The 1966 Mercury Cyclone GT Convertible served as the official pace car for the Indianapolis 500, marking the only time a Mercury led the race, with about 100 special convertibles built in Cardinal Red with white interiors, featuring unique fiberglass hoods, 390 V8 power, C6 automatics, and handling packages, serving as rare collector's items that are hard to definitively identify but possess specific VIN codes and features like styled steel wheels, power steering/brakes, and dash tachometers. Key Characteristics Engine: 390 cubic inch big-block V8 (335 hp). Transmission: C6 Sport Shift Merc-O-Matic automatic. Color Scheme: Cardinal Red exterior with a white interior and white convertible top. Exterior Features: Twin-scoop fiberglass hood, GT badging, dual upper body stripes, and redline tires on styled steel wheels. Interior Features: Rally-Pac gauges (including dash-mounted tach), center console, wood-rimmed wheel, power steering, and power brakes. Special Identification: Often carry a unique SH28 VIN prefix and were built in April 1966. Production & Rarity Around 100 units were built as pace car replicas for the 1966 Indy 500. A smaller subset (around 33) were used for parade details by celebrities. Due to a lack of formal Ford records, definitive identification can be difficult, but specific factory options and VINs help identify them. Why it Was Chosen The 1966 season marked Mercury's first involvement as an Indy 500 pace car in modern history, showcasing the performance-oriented Cyclone GT. Only about 100 of these special pace car editions were produced, making them very rare. An even smaller subset, believed to be around 33 cars, were used as official parade cars driven by celebrities and dignitaries at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during May 1966. WE OFFER COMPETITIVE RATE FINANCING AND NATIONWIDE SHIPPING
