 years ago).

[@gary9426]

Cool to see two vintage Mercury musclecars...you really don't see that many. Was hoping for a 427 in the Cougar! lol. Both of these cars should be running in the 14's, at least, especially the Cougar. The Cyclones got ugly in 1970, at least the front end, imho. Would be another interesting race if the engines were switched, but I digress....thanks C&Z!

[@cammontreuil7509]

Cougar runs like it has a 427. The 428 never had top end like that. Now the Cleveland didn't act right either. That engine pulls hard at top end ?

[@anthonysalinas1740]

Let's go Ford

[@dalebowman3666]

I love the way they drag race these cars and they’re worth a fortune.

[@trackpackgt877]

I'm amazed that the Cleveland barely got out ran by that 428 had to be traction that Cobra Jet probably just ate the tires as we seen on the first one

[@ramsesstafford4640]

I just never cared for the front grills on Cyclones, but this one looks pretty cool to be honest.

[@413x398]

My Cobra Jet Cougar does the same skate with an empty trunk. That long nose/short tail is not conducive to weight transfer. I had to race it with 300+ pounds of ballast out back to hook it. Stock with factory intake and exhaust, 2600 stall and 3.89's, it ran 12.30's on stickies with ballast. Stock to stock, the 428 will outrun the 429.

[@hippydippy]

I still think the Mercury Cougar is one of the most underrated muscle cars ever. I was in a band that played a car show maybe 10 years ago & before we started I walked around looking at all the cool cars. As I was walking back, I passed one of the most beautiful cars there, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it, so I asked the guy. It was a gorgeous burnt orange Cougar. My jaw dropped.

[@mattsboatyard6891]

The Cyclone is one of my favorite cars, thank you for posting!!

[@hobartw9770]

Beautiful cars, I'd be scared to drive them much less race them.

[@romans828.]

Cyclone front end was beautiful

[@trackpackgt877]

My dad had a 70 cyclone but it was a 429 cobra jet with a holman moody cam shaft and that car would RUN!!

[@scottguthrie8074]

Beautiful, fine, machines both!!

[@timetowatch2142]

My memory of the Cougar goes back to 1967-68 when “Dyno” Don Nicholson and “Fast Eddie” Schartman were campaigning the Cougar funny cars. They were a force to be reckoned with.

[@AndrewByrnes-iv5dn]

Came to Virginia in 1973 mom had a 1970 galaxie 351 I remember holding on for my dear life

[@briandungan515]

This is where the hour glass can replace the stop watch but at least the fan boys can pound their chest saying a Ford won.

[@garrisonnichols807]

I have seen other videos on this channel. Everytime the fastest cars have always been Mopars or a Chevy. The biggest shockers were a Plymouth Duster with a 340 and a Chevy Nova and Chevelle with the L78 396 V8s. Those cars were moving south of 13 second E/Ts and hitting high 12 second times. There's very few Fords here and the ones I've seen aren't very fast. High 13s at best I think for a 71 429 mach 1 mustang if I remember correctly.

[@dukedavis8950]

Pretty cool match up I dig the cyclone and the cougar definitely can run quicker if it can get traction. I'm also 3 beers in cheers 🍻. Thanks for the video

[@matthewdupuis232]

"here at the pure stock muscle car drags we like to stage with the front tires"

[@sorshiaemms5959]

NICE TO SEE MERCURY MUSCLE 2 OF MY FAVORITES THANKS FOR THE SHOW NO TRACTION NO ACTION FOR THE COUGAR THE CYCLONE HEAVY CAR SMALL MOTOR

[@jameshorton7496]

I had a 68 Cougar, same color as that one. Mine only had the standard 302 and had a pkg called The Dan Gurney Special. Don't even remember what was in it. Oh, and that color green is the same green that was Steve McQueens Bullitt Mustang. Loved those Cyclones also. Great body style, same as the Torino Cobra, but I like that gunsight grille. Made it look imposing.

[@timetowatch2142]

Although the dark green colors are similar, the Cougar is Augusta Green Poly. The 1968 Ford Mustang GT in Bullitt was Highland Green.

[@georgecooke9010]

351C 4V IS A KILLER + 389-1 9" IS 13 SECOND CAPABLE 1/4 MILE @ 102MPH OR SO. NICE!

[@mannyr.2756]

I really don't have much to say about these vehicles other than time capsules.😳

[@jeffreyhall2136]

Friend of the family had a 71 Cyclone GT w/Cleveland. The engine was built too. Fastest car I was ever in. He'd bang the gears it that thing and I thought the traction bars were coming through the floor boards.

[@disgustedvet9528]

Cougar certainly looks better in my opinion.

[@joefergerson5243]

Love those Mercs❤

[@jeffreybrianring6392]

I went to HS with 2 guys, one had a 70 Torino with a 351 Cleveland, 300 hp 4 speed the other had a 69 dart 340 auto, the dart spanked the Torino by a car length in a drag race.

[@markwhitton8230]

Great race, but I'm glad I stuck with Mopars

[@jamesburgess4424]

I had a Cleveland in a 71 Torino GT you don't have to tell me a damn thing , took my final test in that car trooper got in and asked me if I could handle it ,I don't think his head came off the rest ( wish I still had it) oh the memories

[@ricktaylor3748]

Way to go C&Z !!! Ugly cars, but great race.

