There are fairly just a few vehicles from the Seventies price saving and accumulating, however few would possibly think about right this moment’s Good Value or No Cube Comet amongst them. Regardless, it’s right here, it’s fabulous, and we’re going to guage it.
Few of us want to chew another person’s half-enjoyed bubble gum. In the identical vogue, there’s little pleasure in shopping for anybody else’s customized car. That was the takeaway within the feedback on yesterday’s 2011 Mazda Miata Particular Version, which had a protracted listing of aftermarket elements bolted on, each above and under. These mods cooled a lot of the curiosity in each the automotive and its $19,500 price ticket, the latter coming away with a 64 p.c No Cube loss.
Whereas considering right this moment’s contender, I used to be reminded of a enjoyable music I discovered as a child, sung to the tune of the theme from The Bridge Over The River Kwai. It went one thing like this:
Comet, it makes your mouth so clear. Comet, it tastes like gas-o-line. Comet, it makes you vomit. So attempt some Comet and vomit with me!
That, after all, was referencing the family cleanser, Comet, not the ’60s and ’70s mercury mannequin of the identical title. Now that we now have clarified that, let’s take a look at this terribly clear and tidy 1974 Mercury Comet and see what it brings up.
Ford first meant to make use of the Comet title on a mannequin of Edsel, however that model’s premature demise ended that plan. Seeing as Ford had already purchased the rights to the Comet title from one other firm, it determined to apply it to a brand new compact Mercury as an alternative. That mannequin would share a lot of its elements with Ford’s Falcon. Over the course of the Nineteen Sixties, the Comet grew in measurement with every ensuing mannequin change. By the top of the last decade, the Comet nameplate could be minimized for rebranded sub-models—Montego, Cyclone, and so on. The Comet wasn’t down for the rely, however, as the ’70s noticed the title return as Mercury’s model of the Ford Maverick, with each mannequins driving on a variation of the identical Falcon/Comet chassis first launched a decade earlier.
That signifies that this 1974 two-door can hint its roots all the way in which again to 1960. Whereas not Morgan-like tenacity, that’s nonetheless fairly spectacular.
What’s much more spectacular is that this automotive’s obvious situation. The advert states the paint shade as “inexperienced” however within the photos, it seems extra prone to be what the manufacturing unit referred to as Vibrant Yellow. Colour-matched wheels with prolonged heart caps wrapped in whitewall tires underpin that. These are matched with what seems to be the physique safety package deal which incorporates the rubber inserts within the bumpers and brilliant metallic facet molding trim. All the pieces, proper right down to the urethane snoods behind the large prolonged bumpers seems to be in wonderful situation.
The cabin is nearly as good, festooned in brown vinyl with splendidly stripped material inserts on each the back and front bench seats. The one subject right here is a few splitting of that cloth on the passenger seat, one thing an excellent upholstery store ought to have the ability to restore.
The perfect a part of the inside, although, is the column shifter for the Borg-Warner T-150 three-speed transmission. The Comet would find yourself being Mercury’s final automotive made obtainable with such a setup, and it does make for a a lot breezier footwell space for each driver and entrance passenger.
The advert notes that the automotive is a six-cylinder however doesn’t present any displacement numbers. This mannequin 12 months, the Comet might be spec’d with both a 200 CID OHV straight six or its greater brother, the 250. Contemplating the poverty spec of the transmission, I’m going to guess this automotive has the 84 horsepower 200. Sure, that’s proper, 84 horsepower. Don’t make this bizarre.
The advert claims the automotive “Runs and drives effectively,” and that it comes with a clear title. It seems within the photos to be sporting new-issue paper plates so again registration shouldn’t be a problem. This being a 1974 mannequin, emissions testing isn’t a priority for California patrons both.
How a lot ought to somebody pay for this odd selection of a time capsule?
The asking worth is $10,500 and I assure you’ll not discover one other Comet of this ilk in this type of situation wherever exterior of the Ford Museum.
What do you say, ought to the vendor get their asking for this well-preserved Comet? Or, at that a lot, would you somewhat eat Comet?
You determine!
Orange County, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Joe S. for the hookup!
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