In the first half of the 1960s, the Comet nameplate applied to a compact sold by Mercury. Then it adorned a mid-size Merc for several years. Given the success Ford was having with the Maverick beginning in 1969, Mercury dusted off the moniker once more, and it was applied to a Maverick derivative from 1971 to 1977. This 1974 edition may have been a nice car when it was parked 27 years ago, but that’s no longer the case. Mother Nature has had a field day since then, so it’s available in Granite Falls, Washington, and here on craigslist for the cheap wheels price of $500.
The 1970s Comet was a Maverick with a different front clip and taillights. In 1973-74, the bumpers grew to almost ridiculous proportions to avoid major sheet metal changes to satisfy greater DOT safety precautions. The Comet wasn’t as big a seller as the Maverick, but did well in its best year in 1974, 125,000 units vs. 201,000 (the year following the OPEC oil embargo had buyers flocking to fuel-efficient automobiles).
While a 200 cubic-inch inline-6 was standard in the ’74 Comet, a 302 V8 was optional, and that’s what lies under the hood of the seller’s car. Flanked by a 3-speed automatic transmission. We’re told this Merc ran fine the last time it was in service, but that was in 1999. Since then, it’s been parked under cover, though the photos suggest a less favorable location was used. The odometer reads 32,000 miles, but it could be on its second time around or in-op.
The body on this Comet shows a fair amount of rust and – since it’s a 4-door sedan – that may deter anyone from using the Mercury as anything but a donor. The interior may have fared a little better, but this looks like this Comet was more than an economy car when the original owner put down their $4,000 (more or less). Bring a trailer – and maybe a winch – to take this project away. Thanks for the tip, “Curvette”.
I like to give credit where it’s due, at least the seller isn’t asking twice its weight in gold. That said, it probably would look a lot better with a good deep cleaning, which would probably only be worth it if the engine turns freely, meaning it could be running and driveable again.