Chuck Knudsen has been the single caretaker of a 1969 Mercury Cyclone GT 390 since he purchased it new on November 8, 1968. Life’s unexpected twists meant that, although he last drove it in June 1976, the car remained with its original owner for over four decades, awaiting restoration and a return to active use a testament to dedication and perhaps a deep bond with the vehicle.
As a teenager in 1966, during a visit to a Ford Motor Company dealership with his father, Chuck was instantly drawn to a Mercury Comet Cyclone on display. Despite his immediate desire to own one, his father set clear terms: Chuck could have the car once he could afford it himself.
Not deterred, Chuck saved diligently for three years, and in late 1968, he ordered his brand-new Cyclone GT 390, the same car showcased in a recent video by Lou Costabile at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Rosemont, Illinois. By then a college sophomore, Chuck had eagerly awaited the model’s announcement on September 27, 1968.
Sixty-four days after placing his order, on November 30, Chuck received the keys to the Mercury, which became his primary mode of transportation for 2,744 days (approximately seven and a half years).
He parked it in the family garage on June 5, 1976, with the odometer at 32,282 miles (51,942 kilometers), where it remained until its restoration 47 years later. This restoration process culminated in its showcase at a prestigious car show.
In its year, 5,882 Cyclones were built, with an added 3,261 units including extra features under the designation CJ 428, representing the top-performing Cobra Jet 428 cubic inch engine in Mercury’s intermediate lineup, even as the 429 Boss engine launched the same year was not available for the Cyclone.
The 390 cubic inch V8 represented the premium option over the standard 302 cubic inch V8 for the regular Mercury Cyclone, which came with a two-barrel carburetor. All other V8 engines from Ford’s lineup were available for an additional cost, though the Cyclone did not offer a six-cylinder engine.
The 390 V8 cost an extra $158, and Knudsen’s selection of the four-speed manual transmission was the priciest option at $194, aside from the 428 Cobra Jet engine exclusive to the Cyclone CJ variant, which started at $3,207 and included the four-speed gearbox as standard.
