Seeing a restored classic or one that’s been turned into a sleek Restomod has a way of bringing back nostalgic recollections from my younger days, and they’re nearly always good memories. It’s often a case where the car is an admirable model a friend had growing up, or one I wanted to own but couldn’t afford at the time, and now feel it would be rewarding to go back years later and make that dream a reality. However, I don’t recall anyone from my past expressing a specific interest in driving a 1975 Mercury Comet, nor do I remember these autos being hot topics of conversation among my peers growing up. The good news is this one here on Coyote Classics might be among the most satisfying builds for this type of car ever, so it may be time to add one of Mercury’s shooting stars to your must-own bucket list. Priced at $37,995, it’s located in Greene, Iowa, and our thanks go out to reader JDC for the fine tip here!
Sharing many similarities with the Ford Maverick, the Comet was branded a compact when the fifth and final generation of production began in 1971, running through 1977 when the model was permanently retired from the Mercury lineup. In 1975, a pair of inline-6 engines was a possibility, with a 302 V8 topping the chart as the largest factory powerplant available, producing around 120 horsepower. Powering this one now is a 4.6-liter V8 sourced from a 2008 Mustang, which made 300 HP in bone-stock form, and for even more fun, it’s connected to a 5-speed manual transmission. The third member is a 9-inch limited-slip rear end with 3.50 gears.
By 1975, the distance between the front bumper and grille had grown significantly on the Comet, and I’m guessing that was to ensure the car met the federally mandated front-end crash tests. Other than that, most Comets from this era have a similar overall appearance, and this one’s a real beauty on the outside. The previous owner says it received a frame-off restoration, with the body subjected to one hundred hours of block sanding before the fresh yellow paint was applied. The scoop and black hood treatment further enhance the sporty nature of the exterior, with the Billet wheels looking right at home here.
For a project that’s reported to have cost over $75,000, I’d expect a spectacular interior, and thankfully, this one doesn’t disappoint. The aftermarket steering wheel is fitted to a tilt steering column, along with a nice set of AutoMeter gauges installed in the dash. I’m certainly spotting very little to find fault with here, as this one appears to have had just about everything done right. My only concern is that even with the high amount spent to build this 1975 Mercury Comet, is there enough demand out there to recoup even half of that investment? What do you think?
Nice build. At least its not Caliente Red.
Not much fun spending $75 and only asking a little more than half back.
Like almost every hot rod ever built, this one needs a couple of changes to suit my taste.
Smaller wheels (un-plated Torq-thrusts or even steelies with dog-dish caps, please), bumpers from an earlier Comet/Maverick, and a different steering wheel head the list. I’m sure the builder — and many others — like what’s there. I’m not wild about ’em. The yellow paint screams “Hey, pull me over!” but I still dig it.
If the Comet runs and drives as well as it looks, I could rock it all day.
Can’t quite go for the ask, though I can hardly blame the seller for not wanting to be totally underwater. Nice, nice piece.
Right on Ray.
yup, all on my list of “gone too far”. Along w/9 inch, engine displacement (5 oh’s fine as its sefi) dash gauges’n console.
For the “not enuff” list, agreed: smooth the bumpers or the whole project’s a miss. Just a minor detail like that is really an eye sore ina over all look (I’m surprised as it seems a small detail but Does have big effect…
Good to see U around again more Mike
All that time spent on the body and they leave those god-awful bumpers on it. I don’t think that t has a frame. weren’t they unibody?
Yes, they were unibody cars, which is an area of concern in this car. They cut away the shock towers to make room for the Coyote motor, but those towers helped stiffen the body. So unless some structure was added to replace the stiffness those towers provided, then a design of already questionable stiffness has just become a much more flexible car! That’s never good. The less expensive fix involves a new front subframe, with subframe connectors welded to the body to add structure and stiffness. A better, but more expensive fix is to put a full custom frame under the body, to replace the structure that was cut out and restore the structure and stiffness that disappeared when the shock towers were cut away.