[@Thomas63r2]

When they were still cars you could find on used car lots, I bought a ‘69 Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet 4 speed, 3.50 gears. It was stock other than mag wheels and cheap white letter tires. I ran 14.2x’s at 101.5 mph. For sure it was traction limited and hard to get it off the line, I just rolled it off and short shifted into 2nd gear.

[@davenhla]

Cyclone with the 429SCJ was unbeatable on the street around here. People brought Chevelles, Firebirds, Chargers, Mustangs... didn;t matter. Cyclone won by car length or better. This was when they were new. Can't speak to a strip, crowd around here didn;t travel down to the closest one to find out. That said, the Clevland version was middle of the pack. That Cougar is fast, needs modern rubber to see it's potential.

[@paulcrist7285]

"Road trip" I remember a college friend of my brother caught so much this for getting his cyclone,- untill the road trip( merc.made cars with a nice ride)...the cougar has a drag pack trans and rear.but weight.

[@twasbrillig33]

"trying to launch on ice" lmao!

[@Geezer1320]

Just think if he put sticky tires on that Cougar.

[@turdferguson4124]

“The Cyclone GT was a pretty good deal in 1970” Especially on a price per pound basis

[@josephnewcomb5670]

Would love to have either 1 of these beautiful cars to CRUISE around in but would race em

[@timsmith1589]

I love both of those cars. I will have a cyclone some day

[@iggyfritz7150]

I had the 351 ho in a 70 mustang coupe. It was like driving on an icy road. Would obliterate tires, but once she hooked she still was pulling past 120mph. Beat many 13sec cars with just slicks.

[@imanenigma3348]

Once he could get the power down, taller gearing, 428 torque and lighter weight, got the job done. The Cyclone wasn't disgraced with the trusty 4v 351 Cleveland.......and lower rear end gears.

[@bobgrim9605]

There's a good reason not too many '70 Cyclones were sold. A well tuned 428 is VERY capable. Cougar driver just needs a bit more practice

[@LordSamuelJ]

Man I want that cyclone!

[@user-ny2dx6mp5t]

Hate to tell you but the Windsor was a good reliable engine. I had one in my 69 Torino. I turned a 14.59 quarter-mile time at Union Grove Wisconsin. Beat a 340 Barracuda with a 6 pak.

[@4eyesover2]

The GT•E is a close brother to my car, mine is augusta 1F saddle and it’s the 427 😎

[@busterturner8702]

I love these videos

[@SCAMPL6]

Great videos bro! I am watching here in Guatemala didn't know it exists a cobra versión of cougar 👌👌

[@JunkyardsandBarnFindswithSean]

Great Channel, Keep it up! (Featured a few Cyclones on our channel - strange cars but NASCAR used them too!!)

[@jeffebinger1218]

the cougar with slicks, wew!

[@royboy9361]

Put a set of wrinkle walls on that cobra jet. ❤️Cougars❤️

[@CamaroZ-cr9bo]

Mercury's and Ford's had some great races,just like Dodge's Vs. Plymouth's would have!! 🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@mkowboy13]

This aughta be a close one

[@ludedude5228]

The 1971 Boss 351 was the only Cleveland to own , Many big blocks were put to shame by those engines "" ""

[@v.e.7236]

The 1st gen Cougars were the sexiest cars Mercury ever produced. The price point was the deal breaker and I ended up getting a '67 Mustang fastback w/ a 351C w/ 4-speed. Still have a "thing" for those early Cougars. After '72 the cougar got heavy, like a woman that drinks too much, kinda puffy and overweigh - same w/ the Mustang. And this strikes me as completely at odds w/ the economic climate in '73, as gas prices went through the roof, yet cars got bigger and heavier. Go fugure?!? Detroit logic?

[@cammontreuil7509]

Can't figure that one out either ?

[@dennisguttrich7442]

I had a 70 Cyclone GT, 351-2V. AT. Dark green metallic, black buckets, silver tail section (black available) console, AC. I ran Cragar SS, Good year G60-14. Kept 38 years,sold,I know where it is.

[@daleholte7234]

I like the style and the inside with those comfortable bucket sets but just wished the cougar came with standard transmission

[@garysarratt1]

What a pucker!

[@jeremyg7975]

Good race when cougar hooked up. Always been big on cougars look. Cyclone just to big, I love torino's though

[@Zonerunner]

How can you have a big block car still running E70 14s? I've got a mild 351 Windsor in my 70 cougar and I'm running the equivalent of H's and it still has a little trouble hooking up.

[@jeffschwartz5199]

Nice rare car's

[@danhillman4523]

15.40 LOL. My old 69 RS/SS with a 350-300 would run low 14's with a 3.31 rear end. KEK.

[@LITTLE1994]

Nice.

[@rotorhead5826]

I guess the cougar had its original tires... Those "launches" if you could even call them that were horrible. I expected more fom that car. Good job on the cyclone tho! The Cleveland is no slouch.

[@CJColvin]

Mercury was basically Ford's Mopar just like Pontiac was GM's Mopar.

[@andykerr3803]

Traction on street tires with any 428 Cougar is impossible. I had the 69 428 SCJ with drag pak, it could easily spin the tires at 80 mph. They were the fatter Polyglass classics. Modified, it would exceed the 145 mph speedo in a flash. Ford put out a street legal 68 Cougar with racing slicks on the showroom. It did ¼s in the high 12 second range, one of the fastest cars ever.