Most folks don’t know or remember that the Comet was original planned to be an Edsel product. That idea went out the window when Edsel folded, so the already-committed Comet was sold at Mercury dealers in 1960-61 without any Mercury badging. That finally changed for 1962, with examples like this beautiful older restoration. It’s said to run well and most of the action it currently sees is in parades and the like. It’s available in Haynesville, Louisiana and here on eBay with the bidding has reached $2,500, but the reserve has not yet been met. Once again, Larry D comes through with a nice tip!
The Comet was never as popular as the Falcon that spawned it. But as a Mercury, the standard trim level on the cars was clearly a step ahead. The name would be used on Mercury products from 1962-69 (first as a compact, later as a mid-size) and again from 1971-77 as the corporate cousin to the Ford Maverick. The earlier Comets used the Falcon platform but had a longer wheelbase which provided a little smoother ride. As a throwback to the previous decade, the earlier Comets wore small tailfins while the Falcon was rounded in the back.
This car received a restoration about a half-decade ago and still looks and drives as it should. The seller describes it as not being perfect, but no immediate flaws seem to jump out. The body is straight, rust doesn’t seem to be present, and the white paint is nice and shiny, but there is a lot of it. Even the air cleaner and valve cover are painted white. The chrome and glass all look fine and the aftermarket wheels give the car a snazzy persona, although the seller says a set of regular steel wheels will also go with the deal.
This Comet won’t be the fastest car you’ve probably ever driven, with the smallest inline-six that Ford/Mercury offered. At 144 cubic inches, it was only rated at 65 hp and – when paired with the 2-speed automatic – might not spin the wheels even on a wet road. Perhaps the sharpest part of the car is the blue and white interior, which looks to have been redone from head to toe. The upholstery material and pattern may not be NOS, but attractive none-the-less.
The claimed mileage is 500, which might be from the time the car was restored since the seller admits using it little. Or perhaps it turned over not long ago. This might end up being a relatively inexpensive classic car purchase for someone, an automobile that may need nothing but being driven. Hagerty says the nicest ’62 Comet (standard, not S-22) is worth about $15,000 and Excellent around $12,500. Here’s a piece of trivia for you, i.e., how did the Comet get its name? Ford purchased the name “Comet” from Comet Coach Company, a builder of funeral coaches, after which they renamed themselves Cotner-Bevington. Perhaps a more dignified name for the business they were in!
That comet has traction control with only 65 gross hp. I bet it was good in the snow with a pair of snow tires! I can’t remember seeing a more vacant engine compartment. That is about as simple as one can have.
It has 85 horses. Right?
According to several websites including automobile-catalog.com the 144 is 85hp.
Prolly Shetland ponies.
Inexpensive way to get into the old car hobby
FWIU the Comet was planned to be *THE* Edsel, no more full-sizer. That’s why it wasn’t officially a Mercury for the first year or two. It was a wise move to give the new car a fresh start and clean slate.
I had a buddy that had a 62 Comet in high school and I had a 62 Fairlane 4dr! We went to Spingarn high here in DC! We would race from the light in front of the school! We would take off and it was so funny,he would beat always by a1/2 fender! Good times! Class of 71!
That car wouldn’t spin the wheels on ice.
Had a 4 door one. Great little car. Very nice ride. Drove it for 10 years. Loved it. The one I regret letting go.
Could maybe a 289 or 302 be dropped into it? Sleeper possibilities?
I think a 260 might fit in there. Plus, tighter suspension, built rear end, 5 speed, 4 wheel Wilwood disc brakes. Let’s see… What else can we do? Hmmm… Yet, I’d love to have this as is. It would make a great little get-around-towner. Either way, cruise ins, ice cream runs, etc.
I had a ’63 convertible with the 6. My first car. I had already bought another car but decided to drive the Comet over the mountain to Santa Cruz, one last time. I knew that I’d have to hit the grade hard to make it to the top. Sucked a valve and ended up selling it for the repair costs. If I had another garage, I’d search one out.
