IfFordhad trouble winning respect on the streets in the mid '60s,Mercuryhad it worse. It was ignored. All the better, then, when the 1967 Mercury Comet 427 showed up. Talk about a sleeper of a肌肉车.
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It took until '66 for the Comet to graduate from the Ford Falcon-based compact platform to the Fairlane's midsize chassis. Cyclone versions were available with Ford's corporate 335-bhp 390-cid V-8, but being even heavier than the Fairlane GT, they were stones.
A few dozen '66 Fairlanes had been fitted with the no-excuses 427, but it wasn't until '67 that theenginebecame a regular-production option and was extended to the Comet line. Mercury made it available in any two-door Comet -- the Cyclone, Caliente, and Capri hardtops, and the bottom-of-the-line Comet 202 pillared coupe. The last was an interesting subject. It was a half-foot shorter than the hardtops and 100 pounds lighter. It was dumpier looking, too, with its Falcon-like roofline. Picture one with vanilla paint. Bench seats. Dog-dish hubcaps. No scoops. No stripes. Just a discreet "427" fender emblem. The perfect Q-ship.
在67年Fairlane(它被称为“Cobra 427"), the 427-cid V-8 was offered in two flavors. With a 780-cfm Holley four-barrel and 410 bhp, Mercury called it the "Cyclone 427." With dual 652-cfm Holley quads and 425 bhp, it was the "Super Cyclone 427." Both had 11.1:1 compression, solid lifters, and came only with a four-speed.
Just 200 or so '67 Fairlanes were ordered with the 427, and even fewer Comets. With the Super Cyclone powertrain, plus well-considered extras such as a tach ($47), wide-oval whitewall nylontires($83), and power frontdisc brakes($84), a Comet 202 would have retailed for around $3,200. Hottest big-block, lightest body, no frills -- not even a radio: This was the muscle car distilled to its essence.
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