Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

13k Original Miles: 1964 Mercury Comet

In its 55-years, this Mercury Comet has only been owned by two people, and that second owner has decided that the time has come to part with the car. It is a solid and largely original car that will need little work to really stand out. Barn Finder Chris M spotted the Comet for us, so thank you so much for that. If this is a car that really appeals to you, it is located in Staten Island, New York, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The car has certainly generated some interest since being listed because some pretty healthy bidding has pushed the price along to $2,750, and the reserve has been met. There are also currently 90 individuals who are watching the listing.

The owner of the Comet supplies plenty of photos of the car, and they paint a very encouraging picture of its condition. The floors look nice and solid, while these few spots that you can see on the passenger side of the vehicle in this photo would seem to be about the full extent of the rust issues. The Palomino paint is said to be original, and apart from a few little nicks and marks, it is essentially in pretty decent condition. The majority of the exterior trim and chrome looks really nice, although there are some trim pieces missing from the rear of the car, above and below the tail-lights. The wheels that are fitted to the car aren’t original, but the original wheels and hubcaps are included in the sale.

The interior of the Comet is also in generally good condition, with only one or two items that will need to be addressed. The most obvious of these is the lack of front carpet, and it isn’t clear why this was removed. The rest of the interior trim and upholstery look to be in fantastic condition for its age, while the headliner also looks to be in as-new condition. The owner makes reference to the radio working well, but the one that is fitted to this car certainly isn’t original, nor are the speakers fitted into the rear parcel tray. Otherwise, the rest of the interior looks to be nice and original, while the addition of working factory air conditioning should make for a comfortable ride.

Mechanically, the Comet is also said to be completely original. The engine bay presents very nicely and is home to the 200ci 6-cylinder engine and a 2-speed automatic transmission. Keeping our positive theme going with the Comet, the owner states that the car runs and drives very nicely. He even supplies a photo of the car cruising quite happily at 75mph on the open road, and he says that the car would do that all day. He also states that the Comet has only covered a genuine 13,874 miles, but doesn’t mention whether he holds any evidence to verify this claim.

If the mileage claims on this Mercury Comet are true and can be verified, then this is a pretty special old classic. The fact that plenty of people are watching the listing tends to indicate that it has generated its fair share of interest. However, bidding on the car still remains relatively modest at this point. Do we have any readers who are willing to jump aboard the bidding train?

Comments

  1. Avatar Will Fox

    Caveat Emptor people. A cold beer says there is little, if any documentation to verify the 13K mile claim. It’s clean for what it is, and in decent shape but too many questions need answered.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Steve R

      I don’t believe the mileage claim. As usual, there is a picture of the odometer that proves mileage.

      Steve R

      Like 3
      • Avatar Dave

        Ponder this…at what age, rareness, or desire does displayed mileage become irrelevant? I suspect that all of us have one vehicle that if it was for sale and reasonably priced the mileage wouldnt matter. I once bought a 1983 GTI for $300 because its odometer displayed 500,000 miles. I lived 1.5 miles away and put 1500 miles on it driving it home.

        I bought it because I wanted it and the price was right.

        Like 2
      • Avatar Steve R

        Dave, it matters if the seller is lying. Buying any used car has a large degree of trust involved. If you don’t believe a claim, which is used to to increase the price can you trust them about anything else. If there is no documentation I wish they wouldn’t even bring it up. The points you bring up will sell a car if the condition lines up with a reasonable asking price, but that is often not the case. The claim is often designed to soak the naive.

        Steve R

        Like 3
      • Avatar Al

        Selling out of Staten Island, NY. Has FL plates. So wonder if the flipper bought it from a guy in FL? The 90 yr old guy enjoyed the special parking only sign in the trunk and the 1964 front plate? Sporty mirrors and mags? Flippers don’t invest in this stuff. IDK. Skeptical on the story here.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Dave

        Steve, if I was buying a vehicle as an investment that was advertised as investment grade then your point holds water.

        If, on the other hand, I was buying a vehicle with the intention of restoring enough of it to drive or simply because I wanted it then the mileage becomes irrelevant.
        I don’t do paint or bodywork, but I can replace anything else affected by actually driving the car.

        If I’m driving around in my first real car, a 63 Olds Cutlass convertible, I will have replaced and/or updated everything necessary to make it safe and enjoyable.

        Those six little numbers under the speedo are the last things I’m thinking about.

        I understand that there are scammers out there but most of us are savvy enough to separate the wheat from the chaff.

        Like 4
      • Avatar Will Fox

        All THAT proves is what’s shown: A reading of 13K some-odd miles. That doesn’t “prove” it didn’t roll over. I could drive a car (and have) for 113K and it would show the same.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Miguel

        I can’t believe people are even talking about mileage on a 55 year old car.

