1968 Mercury Cyclone Cobra Jet Road Test - Car Life July 1968 Specs & Data

This is page 19 of the July 1968 issue of Car Life magazine, part of a multi-page road test of the Mercury Cyclone equipped with the 428 Cobra Jet engine. The narrative text discusses the car's rapid acceleration, highway stability (with slight hunting in crosswinds attributed to tire feel), the Cobra Jet engine's strong, tractable power at all speeds, and interior appointments including soft separate front seats and a wood-covered instrument panel. A photo shows the Cyclone interior; the caption praises comfort and readability of instruments but criticizes the lack of oil pressure and water temperature gauges. The 'Car Life Road Test' data panel provides full test results: calculated data (12.1 lb/bhp test weight, 3040 engine revs/mile at 60 mph, 22.4 sq ft frontal area), speedometer error, maintenance intervals (oil every 6000 miles/180 days, Autolite spark plugs gapped 0.032-0.036 in., timing 6°/600 rpm), performance (117 mph top speed at 6000 rpm, shift points at 5800 rpm), acceleration times (0-60 mph in 6.2 sec, quarter mile in 14.4 sec at 99.44 mph), braking (max deceleration 30 ft/sec² from 80 mph, rated very good), and fuel consumption (10.2 mpg as tested, 10-13 mpg normal, 200-260 mile cruising range). An acceleration-and-coasting graph plots mph versus elapsed time with marked shift points.