We’ve seen a few Pintos and Vegas here lately, but not nearly enough Comets! Here’s a fantastic-looking fancy Maverick, it’s a 1971 Mercury Comet. This solid beauty was sent in by Barn Finds reader Pat L and it’s on Craigslist with a healthy asking price of $3,700.
This new Comet design was quite different than the previous generation cars, to say the least. The 1971-1977 Comet was based on the Ford Maverick and it’s easy to see the resemblance. This is the last-generation for the Comet as the Mercury Zephyr followed in 1978.
The photos in this listing aren’t the best, with only two full exterior photos, one passenger-side interior photo, and no engine photos. But, Barn Finds reader AMCSTEVE has a good theory as to why a lot of sellers don’t provide a full bank of nice photos: then they can weed out the tire-kickers and field actual phone calls (the original function of the ancestor to your $120 a month smart phone) from seriously interested folks. That makes total sense to me, sorry for always bringing up the quality, or lack thereof, with the photos in ads.
The interior looks solid with just that one odd wear spot on the upper-passenger seat back and some carpet wear. The seller says that it has a, “new motor, 6 cylinder, automatic transmission, new tires, original condition.” I’m not sure if that means that it has a new transmission or the “new” parts are the engine and tires? You’ll have to take AMCSTEVE’s advice and give them a call to find out! This really does look like a nice, solid ’71 Comet, most of them aren’t in this fine condition so many decades after leaving the factory. It isn’t a Comet GT, but it would be a fun, weekend cruiser for local car shows. Are there any fans of this era of Comet out there?
Sold! Watch for a flipper to have it on eBay.
Bet your right! Is there anybody out there that actually buys a car because they want- except me.
I buy because I want, can’t sell
Wow, Pat finds a new car every day for Barnfinds!
Damn. I was about to make the call. Maybe I’m weird but i love these Comets/Mavericks. Of course i would prefer an 8 cyl. GT, but this one was in such good condition
Mavericks can be done up right !
This was a nice start for whatever you had in mind. I would have done a simple driver freshening, and a v8 conversion. I’ve always been a big fan of the Maverick Grabbers. As much fun as a mustang at half the price.
Mavericks were the poor mans Mustangs, you could buy them cheap and make them just as fast. I like both the Maverick & Comets. They were the granny sleeper cars of the era.
one of my favorite cars ever was my early ’70 Maverick.
green with the black/white plaid seats.
because it was built in calendar year ’69 it had some unique features-
ignition switch was below the dash and the car had no locking steering column.
wheels were 14″ instead of the later 13s.
paid $1,100 +my 64 Rambler Classic wagon at Humphries Ford (Delaware OH) in late ’72. drove it hard and sold it in Tampa for $300 in ’74 or 75. would LOVE to find another like it…….
Still a nice looking car
Another great find. Hope this was bought by an enthusiast and not simply for resale. Great photo provided by boxdin. Now there’s a car with purpose and stance. Just goes to show, they’re still out there.
Had a chance to buy a mint, mint granny owned, royal blue one in early 80s…girlfriend didn’t like it,..wanted a more modern car. The “wear” on the passenger seat is actually sun burn on the vinyl. Typical of the period from non solar tinted glass. It wasn’t invented yet.
which 6? o0OOPPps – gone.
The 250/4.1 stang w/2 webers would do
I’ve owned a 72 mercury comet for something like 13 years. Like most of them it had a strait 6 and drum brakes all around to start. She’s a little angrier these days. Healthy sbf, 4 speed, posi 9″, discs all round… worst part about owning one: either tracking down obscure mercury only parts, or getting asked about my “sweet ass vega”
Is this car still for sale?im interested.
Love these cars.