They didn’t want to spring for the Coyote?
My only wish on this is that they had started with an earlier model Comet, from before the bumpers had become steel girders. Other than that, I love it.
Very nice build, but it’s a shame someone did all that work and kept the 5-MPH bumpers.
It’s not an easy swap, as it’s not just the front bumpers that would have to be changed. And I commend them for keeping them original. I only wish they’d started with an earlier model and it wouldn’t have been an issue.
The shock towers have been removed and an entirely different front suspension and drivetrain has been bolted in. A sheetmetal swap is kid stuff by comparison. Besides, the front end had to be removed to accommodate the shock tower mods, so half the work was already done. Why bother keeping the bumpers original when so much else has been permanently modified?
Maybe he likes the built-in picnic bench seating when he goes to car shows(?)
They’re especially bad on the Comet because they used the same front bumper as the Maverick and just set it further away from the body to clear the Bunkie beak.
I suspect at the time those choices were made there still wasn’t supposed to be a ’75 Maverick – Comet because the Granada and Monarch weren’t yet pushed slightly upmarket. So this was a one year stopgap move that ended up lasting 4 years.
They did a really nice job on this Comet. I’d bet its a blast to run it through the gears. Even though its a big bumper car, it looks great, and to quote what Geomechs says… I wouldn’t kick it off my driveway.
Horrid bumpers tor that time period…
“Frame off” restoration?? These cars were unibody, no frame. As the past owner of a ‘71 Comet that I special ordered when new, and a ‘72 Comet that I purchased in 1973 I am more than familiar with this model Mercury. The bumpers on the post ‘73 cars were hideous as mentioned in the above comments, if you are willing to cut the shock towers and install a “Pinto” front suspension then you should have the courage or cash to loose the bridge beam bumpers. Most of the other bling on the example were owners choice but definitely not mine. I hope this finds a good home.
All that work and didn’t ditch the battering-ram bumpers!
All that work and they didn’t back-date to the small bumpers? Shakes head and walks away without understanding…..
I’m guessing that the front suspension/steering conversion kit didn’t include anything involving the bumpers.
It appears he used an air axe to cut the hole in the hood, then tried to cover it up with cheap chrome door edge guard. Why would somebody do something like that?
lot of work and money spent. i could think of better ways to spend this build money
The Good: 4.6L Coyote V8, 5-speed stick, “Screaming Yellow” paint, A/C, tilt wheel, aftermarket bucket seats, getting rid of the stock shock towers, glove box and three-point seatbelts. The Bad: No subframe connectors or a full frame! These were “Flexible Flyers” back in the day, and the body needs some stiffening to cope with all of the extra power! The Ugly: Federal “Bash Beam” bumpers! Why spend all of that money and not ditch the “park benches” at each end of the car? The Verdict: A good car that has had all of the hard work done to it, which is why the owner is under water and needs to sell! GLWTS!
Owner might not be under water – – – a flipper with the car bought from an estate or bought from somebody who just plain needed the cash….
True, but if you “need the cash”, that’s kind of the same thing as being “under water”, isn’t it? Just sayin’.
They had me until I saw those bumpers.
I come out of the Volvo 240 big bumper era. We called them “Platforms” or “Commandos”.
Someone actually took this to this car to this level? Wow.
And now they are betting that someone else wants it for that price? Double wow.
The seller would stand a better chance of getting most of his money back if he takes it apart and sells all of those pricey parts.
I’m with almost everybody else here on this one. Why spend 75k and not swap on earlier bumpers? Then again 75k on a mid 70’s Comet? Work looks great but on a 75 Comet, with those bumpers? Why?
A clear case of ‘to each their own’.
Good luck recouping sanity.
The seller may not be the person who dropped a fortune on this financial black hole, the seller might have bought it ‘right’.
Nice build and car……..but, those bumpers are hideous!
All I see are BUMPERS….bumpers bumpers everywhere.