During the 1960s, the Mercury Comet wore several hats. First it was a compact, then it was a mid-size, and later revived again as a compact. This 1965 edition is the fancier Caliente model, but it has the dreaded four doors that some collectors shy away from. Somewhat battered and beaten, this Mercury is a running project that needs more attention. Located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, this Comet sedan is available here on craigslist for $3,500 OBO. Our thanks go to Mitchell G. for this stacked headlight tip.
When the Comet was conceived in the late 1950s, it was intended to be an Edsel product. But when that brand did its famous crash and burn, the car carried no corporate badging for its first two years (1960 and 1961). Though sold at Mercury dealers, it didn’t get officially adopted by them until 1962. The car was a unibody derivative of the Ford Falcon and kept that association until 1966 when it grew to an intermediate alongside the Ford Fairlane.
Mercury sold 55,500 Comet Caliente’s in 1965 as the top trim level. 20,300 of them were 4-door sedans like the seller’s car with the rest being either 2-door hardtops or convertibles (no wagons in that series). Comets came with a 200 cubic inch inline-6 as standard (the Falcon’s was a 170) and a 289 V8 was optional and that’s what the original owner specified in this Merc.
At 92,000 miles, this Comet may be original though some new parts have been installed to get it going. With a new radiator and gas tank, the car runs if you hotwire it as the keys are MIA. A 3-speed automatic transmission is on board, and we assume it does its job. While it drives around the yard okay, the brakes are suspect and need looking into. The seller bought this car with plans to part it out but now believes it can be saved in its entirety.
You’ll find rust here and there and the driver’s side quarter panel suffered an impact. Also, the interior needs help (at least the upholstery on the front bench seat – duct tape it!). We’re told this machine was a daily driver about five years ago and with some luck and work you might be able to reclaim that status. But then we’re back to the question is four doors too many?
This isn’t a too very bad looking $850 more door Comet.
I had a 65 Comet Caliente, 2 door hardtop. 289 4V automatic with ac, ps, pb. Always thought it looked so much better than the 65 Ford Fairlane. Kept it for many years with the only repair being a water pump replacement. Dependable and pretty fast. And of course, wish I still had it.
I had a ’65 Caliente in high school. I got it from my neighbor lady for $50. It was dead in her back yard. Turns out it had a 289 with a shattered piston laying in the oil pan. Being a broke high school-er, I took the connecting rod to school and cut it down to bolt it back on the crank, took out the two push rods then shorted the spark plug closed. Now it was 7 cyl. Definitely had a shake to it but for a $50 I was on the road! Later traded it for a $40 bag of weed.
Move up a to a ’65 Mustang without it’s 289.