        If anybody pays extra because of low number on a dash, they are crazy.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar TimS

    Nice looking dry-day cruiser. Sure would’ve liked a chance to buy it for what the flipper paid.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Mountainwoodie

      Leaving aside our natural tendency to disbelieve ANYTHING a car seller says, you have to admit that the car looks right.

      Looks like a small repair to the right corner by the door but otherwise pretty sano.

      My grandparents had a hotel( by the pix looks more like a stagecoach stop, but unless horses walk on water……..)…… back in the 1890’s on Staten Island……

      If anyone goes and looks at this let us know. For my nickels I’m thinking its the real deal……….

      Be great to own and drive just to escape the present.

      Like 4
  3. Avatar Rich

    Remember the odometer rolls over 000000.00 to start a new roll again

    Like 1
    • Avatar Miguel

      Yes on new cars but on this one it wold have done it at 00000.0

      Like 4
  4. Avatar J_Paul Member

    I’m going to assume the mileage is over 100k, so I won’t feel guilty about saving this car from it’s relentless beigeness.

    Neat find, though those modernized door mirrors look quite out of place.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Angrymike

      I agree, with that int, black would be perfect. Drop in a 4-5 speed with a 289, it would be perfect ! I really like these old Ford’s now, after ignoring them for years. I’d like to build something like this or a 61-63 Falcon.

      Like 3
    • Avatar scottymac

      The four lug hubs and drum brakes will limit your choice for nice wheels, but about anything that fits an early Mustang will fit this. Wonder why the trim is missing around the taillight panel? I vote for the 113,000 mile verdict.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar local_sheriff

    This is such a great find of an unusual car that once again proves cool vehicles still can be found without costing an arm and a leg.
    It also proves my theory on beige cars having superior survival rate!

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Ron

    I’d check this one out for sure before bidding. Where are the side moldings, the COMET letters on the 1/4 panels, the 202 or 404 emblems – or any other identifying insignia – on fenders. . .? To me, a red flag is waving on this car. I have not seen factory bucket seats on a base model Comet like this one; I might be mistaken but I think they were options only on the Calientes and Cyclones. While this might be a Caliente I see no evidence to prove it. I owned a 64 Comet 202 when new and now own a 404 which I purchased about 2 years ago for less than the current bid on this one. I know for sure what I got before buying it, and thought I paid a very fair price for it. This one? Hmmmm. Just my 2 cents.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Ron

      CORRECTION – and I learnt something – body style 62C is a 404 with bucket seats so I stand corrected on that item. Still wonder about the trim moldings…

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Ron

    CORRECTION-I learned something on this one. This is a body style 62C which is a model 404 with bucket seats. I have never seen this in a 404 before. I stand corrected on that issue.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Pete Phillips

      That still doesn’t answer the question about where are the 404 emblems; where is the 404 side chrome trim, where is the Comet name on the side? The seller’s description says it is all original–yeah, right, and those ugly gray racing wheels were all original, too, I guess. I don’t buy that for one second. Car has been completely repainted and they mudded over all of the trim attachment holes and lost the trim. What else is the seller lying about? I would run the other way on this one, and that’s saying a lot from me, because I’m one to give most sellers the benefit of the doubt. Not this time! I had an elderly female neighbor in the late 1970s who had a 1964 Comet 404. I helped her maintain it and drove it occasionally, so I’m not a complete fool on these cars.

      Like 1
  8. Avatar RH FACTOR

    64 would have come with a 170. Unless someone swapped it.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Ron

      On the VIN tag (shown in the eBay listing), the engine code is T – which according to the ’60-’64 Mercury Parts Book – is a 200 cid engine.

      Like 2
    • Avatar Oldog4tz

      Or even a 144, certainly not a 200

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Pete Phillips

    I also question that very strange combination of paint colors: Beige with a black roof? I would bet Sunday’s dinner that Mercury never put out a ’64 Comet with that paint combination.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Ron

      VIN Paint code is G – which the Parts Book says is Palomino. But no mention of the black roof. And yeah – I have little doubt that it’s had a repaint. Probably why the moldings and badges are missing.

      Like 1
    • Avatar John A Maletic

      You’ve failed the color-blind test. The roof is NOT black. It’s a dark brown, not a strange combination at all.

      Like 0
  10. Avatar TimM

    It is so hard for anyone to believe a car like this having such low miles on it!! No one bought these cars as an investment they were to drive!! Did he buy it and live in walking distance of work and the grocery store??? Sure it’s clean but the mileage is unbelievable!!!

    Like 1
  11. Avatar leiniedude Member

    All that being said, for $4,371 it seems like a reasonable way for someone to get back in the hobby. We have all seen scrap come through here for more money. Best of luck to the new owner. Ended:Sep 08, 2019 , 8:00PM
    Winning bid:US $4,371.01
    [ 46 bids ]

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Del

    neat car

    good price

    buy it

    Like 0
  13. Avatar TheGasHole

    I just came for the “those aren’t original miles!!!!!!!” comments.

    Like 1

Leave a Reply to J_Paul Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.