“Orignally a collectors barn find out of Ohio”, this 1961 Mercury Comet is one unbelievable car. Most of us dream about finding a car with ultra low miles on it and this is it. The seller has it posted on Craigslist in Woodstock, New York – yes that one – with an asking price of $9,100, a price as unique as the car is. Thanks to Michael for sending in the tip for this Comet!
Not to start right in on the photos or more likely the lack of photos, but there is no photo of the driver’s side other than a shot of the left quarter panel. I have to believe that given the condition that this car appears to be in throughout the other photos, the driver’s side would have to follow suit. The Comet was sure a fancier car than the sister car Ford Falcon was, look at those tail lights!
Not showing wheel covers is a gutsy move, in my opinion, it gives the car a just-painted look to me. Although, they don’t come out and say original paint in the listing, could this still be the 57-year old factory paint? They say that it has “newer tires. I have set of 4 original Dog Dish hubcaps and also a mint set of wire wheel hubcaps that come with the car.”
One thing they do mention as being original is the interior. In some of the photos the seats look far too white and clean, but in the one showing the front seat with the driver’s door open, it does look original. In that same photo, it does look like the driver’s door jamb has been painted to me, but I could be wrong. It looks a little wrinkly and I’d want to see it in person. They say it’s original so it must just be my eyes playing a trick on me from being burned so many times.
I’m so used to yellow engines being from someone other than Ford/Mercury, but this one does look great. You have already seen a possible drawback in that this isn’t a V8, but it would be a couple of years before Mercury offered the 260 V8 in the Comet. This is their 170 cubic-inch inline-six which should have had 100 hp. This is a great combo: an inline-six with a three-speed manual column-shifted transmission. This one has a recent “Carb rebuild, brakes, timing, new points and plugs. No leaks of any kind.” It really looks like a nice example and it’s priced between Hagerty’s #2 excellent and #3 good condition value. Are you a Comet or a Falcon fan, or both? Any thoughts on this example?
Looking at the air cleaner, it’s a 144 not a 170.
That’s what it says. Aren’t the 144 to 240 Ford 6cyl all built on the same block? And for decades if you needed a oil filter for a Ford engine it was always a Fram PH8A. Ah the good old inexpensive days.
The 240 was a truck engine, related to the 300. The 144, 170, 200 and 250 were from the same family, built at the Lima plant.
Beautiful Comet…glad it survived.
Looking at the tail lights does the word Edsel come to mind?
The Comet was originally planned as a smaller-model Edsel, until the Edsel program was scrapped. 1+1=2…
It’s my understanding the `60-`61 Comet taillamps are interchangeable with the `60 Edsel.
If you look at them, I don’t think that is true.
Nope..my 1960 Edsel has 4 verticle taillights…
Technically just Comet, which was it’s own make `60-`61.
Comet officially became a Mercury model in `62.
Yes, not a Mercury but a separate brand sold by Mercury dealers in 60/61. Was intended to be an Edsel Comet. Even the keys on these resembled Edsel keys with the E being altered to a C. My first car was a white 61 2 door station wagon whic was a hand-me-down from my parents. I wasn’t as cool as my friends with early Mustangs but it was a fun car I wish I still had.
Thanks for the clarification, David, and also those who noticed the gaff on the engine size.
I bought this car on e-bay…and sold to owner in Woodstock. Mileage seemed original…little 144 ran like watch…and with J code 3:50 gears and “locker” rear seemed “peppy” and seats very nice. I had put 14″ 4 lug wheels from 67 6 cyl. Mustang (gave little higher gear) and wire spokes caps to give “little Lincoln” look…buyer said he preferred white steel wheels to give “60’s NASCAR look? (don’t remember David Pierson ever driving Comet?!) Paint was “driver quality” at best…but did like teal roof two tone look!
Now that’s one sweet little ride!
This is not the optional 170 CI 6. This is the standard 144 CI, shows it on the air cleaner. Not a bad engine, I got a lot of hard driven miles out of mine. As hard as you can drive a 144 straight 6 anyway.
The 144 had 85 hp and was SLOOOOW. Regardless, this would still be a fun and interesting car to own, and the price is on-target given the miles and condition.
The poor lathargic 144 c.i. Six couldn’t get out of its own way.
tail lights tell me it is a ’60 model.
61s had little round taillights like the 62-63s.
that said, late year vehicles often got titled as the next year.
we had a 31 Model A titled as a 32…….
The four round taillights didn’t come out until ’62.
