With no Mustang-fighter on deck until the 1967 Cougar’s introduction and no intermediate body style after the Meteor was cancelled, the Mercury Comet had to wear several hats beginning in 1964. It was Mercury’s bread-and-butter economy car in addition to being its “compact” high-performance offering. The Cyclone was the “hot” Comet, with a standard 210-horsepower 289 and some sporty trim. With only 7,454 Cyclones built, it’s rare to find a solid one today, but having been sold in Denver and spending much of its life in California, this one is. It’s made its way to Bristol, Connecticut, where it’s now for sale on craigslist for $16,000. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for taking a minute to send it our way.
Famously averaging over 105 miles per hour over 100,000 miles at the Daytona International Speedway, the ’64 Comet started off on the right foot in a competitive world. But interestingly enough, although the Daytona cars had solid-lifter 289/271 engines, the “K-Code” in the ’64 Cyclone street cars was the hydraulic-lifter version of the 289, similar (but maybe not identical) to the “D-Code” engine used in an equivalent 1964 1/2 Mustang (or early ’65, if one is being nit-picky). This one is stock except for an Edelbrock four barrel in place of the original (and currently expensive) Autolite 4100. By the way, the Cyclone came standard with a chrome engine dress-up kit.
Inside, the Cyclone had a special three-spoke steering wheel, bucket seats, a “map console,” and a tachometer as standard equipment (although I don’t see it here – perhaps it was canceled after the brochures were printed). The door trim tag has an interior code that I can’t find in my materials: “05.” We’ll have to assume that it’s white with red accents, as the rest of the trim tag matches the car as it sits. This Cyclone is clearly somewhat tired inside and out, but it’s so solid and complete that it’s worth a refreshing.
Anyone who’s spent time underneath a ’60s Ford compact knows that it doesn’t get any better than this; you’d be hard-pressed to find a speck of rust. The subframes, floors, and rocker panels look almost new (and there are several more pictures of the undercarriage and trunk floor in the advertisement).
The 1964 and 1965 Comets are among my favorites in Mercury’s long history. In some ways, they marked the apogee of the brand, as sales were brisk and the factory was competing in various forms of motorsport, including drag racing and a not-too-successful run in the 1964 East African Safari Rally. With its simulated chrome reverse mag wheel covers (cheesy but in a good way), the Cyclone looked the part of a mid-1960s muscle car, and I hope this one gets a second act out on the road.
Neat car, and more should be said about its drag racing prowess. Some of the very 1st Ford funny cars, piloted by Jack Chrisman, Don Nicholson, Ronnie Sox ( before the Mopar thing) all pushed those cars into the 11s. It was a Fairlane in an evening gown, like all Mercury/Ford comparisons. I read, a base Cyclone cost $2655 new, and with options closer to $3grand. Almost $1,000 more than a regular Comet and about $400 more than a Fairlane Sport Coupe. In a bizarre twist, it should retain the 4 speed, a Cyclone with an automatic loses some glitz. Cool car, made several models of this car.
In the late 70’s we found one of these about 30 miles to the north of us. White with the 289 four barrel and 4 speed, running driving car for 200 bucks and we were too broke to afford it. Fun to look at
The 4-spd is a plus. Also liked the C-pillars on these Mercury’s over the thick Fairlane offerings. 65 is my favorite yr. for these.
This was the car (model) that Lee Harvey Oswald test drove shortly before the JFK assassination, perhaps thinking he would use whatever money he was promised to buy it. Obviously that never panned out!
The only way this could be any better is for it to a convertible. Really nice, but is it worth sixteen large?
Exactly my thought.
16k? Granted basically as rust free as you can hope for with these fords. But the rest of the car needs a lot of clean-up spit and polish to make a nice runner in my opinion. And I’m not talking about a restoration.
These were the same as Falcon not Fairlane as someone said. As a lad of 16 years in 1963 I actually had daydreams of owning a 64 1/2 Falcon sitting so proudly in the local Ford dealership. It was Rangoon Red convertible. White interior and top, 289 with 4 speed. What a beauty it was. Other people could have the Mustangs, I loved that Falcon.
God Bless America
Ford made ‘63 1/2 Falcons and Comets (and other models) but no ‘64 1/2s. Some people differentiate early Mustangs as “‘64 1/2”, but that was not a factory designation.
johnm I totally agree with you in 1963 I was 17 years old and Ford dealer had a new falcon sprint 2 dr ht on showroom floor buckets 4 speed and think only had a 260 V8 liked much better than the new mustang
I had one in high school. Got it from my neighbor lady not running.
After dropping the pan, I found the remains of a shattered piston.
Being broke in high school, I took the rod off the crank, took it to school where I cut off the rod end, welded the oil holes and reinstalled it. Took out the two push rods and shorted the spake plug. Now I had a 7 cylinder. Yes, had a miss and shook at at stop lights but hey, I was on the road.
Could’ve REALLY capitalized on its “patina appeal” by @ least washing it! These Cyclones are iconic rides which deserve better representation.
I think this car is great! It’s in exactly the condition I would want if I was searching for a Merc: no significant rust, almost all original, no Bondo, and a running original engine with a 4-speed.
I don’t know squat about the market for ’64 Cyclones, but $16,000 doesn’t sound like too much an asking price to me.
I bought one of these in 1970 or 1971 from the original owner, a person at Seaport Automotive Speed Shop in Toledo Ohio. Car was red whit white inside. Car was never driven on the street. Car ran D / Gass and pulled the front wheels off the ground when it launched. The engine was blown with a broken aluminum rod. I rebuilt it with steel rods and had to sell it because of a divorce. There is a photo of it online at Milan Dragway. It was named COMET CLENSER in big chrome letters.
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I had a chance to buy a 64 Comet Caliente a couple of years ago. Looking at the serial number I found a K in it. I thought that was strange for a 4 door sedan but it did have a 4 barrel on it. I did some investigating and found out Mercury did plan on putting a K code in the Comet. I believe it was in the 64 literature. Ford did not want the competition for the Mustang so they wouldn’t let Mercury do it even though they were stamping the serial number with a K. Mercury was able to use the D code (Maybe A code too) V8 with a 4-barrel carb and stock exhaust manifolds. I didn’t buy the car as it had too much.
My first car, black with red interior, 289 4 speed. Blew up the motor. Put in a 289 hypo from a 65 Mustang. I wrecked it a few months later. Crushed it and the 64 Cyclone parts car I had. Damn….
when comet’s first came out in 1960 they where a Edsel didn’t become a mercury till 1961
This in a nice $7500 project car. But everybody is entitled to their dreams.
Well said, rustytech. Around 7500 is OK. It will be on craigslist for the forseeable future.
16000.00 sounds a little high priced but try to find a rare car like this in such solid condition. My buddy in high school ha a black one just like this,great memories
Had 1 of these in the early 70’s as my 3rd car, paid $75 for it. Was yellow with bucket seats and a 3-on-the-tree. Had a 69 Chevelle SS a few years after this that was a 4 speed with a bench seat. People had strange taste back than
Love love this car. Dad had one this same color but it was 3 on the tree. I was 8 or 9 years old and I would watch him or mom drive it and I thought it looked fun. I noticed how when slowing down for a turn they put the clutch in and moved the shifter up into second gear. One day I took the car for a ride down the street and that’s how I learned to drive manual. One time taking off I was letting clutch out and mom came up on me and grabbed me by the hair and wouldn’t let go I had to stop lol she didn’t tell my dad though. I would love to have this comet. I know I can drive it.