The Mercury Comet has an odd place in American automotive historical past. Initially a sister to the Ford Falcon, Mercury transferred the title to its mid-sized sequence in 1966, however the creation of the Montego in 1968 pushed the Comet title into irrelevancy till Mercury utilized the title to the sister of the Ford Maverick in 1971. This 1968 Mercury Comet on the market on ClassicCars.com by a seller in Pennsylvania is a positive instance of how the mannequin was being squeezed out with the introduction of a fancier, newer title, and for that cause it’s our Pick of the Day. (Click the hyperlink to view the itemizing)
Prior to 1968, the Comet sequence began with Comet 202, then went as much as Comet Capri, Comet Caliente, and Cyclone and Cyclone GT. But when the Montego title was launched in 1968, Mercury left its mid-size sequence with one Comet mannequin, with the former Capri and Caliente fashions now renamed Montego and Montego MX, plus a fancier Montego MX Brougham added for good measure. (The Cyclone and Cyclone GT additionally continued for sporty automotive followers.) How did a mannequin title go from three to at least one inside a sequence? It’s not an uncommon state of affairs — the Fairlane, Belvedere, Tempest, F-85 and Special all bought squeezed out over time too.
Only one Comet physique type was accessible in 1968 by way of its 1969 swan tune: a two-door hardtop that Mercury referred to as a Sports Coupe. Only 16,693 have been constructed for 1968, so that they don’t come up on the market actually because they have been disposable automobiles, particularly for the economy-minded.
In reality, talking of economic system, this Gulfstream Aqua 1968 Comet was initially outfitted with the 200ci six with 115 horsepower however, someplace alongside the manner, the present proprietor put in a 390 and a Toploader four-speed handbook to make for one thing extra attention-grabbing — a Q-ship, if you’ll. “It has Comp Cams (0.490/0.494 raise with 218-degree period @ 0.050 inches of raise),” says the vendor. “The carburetor is an Edelbrock four-barrel and sports activities a manufacturing unit aluminum consumption. Power goes to the again taken by a Ford 28-spline, nine-inch 3.50 rear axle. Headers and Flowmasters are in for the large exhale.”
The vendor signifies there “a contact of floor rust splattered about” in the undercarriage however, total, the Comet is in positive situation, with “new mechanicals, brake strains, and so on.” Four drum brakes deal with the stopping chores, with “a slight pull to the left.” How does the Comet drive? “She fires proper up and runs easily,” although the “suspension groans a bit when pushed.”
Inside, the entrance bench seat contains a suede-like broadcloth improve whereas the rear seats keep their manufacturing unit vinyl. Considering this was the bottom-of-the-line mid-size Merc with a six, it might not be a shock that there isn’t a radio. But what form of cheapo mannequin has a simulated woodgrain dashboard?
The vendor desires $34,900 for this Comet Sports Coupe. Is it value that a lot to you? For lower than the value of an identical Plymouth Road Runner, you possibly can have Mercury class in a down-market coupe with smiles as shut as your proper foot.
To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
