Though the Comet had been a FOMOCO product since 1960, it didn’t get badged as a Mercury until 1962. That’s because the car was intended to be an Edsel and the early demise of that marque left the Comet on its own for a time. This 1965 Comet 202, the entry-level model, looks to have been stored for many years and might not be a tough restoration. Located in Polson, Montana, this Mercury is offered here on craigslist for $2,500. Thanks to our Barn Finds associate Montana Danford for the tip on this one!
The first and second generations of the Comet were based on the Ford Falcon unibody, which would later lend its platform to the Mustang and Maverick. The nameplate would flop back and forth between compact and mid-sized cars until it was retired in 1977. The 1965 Comet gained stacked dual headlights which were becoming quite the thing with Ford and Mercury products in the mid-1960s. The 202 model, like the seller’s car, would be the basic entry point, followed by the 404, the upscale Caliente, and finally the Cyclone muscle car (to compete with the Mustang before the Cougar came along?).
This ’65 202 is one of more than 32,000 2-door sedans built that year. Overall Comet production would represent 46% of total Mercury output that year, so the compact car line was a key contributor to Mercury’s bottom line. The standard engine was the 200 cubic-inch inline-6 that produced 120 hp and we assume that’s what’s under the hood of this car. We don’t know the mileage or how long this Comet has been dormant, so there’s no telling what it would take to get it running again.
The paint job is faded out, although silver or maroon seems to be the most dominant of what color is left. The underside of the hood looks white, so we don’t know how this car left the factory. But we don’t see any rust or dents in the sheet metal, so perhaps the exterior won’t be a big project. The interior is equally time-worn, especially the seats, and there is an old newspaper laying there with an auto ad that looks to have a post-1965 car in the placement. Wish we could make out the date on the paper!
Russ, I think the ad says “1986 Dodge Aries 2 Dr”. That could make sense, it might indicate the car has been parked since then (meaning it was used about 20 years).
This Comet is very basic. Not sure what someone might do with it, but at least it doesn’t look like it has been consumed by rust.
Wouldn’t the Mercury’s Comet Cyclone have competed against Ford’s Falcon Sprint?
That would have been what was for sale at that time..?
Love it. My first car: 66 Mercury Caliente two door hardtop. Larger than this, but still a Comet. I know: an apple and an orange.
Since the 60-61 Comet is my dream car, This ’65 would do in a pinch. Plus it is basic trim and 6. Even better would be a column shifted three speed, but what’s here is nice. Each year has it’s own pluses.
Don Nicholson, Hayden Proffitt and Jack Chrisman could figure out how to restore this!
Worth $2500 all day long.
The 65s had a certain charm to them. First year, stacked headlights while still on the Falcon platform. After that, it was merely a Fairlane cousin.
The 65 Comet was sooooo much better looking than the 65 Fairlane. I had a 65 Comet Caliente with a 289- 4 Barrel carb. Automatic. Was a great car, another one of those I should never have sold.
Just saw this, we just purchased the car last week and are waiting for it to be shipped. The plan is, to scrap a very low milage ’65 Falcon 4 door that unfortunately sat outside and literally rusted to pieces. It is a V8 manual trans car and will donate all running gear to the Comet. So awesome to see our Comet here on barn find.com!!!
An update on the Comet, first the newspapers were 1985 and were being used to stuff the massive hole in the seat, all seats are more than rotten. Both front floors are rotten and mew panels are in hand. The engine has a road draft tube, so we suspect it is an earlier 170, maybe from a ‘62. The trans is seized from being towed many years ago. We had to remove the rear seat to access the trunk and found the oddest mag wheels I’ve ever seen laying on orange shag carpet! So as typical we paid a lot for a decent shell. Looking forward to making it a V8 car and having the new interior put in. Cruising this summer is the plan!