Boy thrift and power a deadly combination. I love it. DZ interesting comment on it being a Comet. Doesn’t say Mercury anywhere on it. Early in the day to learn something new, Thx
Dry rot crack on the left rear tire, and it appears to be a different brand than the right rear.
Yes LR tire different than other 3. Found guy with 67 Mustang he was scrapping and he told me I could have 14″ wheels and tires if I replaced with ones he could tow to scrap with. Put 4 13″ on Mustang….tires were “so so”at best…but the 14’s gave “beefier” look. The worst tire being different brand, wear on inside and weather cracked…hence I placed on LR. I put double row spoke caps with ford logo that I believed were used on early Mustangs? They stuck out too far for my taste on my 62 Falcon but on bigger Comet gave it a “Little Lincoln” look.
A 4dr powder blue ’61 was my Dad’s first company car as a newly hired Celina Insurance Group adjuster after he left the Dayton, OH police department. Great little car albeit low on power.
If memory serves, my dad had a ‘61 Comet with a 221cid V8. That was a long time ago and I could be mistaken.
Time plays tricks on old minds.
Could have been a 62 Meteor, Bob. 62 was the first year for the 221 in the Fairlane and Meteor.
Dweezilaz, I do believe you are correct. My dad’s car was a 1962 Meteor. 221 cid V8 with 2 speed auto.
My grandfather’s was a ‘63 260 cid.
Thanks for the correction.
It’s sick, but the 60-61 Comet is the top of my list of cars I want to own before I pass.
Looks nice and clean.
If it was with in driving distance, I would have to go see it. It would be just like going to look at the Golden Lab Puppy ,you don’t need, you know you will be bringing it home.
Like the Comet, the Valiant began life as a distinct model. It didn’t become a Plymouth until the 1961 model year.
Too bad this Comet doesn’t have the 170 Special. I had a ’67 Econoline with one. You couldn’t kill that thing with a sledgehammer. My cousin’s grandfather had a ’63 Falcon Ranchero with a 170 and about 30,000 original miles. He drove it every day a half-mile down the road to his mailbox and back again, and into town a few times a month. He let my cousin drive it on occasion, until he rolled it off the road into a cornfield in 1978. He demolished a beautiful little car he shouldn’t have been driving in the first place, seeing as how he was only 14 and too young to drive. :)
Thus is what a Barn Find should look like.
Very beautiful indeed.
Grab it.😎
It is telling it doesn’t say Mercury anywhere on the car.
Does anybody know how the VIN starts?
My books are packed at the moment.
1960-61 Comets were marketed as a stand-alone marque. They didn’t become Mercurys until the 1962 model year.
The data plate starts with a (1) for year 1961- then (H) Loraine, Ohio plant..then (11)= 2 dr sedan..then (S)= 144 cu in engine….the only problem of origionality comes up in the color code (M)= 1 color car..Sultana white…if the car has 2 colors there’d be (2) codes…thus it has been repainted and NOT origional…. it’s been listed for over a month because it’s overpriced AND a stick transmission…..personally I like the car and stick trans…I will be contacting the seller….
what a beauty , reminds me a lot on the the Ford 12M P4 they sold at that time here at us in Germany, friend of me had one in the same colour combination with awsome V4 engine also Saab used later
Woodstock is 30 mins from me. If anyone is interested in this beauty I’d be glad to look and photograph for you. I have a fair bit of experience with comets and Falcons, Let me know!!
cheers
GPC
Hey Gaspumpchas.
..I’m interested in this car even if it isn’t origional as the seller claims….see my comment above to Miguel about the paint code..am wondering if this has a repaint partially inside and outside..and is the body as clean as claimed… and the mileage documented in any way…Thanks for the help and eyes before I venture 1000 miles with my $$$$
Sure Al…give me a call I can look at it tomorrow or later in the week.
home phone 845-635-3662 give me a call, do you have any contact info of the owner, Supposed to be good weather tomorrow,
Cheers
Charlie
OPHAN cars RULE!!!!
Even the early 200 six is different from the later – block wise….FOMOCO was going thru some changes…..
Even though a repaint and the 144, I don’t think the seller is that far off on the asking price, given condition. If it were mine, I’d be tempted to find another cylinder head and toss on a Offenhauser tri-carb intake, which was a period mod available back in the 60s. Yeah, it’d still be a 144, but I’d have the original head and carb and have a period correct mod. Sure, tuning could be an issue, but it would give it better drivability, even in town, once you got it dialed in for summer driving.
