Ford split its drag-strip muscle on purpose: the Comet Cyclone ran on wider tires in a different class than its Thunderbolt sibling, so neither car had to beat the other to dominate.
Lead trim: Comet 170 cu in Thriftpower six (1964) · up to 271 hp
Mercury Comet1964–1965
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Mercury Comet yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactFord split its drag-strip muscle on purpose: the Comet Cyclone ran on wider tires in a different class than its Thunderbolt sibling, so neither car had to beat the other to dominate.
The 1964 Comet was redesigned with a much more square shape, though still on the same unibody as the 1963 model, with basic lines shared with the new Falcon and a front grille styled like that of the Lincoln Continental (114 in wheelbase for coupes and sedans, 109.5 in for wagons; 195 in long, 71.5 in wide, 54.5 in high). The model designations changed: the performance version was the Cyclone, replacing the S-22, and in descending order of trim came the Caliente, 404 and 202, replacing the Custom and base models; the two-door station wagon was discontinued and the top wagon stayed the Villager. The 144 inline-six was dropped, leaving the 170 as the base engine; the 260 V8 was available at the start of the run and the new 289 mid-year. For 1964 Ford built about 50 high-performance lightweight Comet Cyclones with the racing two-carburetor 427 for A/FX drag racing. For 1965 the Comet received updated front and rear styling with stacked headlights; the base six grew from 170 to 200 cubic inches (single-barrel, 120 hp at 4400 rpm), the base V8 from 260 to 289 cubic inches (two-barrel, 200 hp at 4400 rpm), and the 289 was offered in three ratings: two-barrel 200 hp, four-barrel 225 hp and a high-performance 271 hp version from the Ford Mustang with a four-speed manual. The optional automatic became the three-speed Merc-O-Matic (essentially a Ford C4).
Collectors Spotted in the Mercury Comet Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Mercury Comet yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
5 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comet 170 cu in Thriftpower six (1964) | 1964–1964 | 2.8 L Inline-6 | 101 hp | 156 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Comet 200 cu in Thriftpower six (120 hp, 1965) | 1965–1965 | 3.3 L Inline-6 | 120 hp | 190 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Comet 289 cu in Challenger V8 four-barrel (225 hp, 1965) | 1965–1965 | 4.7 L V8 | 225 hp | 305 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Comet 289 cu in Challenger V8 two-barrel (200 hp, 1965) | 1965–1965 | 4.7 L V8 | 200 hp | 285 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Comet 289 cu in high-performance V8 (271 hp, 1965) | 1965–1965 | 4.7 L V8 | 271 hp | 312 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Mercury's 1971 Comet was really a dressed-up Maverick, and it didn't even get its own taillights — the pods were carried over straight from the 1970-71 Montego and Cyclone.
By 1968 the once-diverse Comet lineup had been stripped down to one body style only — a two-door coupe, sharing its chassis with the Ford Fairlane and Torino.
Only 60 1967 Comets ever got the 427 V8, and of those, just nine were W-code — with a single W-code Capri making it, by one account, the rarest Mercury ever built.
In 1966 a Comet Cyclone GT convertible paced the Indianapolis 500 — serious racing credibility for what had started out as a humble compact six years earlier.
Ford split its drag-strip muscle on purpose: the Comet Cyclone ran on wider tires in a different class than its Thunderbolt sibling, so neither car had to beat the other to dominate.
This Comet was almost an Edsel: it was conceived as one before that brand collapsed, and the first-year cars literally used Edsel parking lights and dashboard knobs left over in the parts bin.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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