UPDATE: We previously featured this 1971 Mercury Comet GT back on June 10th, and it has reappeared on the market. It appears that this might be a case of a winning bidder who didn’t pay, so the owner has listed the Comet for sale here on eBay. It is located in Freeport, New York, and while the bidding has reached $9,200, this is short of the reserve. Interested parties could always choose to hit the BIN button, which the owner has set at $13,000.
The ’70s was a time of “What about me?” badge engineering. The Chevrolet Nova spawned the Oldsmobile Omega, Pontiac Ventura, and Buick Apollo. Over at Mopar, the Plymouth Duster begat the Dodge Demon, and Ford’s new for ’70 Falcon replacement, known as the Maverick, allowed Mercury to whip up their compact version using, once again, the popular Comet name. We’ve covered Ford Mavericks here on Barn Finds, but fifth-generation Mercury Comets don’t grace our web pages often.
Ford’s venerable Falcon, after ten years, morphed into the Maverick for 1970, but under the new skin and name badge, it was pretty similar to the old tried and true Falcon. The following year, Mercury took the Maverick and altered its hood, grille, and taillight panel, and voila, they too had a new compact based on those same time-tested underpinnings. And the move worked for both Ford and Mercury as 272K Mavericks rolled off the assembly line in ’71 while Mercury enjoyed sales of 83K for the Comet in that inaugural year – not bad!
While not a flat-out Muscle car, but still a speedy ride, the Comet was available with a 210 gross HP, 302 CI V8 engine that provided plenty of go for a 2,800 lb. coupe, and that’s how this Comet GT is equipped. The seller states, “Runs and drives could use maybe a carburetor rebuild…” OK, so maybe this 118K mile example needs some tinkering, but if this Merc has been maintained and not abused, it should still have plenty of life to it. A three-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes.
This Comet is the performance-oriented “GT” version, but it’s all visual, including a color-keyed hood scoop, dual racing mirrors, wheel trim rings, stainless window frame trim, a blacked-out grille, a side stripe, bucket seats, deluxe door panels, and a black instrument panel. This example presents as new! The seller claims that it is rust-free with all original metal and, about 25 years ago, it enjoyed a repaint. Apparently, it has been well stored as this GT looks like it needs nothing. The white-stripe tires are a nod to this car’s era, even if they are an incongruous styling cue with the projected performance image.
Inside is a curious blend of colors with red fabric/vinyl seat upholstery, red door panels, black carpet, kick panels, and dash. It works pretty well, especially as a complement to the white exterior. It just seems like a bit of a mix and match. There is some sign of wear, but it’s minimal and totally in keeping with a half-century-old automobile. Until I observed the interior, I forgot about the convenient shelf that runs along the width of the dash, just below the bottom edge.
The seller suggests “a good clean car to cruise with or go to car shows, etc.” Considering that this is a V8-powered example, I’d agree and would certainly be less sanguine about a six-cylinder-equipped version. I guess the challenge would be to leave this Comet as is and not mess with it. I have to ask when was the last time you saw a Mercury Comet GT from this generation?
Thanks Jim. This looks like a solid car, the V8 makes it a bit more desirable. The very similar Maverick Grabbers have a following, this would be much of the same, just not as common. They were basic economy cars, lots of us had experience with them, they largely did their job as intended. For this Comet, enjoy as-is or upgrade as you go.
I had a co-worker who traded in this exact car for a ’77 Datsun 200 SX. Really nice example. Personally, I’d change the wheels, fix the mechanicals and add a dual exhaust and then ENJOY!! GLWTA!! :-)
These and probably more often the Maverick were the cheap used rides us teens bought in the eighties, as noted they were economy cars first and foremost, but I will say the amount of Comet GT’s were fairly low.
And they looked cool with aftermarket wheels.
Luke warm at best factory stock, the potential is there for lots more. Between this or the Pinto lookalike Bobcat I’ll take the Comet every day of the week.
That handy underdash shelf was what you got instead of a glovebox. A friend of mine drove a white one back in the 80’s. Decent car.
My first vehicle in 1980 was a 73 Comet w/302 2v, auto trans. Sport top. Highland Green w/White vinyl top. Tan interior, for 900.00. Had to replace the C4 trans once while I owned it. It would get on down the street for what it was. 2nd car was the Oldsmobile Omega. Lol
My first car was a 1972 Maverick with a straight six and an automatic. Brown with a camel vinyl interior. My second car was a 1972 Oldsmobile Omega with the rocket 350 V8. It was green with a white vinyl and black and white houndstooth interior. I was young and dumb so I later shoehorned an Olds 455 into the engine bay. Had to remove perfectly good air conditioning yo make it fit (evaporator was in a big box under the hood), but it was a pretty fast car after that. Knowing then what I learned later I should have just built up the 350 that was in there and been happier with the outcome.
Three simple words. Great looking car.
Ok, nine. Sorry.
Nice car, but not a GT, I don’t think. What I think this is, is someone GTized a regular V8 Maverick. GT’s had that callout on the side stripe, had a tachometer and gauges below the dash, and dual exhaust standard. Clearly a black interior, they took the seats, door panels and hood scoop from the GT parts car.
Still, one of the most unappreciated cars from Ford. Just couldn’t shake that “big Pinto” image, and lived in the shadow of the Mustang, but they were actually fun and quick, dependable little cars, while I’d never spend $9g’s on one, it’s still a great find. Very few grandmas Mavericks with a V8 survived. ( It was the motorhead grandson that talked her into the $74 dollar extra, or whatever, V8 option in the 1st place) I can hear it now, (me), “grammy, can I take the car to the um,,,library”? (grammy) “Sure sonny, just be careful”,,,”Oh, I will” and it was off to Union Grove,,,library,,
I owned 2 Comet GT’s back in the day, they were “real GT’s” and neither one had dual exhaust, tach, or the gauges you describe. They did have “Comet GT” inside the stripe on the front fenders. These cars felt a lot faster than they actually were thanks to the low end torque of the 302, really fun to drive. The front end would really jump up when you got on it.