When I was a kid and these were new, I was not very happy with the way automotive styling was going, as carmakers fumbled around for what to do in a post-fin world. The long and low, graceful fin designs morphed into awkward, toady designs, and the Comet certainly was all that, in spades. I hated them. Ten years on, a girlfriend in high school had an all black one just like this, and I was amused to actually ride around in one. FOMOCO had their quirky design ideas, and it was fun to compare the differences to my 60 Invicta convertible. It WAS a cheap, toady little car ! But time has a way of changing one’s perspective, and their rarity today, and quaint “toadiness” puts a big smile on my face now. Not a car I’d really want to own, but such a pleasant break from the “usual suspects” of the fin era that choke every car function. Nice to see something different.
its been redone don’t know why none of u ford guys a green gas cap not sure but the shifter and single are black I thought they were the same color as the steering colum not a big ford guy but just a few things carpit looks replaced and not org to many flags for me I would need more sure paper work to prove org but just me ben in fl
….as previous owner can tell you…like internet dating….looks BETTER in pics! Got wheels and tires from 67 Mustang and yes one was different than other 3.Carpet was badly faded…till I spray painted…was surprised how good it came out?! Rear bumper was rough and I replaced with nice one from 63. I replace carb. with one I bought off e-bay and only “rebuild” consisted of new accelerator pump.Turquoise cap and roof looked cool…but showed even more imperfections than the off white. 144 with j code rear(3:50 limited slip) seemed peppy and ran like a watch… and believe mileage correct…but unsure what kind of barn it was stored in?! I paid $7500 from e-bay plus shipping from Ohio to N.Y. and was “dissapointed”. Sold car for $8,500 which was about $200 more than I had in it..plus my time! Only thing new owner did was remove wire spoke caps and painted 4 lug wheels white to give what he thought “Nascar” look? Nice running,driving car but not a “creampuff”. Wish I could find people as observant when i was buying!
This is a cool find! Pretty rare to see one like this.
Would love to find a BOSS 429 in this condition!!
I used to think the same way … bling, flash, go-fast was the only way to go. Somehow the image of Grandma Pittipoo and her “Frugalmobile” has overtaken the “bigshot” cars for me. I find the odballs vastly more appealing now. One can see a Hemi car, Boss, or Shelby, or big block Chevelle at ANY car function. The Comet, the 57 SkyHawk, the 58 Fireflite, these are cars you NEVER see anymore. Nevermind the Metz, Lambert, Dort, or Locomobile …. I guess I like the unusual or bore easily with “the usual” ….
I’m a FoMoCo guy to the core (Mustang specifically, love most other vintage models), but I also appreciate the oddballs. I’m a third generation AMC’er (grandfather and parents all owned a Hornet, Pacer or Concord at one point or another). It’s given me a great appreciation for Studes, Ramblers, Nashes, and the like. Only liking Chevy or Chrysler doesn’t make sense to me. I may never own one, but I’ll take a ‘69 Camaro or Mach l, Rick Simon’s Power Wagon, or a ‘61 Rambler wagon if given the opportunity.
You’d have to be whacked to like a Chrysler product ! 😜
Gotta love the Orphans!!!!!
ORPHAN cars RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A guy could have himself an affordable toy with this one for sure! Granted, I’d want the next generation version with a bit more power but at this price you could still enjoy driving it without hurting your wallet too bad if you got a rock chip in the paint.
By-and-large, I can find something positive to say about almost any pre-1970 U.S-made car, be they dime-a-dozen Chevys and Fords, or ultra-rare orphans. Where it all goes south for me is when puffed-up hypesters want to blather on about some “one-of-ninteen” car that looks just like the 23 of the same car one sees at every #@! car show, except the options are a different mix. Just because a build has a lottery-odds accumulation of paint, parts, and options, does not a rare car make ! Sure, it does if one stims on the ultra-rare houndstooth pattern trunk liner that was only installed in 138 cars, but when combined with the tan bench seat interior and lack of rear seat lighter, makes it one-of-one ever built !!! Really ? Who cares ?
Show me something I have not seen in 20 years, or never seen before. THAT is fun car spotting !
Getting back to this Comet … it’s a toady little Grandma-mobile. Underpowered and a little ungainly, it is cute as a bug’s ear and would be a one car car show at every stop you made. Its value is in the smiles you would put on everyones’ face that saw it going down the road. Why do so many car people think massive horsepower and show car sexy are the only way to go ? This car would be a hoot to own and drive, and it would anything but ordinary !
I’m with you on that Burger…