Introduced five years to the day after the Ford Mustang, the Maverick was another sales hit for FOMOCO. It was a simple, cheap car designed to replace the aged Falcon. Because sales were so brisk, Mercury lobbied for and got their version of the car, wearing the revived Comet nameplate. It sold well in part due to soaring gasoline prices in the mid-1970s. The seller has a 1974 edition, a 4-door sedan he/she refers to as a “sleeper” because it has a beefier 302 cubic inch V8 under the hood. Located in Argyle, Texas, this traffic light challenger is available here on craigslist for $8,500. Thanks for the tip, Barn Finder Barney!
Other than a different front clip and rear taillights, the Comet was a Maverick with slightly better trim. It filled a sales void at Mercury in that nearly a half a million copies were sold between 1971 and 1977 when both cars were retired. The 1974 model year was the best, with 61,000 multi-door sedans exiting dealer lots. The majority probably had inline-6 power, but the 302 V8 was an option and the seller’s car has one.
This ’74 Comet isn’t likely to beat out a 1969 Mach 1, but we’re told it will squeak the rear tires going into second gear (automatic transmission). The 302 has an upgraded camshaft and free-flowing exhaust plus an aluminum radiator. The carburetor is still a 2-barrel, but the seller says it has been tuned by the famed car guy Bill Brown. Aftermarket air conditioning was added for comfort, not speed.
Wearing Saddle Bronze Metallic paint, the car was detailed a couple of years ago. It’s not perfect, and there are some 50-year-old scratches and dings at what is likely to be 110,000 miles. So, if you like a touch of patina, this is your car. The seat covers appear to have been redone, and the required headrests have been omitted. A newer windshield is on board, and the seller has a replacement dash pad. The seller even has a Marti Report for the Merc. And two videos are thrown in, including a walkaround and an “action” clip.
Wow, that’s one heck of a front bumper! Ramming speed!!!
I was all in until I saw the dash cap. Too bad…
You could tell the Maverick and Comet were at the end of their runs, when the stylists at Ford gave the floor sweeper carte blanch on “integrating” those gub’ment approved bumpers onto these cars.
I think that you would have to be packing a bit more horsepower than this, to be considered a “sleeper “.
Sleeper, that’s funny.
Steve R
No pic of the Marti report 📋
The bumper situation on these Mavericks/Comets is astonishing. The comparable GM cars -and especially Chrysler’s Duster/Valiant/Dart were able to integrate crash bumpers pretty seamlessly. It’s sad because the 70-72 Mavericks were pretty good looking cars- even the 4 doors. Also, unfortunately- the intrusive shock towers make a V8 in this car a tough proposition to work on. All that said, I’d love to have a 71/72 w/ 250 L6
It’s been juiced up a little bit according to the listing but 0 to 60 would probably be in the 9 to 10 second range even with the mods. So yes, it’s a sleeper, in the sense it would put you to sleep as you waited for the quarter mile to go by!
That being said, if you went further and put a 4 barrel, headers, true dual exhaust, and a high stall converter on it, you could make it reasonably quick. Still not fast by today’s standards , but sprightly enough for what it is