Howard A., I commend you for your imaginative, creating writing skills, though not a fan of your incorrect use of lots of commas in lieu of periods. However, you are totally wrong. No Comet (or Maverick) EVER came from the factory with dual exhaust. The largest engine available in any Comet or Maverick was the anemic 302 2bbl. They never had gauges hanging under the dash either and, I doubt a tachometer was even available. These were not, by any means, performance cars. Simply stripe packages with a fake hood scoop.
I’m not going to argue with you, images I found, show the GT with all those options I mentioned. As far a my punctuation, it’s been said before, the “grammar police” have no place here, most of us gearheads did poorly in school anyway, I don’t recall anything mentioned on how to power shift a 4 speed. Sorry, if, that, bothers, you.
This video shows a Comet GT with dual exhausts.
https://youtu.be/-uAWJhxy_e4?t=57
The ad says it all. Its a GT, but the car was repainted at one time. So with repro stripes not available, they got as close as they could. The tail panel should be matte black too, but it looks like they did it in gloss black. As stated by others, no Maverick or Comet came with tach or gauge package. The interiors could come like that; the inner doors are painted steel with a smaller door panel .
They also never had a “big Pinto” image ; the cars sold like hotcakes, easily outselling the same year Mustangs and Cougars by a huge margin . But like the Falcons before them , they were considered disposable compacts ,and few were saved. They did what they were supposed to do, and when used up, they went to the crusher.
Good eye Howard A, I thought something didn’t look right. Man, small bumpers make all the difference with this car. It looks so much cleaner without the block like things that were coming.I was only 8 when these came out, but remember how Ford cut ever corner. They gave a new meaning to plain jane. I agree on the 9 large, too pricey but still nice.
The Falcon was still around for 1970, alongside the Maverick for the first half of the year. Mid-year in1970, Ford introduced the new “Falcon” as a 1970-1/2 model. It was a stripped down, bare bones Torino…and the best looking Ford ever produced, in my opinion. When equipped with the 429 SCJ and Drag Pack option, it was one of the most brutal cars ever manufactured.
This car is obviously cool, but it looks like it’s missing some fender flares or tail fins or just something that could make this car look special
What could you do to make it stand out
Any imaginative thoughts????
Keep it stock….that’s what I’d do to make it special
I always thought it was funny that the Pinto and Maverick had the same taillights and the Comet used Montego lights. Ford must have save millions on that alone !
As a college student, driving a 68 Falcon with a 170 straight six, I thought this and the Maverick Grabber were just about the coolest things when they came out! Forget the fact that under that body, it was probably exactly the same as my Falcon, it was all about style! Ford dipped into their parts box, and transformed the cheap Maverick/Comet into a desired automobile. Ok, perhaps you had to have been around to understand, but in 1971 I would have gladly driven this!
The “convenient shelf ” is there for a big reason – there’s no glove boxes on these early model Maverick / Comets !
I purchased, ordered, actually, a Comet in this same color. Mine had the beige interior and a 3-speed manual on the floor. I think it was a $15 option to move it to the floor. I also ordered a handling package (front sway bar) for around $20 and the V8. No radio. Comet GT did not come with dual exhausts nor a tach nor guages under the shelf. I have a copy of the 1971 Mercury Comet brochure in my hot little hands. The V8 was an optional engine, even on the GT. The GT package came with color-keyed hood scoop, dual racing mirrors, wheel trim rings, blackout grille treatment and lower back panel, dual body tape stripes, hood paint treatment, bright window frames hi-back bucket seats, deluxe door trim panels and black instrument panel. Take a 2700 lb. coupe, add a 300 HP 302, a 4-speed and a 3.50 rear gear and have some fun! I did.
I wrote an article about one of these about 20 years ago and it truth, it was a “poor man’s Mustang.”
One interesting aspect: Even the GT came standard with four-wheel drum brakes. I drove the car as part of the “research” for the article, and going down a long Pennsylvania hill the owner told me, “You’re going to feel the brake pedal start to pulse. Don’t worry about. It’s just the drums getting out of round as they get hot.” Yep.
Up to $14,100. as of now.
Sold for a high bid of $12,100. It’s a nice looking car, I’m surprised it didn’t sell fir more.
Steve R
It’s a nice example, but every now and then one appears with a manual 3 speed on the floor.
That red interior was tossed in..the dash and carpets should be red too, to match the rest of it. It’s a good enough looking car, “restored” but not to factory.
My fatyher used to say, “when Fords built the Falcon, they made an inexpensive car, and when they made the maverick they made a cheap car. One thing he and I agreed with. Wife bought a 71 mav; rebuilt the mill 3 times, then put a non smog 200 out of a 65 mustang in, ran better, then the ironworms took over. was going to work one night, hit the dimmer switch and it went thru the floor. Only good thing was it was easy to work on. Good thing. Good luck and happy motoring!!!
Cheers
GPC
Watch for a low number feedback straw bidder trying to bump this up. If is also on FB market Place and he claims it is really 18k, but has no proof. I wouldn’t trust anything what he says.
Call me crazy (& many do) but that drivers side view from the rear corner looks to me like it’s got bondo up to the mid point body line in it. Living in NY, that’s the first thing I question in a local classic. It would be a fun little cruise around town for about half the asking price, but personally I’m holding out for a car with a bench seat. Rather have my sweetie nice and close on cruise night than a 4 speed. (Crazy, remember?)