There are fairly just a few vehicles from the Nineteen Seventies value saving and amassing, however few may think about at the moment’s Good Worth or No Cube Comet amongst them. Regardless, it’s right here, it’s fabulous, and we’re going to evaluate it.
Few of us wish to chew another person’s half-enjoyed bubble gum. In the identical style, there’s little pleasure in shopping for anybody else’s personalised car. That was the takeaway within the feedback on yesterday’s 2011 Mazda Miata Particular Version, which had a protracted checklist of aftermarket components bolted on, each above and beneath. These mods cooled a lot of the curiosity in each the automobile and its $19,500 price ticket, the latter coming away with a 64 p.c No Cube loss.
Whereas considering at the moment’s contender, I used to be reminded of a enjoyable music I realized 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 strive some Comet and vomit with me!
That, in fact, was referencing the family cleanser, Comet, not the ’60s and ’70s mercury mannequin of the identical title. Now that we’ve got 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 a substitute. That mannequin would share a lot of its components with Ford’s Falcon. Over the course of the Sixties, the Comet grew in dimension with every ensuing mannequin change. By the tip of the last decade, the Comet nameplate can be minimized for rebranded sub-models—Montego, Cyclone, and many others. 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 using on a variation of the identical Falcon/Comet chassis first launched a decade earlier.
That implies that this 1974 two-door can hint its roots all the best way again to 1960. Whereas not Morgan-like tenacity, that’s nonetheless fairly spectacular.
What’s much more spectacular is that this automobile’s obvious situation. The advert states the paint shade as “inexperienced” however within the footage, it seems to be extra prone to be what the manufacturing facility known as Shiny Yellow. Colour-matched wheels with prolonged middle caps wrapped in whitewall tires underpin that. These are matched with what seems to be to be the physique safety package deal which incorporates the rubber inserts within the bumpers and shiny metallic facet molding trim. Every part, proper all the way down to the urethane snoods behind the huge prolonged bumpers seems to be to be in glorious situation.
The cabin is sort of as good, festooned in brown vinyl with splendidly stripped fabric inserts on each the back and front bench seats. The one situation right here is a few splitting of that cloth on the passenger seat, one thing a very good upholstery store ought to be capable of restore.
One of the best 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 automobile made accessible 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 automobile 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 larger brother, the 250. Contemplating the poverty spec of the transmission, I’m going to guess this automobile has the 84 horsepower 200. Sure, that’s proper, 84 horsepower. Don’t make this bizarre.
The advert claims the automobile “Runs and drives effectively,” and that it comes with a clear title. It seems within the footage to be sporting new-issue paper plates so again registration shouldn’t be a difficulty. 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 value is $10,500 and I assure you’ll not discover one other Comet of this ilk in this sort of situation wherever outdoors 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 reasonably 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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