At first, the Comet was Mercury’s version of the Ford Falcon, but it would be built for two years before any Mercury badging appeared on the car. That changed in 1962 when it began a full-fledged Mercury offering. The second generation appeared in 1964, having a more squarish look compared to its predecessor. This 1964 Comet, likely the mid-series 404 model, seems to be a true barn find, located under wraps in Whiteford, Maryland. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace where the seller has set the price at $4,000 OBO.
The first incarnation of the Comet was around through 1969 as a compact and then an intermediate. It would be reborn again as a compact in 1971 as a derivative of the Ford Maverick, which carried it through 1977. For 1964, it would take on a Lincoln Continental appearance in the front with its big, toothy grillwork. Comet production would reach 190,000 units that year, of which 12,500 were the 404 2-door sedans, which we believe the seller’s car to be. Mercury Stuff is a good resource for production data.
We don’t get much information or photos of the seller’s 1964 Comet. We’re told it has 46,000 miles on the odometer, which suggests it’s been squirreled away for quite some time. It has a six-cylinder engine, which would be the 170 cubic inch inline motor with a 2-speed automatic transmission. In the daylight, this would have been an attractive car back in the day, finished in burgundy and chrome with a black interior. From what we can see of the body, it looks to be in decent shape, although there is rust forming around the driver’s side wheel well. The rest of it might polish out okay. The one-shot we get of the interior shows the bench seat sitting rather ajar. In the barn setting, there appear to be two of these cars, or at least a Falcon to keep the Comet company. This car might be an attractive acquisition, but there’s not much here to go on to pull the trigger.
Disappointing in the lack of decent pictures and there’s really no effort in the text to entice anyone to get fired up about this car. Still, for the price, it warrants a look and the seller is open to a lower offer it seems. If the rust isn’t too bad it might be a decent project, these were good looking cars. Too bad it isn’t a little closer as I’d take a look; it could be a bargain.
Based on the amount of rust visible on the drivers side quarter panel I’d take a hard pass. The 64 Comet 2 door hardtop is great looking cars, the 2 door sedans, not so much. It’s interior looks thrashed and has a 6 cylinder, it doesn’t have many redeeming qualities other than being old, especially with the $4,000 asking price. There are better cars out there that cost only a little more, a smart shopper will keep looking. Unfortunately, this is the type of car a beginner purchases, they tend to only look at the purchase price, not the costs, nor time, involved in resurrecting a major project like this.
Steve R
A good education is never cheap. A beginner will learn how to restore “projects” on a car like this. Trips to Harbor Freight, boxes from Eastwood, hours searching the internet for parts, maybe hanging out with local enthusiasts to learn the tricks of the trade. Could be a dad and kid project too ( “I’ll pay for the tools and parts, but the first time you come home drunk it goes!” ) in which a whole lot of life’s lessons are learned.
The statement in parentheses came from my late father. I never betrayed his trust.
You are right, a good education is never cheap. However, it doesn’t justify buying a car that’s overpriced, like this one. If someone decides to do that, make that decision for a car that’s more desirable. Maybe a hardtop, like the one featured in the video below, not the sedan with the awkward roof that ruins the cars lines.
Steve R
“Overpriced” is in the eye of the beholder. Some years ago I watched a bunch of kids pushing a disheveled Honda CB750 and I just knew by the looks on their faces that the bike wasn’t going to end up online. That said, the decision to restore anything is often driven by emotion and not by any form of logic. In this instance, while you wouldn’t invest the capital in this car odds are that someone will. In that case I wish them all the best.
As I said last time one of these showed up; I wouldn’t have any ’64 Comet for an OE build. However in built in classic race car livery like the Gordon Shedden #69 wheeled at Goodwood a Comet looks right at home.
Though 4k isn’t alot of $ in the vintage car world, Comets are still regularly found at fairly low values. I haven’t seen this IRL but I think seller has set the price on the optimistic – for him – side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEtDh8VLfX0
Would make a great gasser…
There is one identical to this, color and all, in slightly better condition for $2500 on the local Facebook Marketplace within 100 miles of Huntsville, AL. If anyone is interested…I’ll go look for you!
“At first”, the Comet was built to be marketed as a compact Edsel- split grille and all. Since the bottom fell out of the Edsel market (about Day 2), the decision was made in late ‘59 to pass the Comet off to Lincoln-Mercury dealers. By late ‘61 the Edsel was relegated to a very recent nightmare, and the Comet, now sans the crazy diagonal fin/tail light treatment, was designated as the Mercury Comet. My sister bought a ‘61 Comet for a good price in ‘63, and drove the wheels off it. Easy to drive. Put it in “D”, mash the throttle, and wait until the desired velocity was achieved. Warmed up, on the flats, 65 was all she wrote, but my Mom and sister both enjoyed driving it.
What do you get when you cross a comet with a Volks Wagon?????
Vomit.
Joke of the ‘60’s
Volkswagen.
Not the funniest joke from the 1960s, but not bad either.
What do you get when you cross a joke and a Volkswagon?
“Jokeswagon”. I had 9 of them.
NEVER AGAIN!