There were/are some car designs that should only be seen in performance trim and never, ever as grocery getters. The 1970-71 Montego was one of them. These cars really worked as “Make My Day” performance cars. They looked really awful as basic sedans.
Bit of trivia, there were several names for this sub model that were being kicked around, such as: “Cyclone Hood Scoop”, “Cyclone Air Dam”, “Cyclone Tachometer” and “Cyclone black grille”. Creative thinkers in the Mercury division back then!
I was going to reference Road Runner marketing here in response as to some of the ridiculous gimmicks on display here, and after re-reading your post, I can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not. I’m sarcastic to the 9th degree (wink). That in of itself actually ties in to what I was thinking; Nobody “got” the RR formula ever after the debut. It was paradoxically self aware the “meep-meep” horn was as mischievous as the innocent bird badges; not to be trusted. The camp factor cannot be discredited here when it’s the end of the 60’s, and here we have a “Cyclone Spoiler” to compare. There is nothing subtle, nor camp about the word Cyclone if you can read a dictionary.
I agree, Roadrunner got it right and most other Roadrunner imitators including the Superbee missed the point, from the Cyclone Spoiler to the GTO judge(which missed the entire segment). Spoiler took the play on words approach ala SuperBee(super B body), spoiling a Cyclone with its literal spoilers. Gearheads might get it, but gearheads also dont really care what a car is called if the styling and performance are up to snuff. The Roadrunner had a much broader and less “in” name, and given the surprisingly sizable chunk of overall Plymouth intermediate sales the Roadrunner had in its first two years, it wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of the demographic buying them just saw them as better value over a 383 Satellite, and with with a more more whimsical name to boot.
These cars did have an ungainly front nose, though it was quite unique.
They ran several of these as unmarked cop cars in the original “Gone in 60 Seconds”. Word was they were equipped with 429’s opposed to the Mustang’s 351; they would have corralled and stomped that Mustang in real-life.
I have the DVD remaster of it and in the commentary many of the crew were commenting on that fact, it was definitely quicker than Eleanor. Its funny that Gone in 60 seconds and Bullitt are are arguably the most famous car chase Mustangs but their main automotive foes in each film were the better performers IRL.
SPecialist, Oiler
There were/are some car designs that should only be seen in performance trim and never, ever as grocery getters. The 1970-71 Montego was one of them. These cars really worked as “Make My Day” performance cars. They looked really awful as basic sedans.
Good point JP,
Dressed up it’d make you feel as humble as if the Wood Brothers themselves had pulled up next to you at the light.
Prefer the down under version meself same spoiler different lights.
I love it! A 70-71 Torino with better looking taillights, even if they did get them from the Mercury Comet’s parts bin.
Bit of trivia, there were several names for this sub model that were being kicked around, such as: “Cyclone Hood Scoop”, “Cyclone Air Dam”, “Cyclone Tachometer” and “Cyclone black grille”. Creative thinkers in the Mercury division back then!
I was going to reference Road Runner marketing here in response as to some of the ridiculous gimmicks on display here, and after re-reading your post, I can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not. I’m sarcastic to the 9th degree (wink). That in of itself actually ties in to what I was thinking; Nobody “got” the RR formula ever after the debut. It was paradoxically self aware the “meep-meep” horn was as mischievous as the innocent bird badges; not to be trusted. The camp factor cannot be discredited here when it’s the end of the 60’s, and here we have a “Cyclone Spoiler” to compare. There is nothing subtle, nor camp about the word Cyclone if you can read a dictionary.
Dripping with sarcasm/satire 🙂
I agree, Roadrunner got it right and most other Roadrunner imitators including the Superbee missed the point, from the Cyclone Spoiler to the GTO judge(which missed the entire segment). Spoiler took the play on words approach ala SuperBee(super B body), spoiling a Cyclone with its literal spoilers. Gearheads might get it, but gearheads also dont really care what a car is called if the styling and performance are up to snuff. The Roadrunner had a much broader and less “in” name, and given the surprisingly sizable chunk of overall Plymouth intermediate sales the Roadrunner had in its first two years, it wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of the demographic buying them just saw them as better value over a 383 Satellite, and with with a more more whimsical name to boot.
These cars did have an ungainly front nose, though it was quite unique.
They ran several of these as unmarked cop cars in the original “Gone in 60 Seconds”. Word was they were equipped with 429’s opposed to the Mustang’s 351; they would have corralled and stomped that Mustang in real-life.
I have the DVD remaster of it and in the commentary many of the crew were commenting on that fact, it was definitely quicker than Eleanor. Its funny that Gone in 60 seconds and Bullitt are are arguably the most famous car chase Mustangs but their main automotive foes in each film were the better performers IRL.
I wonder if that decal would mean that in front there’s a Chevy grille…
Hmm, I think part of the original decal rubbed off.