Here’s a California wagon (ok, at least it was last licensed in California) with relatively minor rust and a reasonable starting bid (yes, there is a reserve). It’s a 1964 Mercury Comet wagon, and it’s now located in Broomfield, Colorado. It’s being auctioned off here on eBay, where the opening bid (as yet un-offered) is $1,500. And when’s the last time you’ve seen one of these in the wild?

The seller tells us that the rust is largely confined to the outer edges of the floorboards and the battery tray. I can see some minor surface rust elsewhere but nothing that really concerns me. And as I’ve pointed out before to some of your amusement, floor patches are hidden under carpet, so even my so-so welding is adequate!

Does anyone else see a mini version of the 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental from this view? We can see the California plate as well. I hope it spent most of it’s life there and not out in the snow like it is for these pictures. The seller reports too many projects, although interestingly they report that trading for the car is also a possibility.

The inside is pretty rough. I’m not sure what discolored the seat so badly on the driver’s side, and I’m not really sure if I want to find out! Perhaps an inexpensive seat cover is in order before the first drive. The dash itself doesn’t look too bad, and I found a relatively inexpensive carpet kit here. By the way, the seller mentions that this is a “404” car, which is the second highest trim level.

Here’s the engine, which the seller tells us is a 289 V8, which identifies this as a later 1964 car (early ones got a 260). The seller mentions needing to replace the transmission, but doesn’t mention why. They also talk about needing to replace the fuel tank; I’m guessing you’ll need to replace or rebuild most of the fuel system in general. I wonder what the reserve actually is? What do you think this neat wagon will sell for?