Knew a car buddy who had a 63 Mercury Comet with a 260 V8 and thats what I would like to find to drop in this one. If I couldnt find one to rebuild a 289 would do fine.probably have to do a Mustang 8.5 rear end though. Along with a manual transmission. That would snowball guickly Im sure. Great little cars
It’s been a while since I had a ’63 ranchero and swapping FOMOCO parts was an easy process. Said ranch started with a 260 2spd auto. Trans went bad so I found a 3spd from a fairlane. I had to use floor linkage from a mustang. Later a 302 from a comet, bucket seats from a cougar. Of course those were under 500 dollar cars and on every street corner. I still pause when I see falcon rancheros.
I had one of those. Absolutely the most gutless car I ever owned. 3 on the tree.
One time at the beach my 3 friends had to get out and help push the car up the road to the top of the bluffs.
Can we get the correct HP for the 144ci please? According to Hemmings it was 85hp not 65.
For clarification: Edsel was to be a new division of Ford. One model based on Mercury, one on full size Ford, and the Comet, based on the Falcon for Edsel’s own compact. Things went bad quickly, and by Fall of ‘59 they knew they were in trouble, so the Comet was withheld from Edsel and sold at Mercury dealers- without being identified as a Mercury until ‘62, as stated by the author.
My Sister bought a ‘61 Comet in ‘63 for $1200. It was a great car as long as you weren’t in a hurry. Turn the key, put it in D, put your foot to the floor, and wait for it to attain velocity. Warmed up, on the flat it topped out at 65.
I’ve owned a ‘62 wagon, ‘63 2 door sedan, ‘63 convertible, and and currently a ‘63 1//2 V8 2 door hardtop, and a ‘63 Falcon Ranchero that was modified years ago with a complete Comet dash and front clip.
My 1962 was a salvage car from a tornado in Topeka, Kansas. It was the 6cyl with 3 on the tree. No hot rod but it ran. I spun a rod bearing south of Springfield, MO. and had to take a bus back to Kansas City. Last I saw it was in a field with the hood up…D.O.A.
I wonder why this has the bullet style taillights vs the flat round ones we had on our 62 4Dr., The S-22 had the bullet type.
mustang II style front end out with the towers 347 5 speed disc brakes simple and super fun been there done that….it’s great
My father had a light blue 62 Comet 2dr when I was a kid. We went everywhere in that car. I still have pictures of vacations all around New England and even Canada with the car in some of the photos. Eventually my mom had to learn to drive and that became her car then it was given to one of my sisters. At some point the transmission went and it got junked.
Forgot to mention that ours also had different tail lights than this one.
Most Comets I’ve seen at car shows have the bullet style.
S22 and station wagons had bullet tail lights. https://www.taillightking.com/Mercury_Small.htm
I really like these body styles. There was an older lady here in Chattanooga that owned a white 2 door that was a factory 4-speed behind a V8, a 260 motor I believe.
“restored” , but they leave off all the emblems and paint the shock towers, brackets and radiator support white behind the grille …Ok, pet peeve gripe over !
Does a 250 strait 6 swap right in? That would be perfect for this car. These 140’s with automatic are slow as molasses plus they have a breather pipe in front instead of a pcv valve that can give u & some other motorists! a faceful of smoke at a stop lite or in traffic if the motor is not in the best of shape. lol
Interesting it has springs to hold up the hood – i remember mom’s ’60 comet with prop rod & that hood was heavy as hell to lift up.
Not sure if a 351 anything can fit between the dumb shock towers, let alone a 429 or 460.
Not sure if a cop today would pull you over for not having a driver’s door mirror(optional i assume!). I would add 1 of those before i EVER drove this!
You could do a 170 inline 6 without having to upgrade front and rear end with a 289. Ratger find one that already came factory with a 260 and 5 lug rear end. Otherwise wud be a full refit changing to a V8.
I didn’t know they made a 63 and half comet,mine is a 62 and a half with manual 170 special no rust runs like a top got 54 thou on it. I think mine is all original down to the fuel filter love it.
Anyone looking to sell their Comet? preferably the 62 Custom or S-22