When Ford launched the unique Maverick for the 1970 mannequin 12 months, Dearborn custom required {that a} Mercury-badged model be created. That automotive ended up being the Comet, constructed from the 1971 by way of 1977 mannequin years. Here is a type of first-year Comets in tough however recognizable situation, present in a Denver self-service yard not way back.
The Comet title had spent the Sixties affixed to the flanks of Mercurized Ford Falcons (1960-1965) and Fairlanes (1966-1969). For the reason that Maverick was the successor of the Falcon — gross sales of which went into an irrecoverable downward spiral as soon as its sportier Mustang first cousin hit the streets — it made sense to maneuver the Comet title over to the Mercury model.
Practically each American Mercury mannequin ever bought was a U.S.-market Ford mannequin with a special title and a few gingerbread slapped on. Notable exceptions to this custom embrace the 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar (mechanically based mostly on the Contour however with a singular physique) and the 1991-1994 Mercury Capri (an Australian-built mashup of Mazda elements borrowed from the Ford Laser).
The Comet was by far the most cost effective Mercury mannequin obtainable in 1971, although it was thought-about extra prestigious than its Maverick counterpart. The value tag on the ’71 Comet two-door sedan began at $2,217 (about $16,505 in 2022 {dollars}), whereas the ’71 Maverick two-door sedan value $2,175 ($16,193 in the present day).
In the meantime, AMC would promote you a brand new Hornet two-door sedan for one greenback lower than a Maverick, Chevrolet had the Nova coupe for a greenback greater than the Maverick, and Plymouth supplied the Valiant Duster for $2,313 ($17,220 now). Toyota had a Maverick competitor as effectively that 12 months, with the Corona at $2,150 for the sedan and $2,310 for the coupe. Having pushed each one of many aforementioned fashions, I might take the Duster if I went again in time and had to decide on one (as a 1969 Corona proprietor, I am not a fan of the 1971 facelift, although the Corona’s construct high quality beats the Duster’s).
The construct sticker on this automotive tells us that it was constructed on the Kansas Metropolis Meeting Plant (the place Transits and F-150s are made in the present day) and bought by way of the Los Angeles district gross sales workplace (there was a DSO in Denver, so it is a near-certainty that this automotive did not begin out in Colorado). The paint began out as Brilliant Blue Metallic (it is neither brilliant nor metallic 51 years down the street) and the inside was achieved up in Medium Blue Material & Vinyl.
The construct sticker says the unique engine was a 200-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) pushrod straight-six, rated at 115 horsepower (and maybe that is that very engine, although swaps are rampant on Detroit vehicles of this period). That is a 15-horse improve over the bottom 170-cube six, and it value the unique purchaser an additional $39 ($290 in 2022 bucks). This engine served as the idea for the HSC four-cylinder designed for the Ford Tempo a bit greater than a decade later. A 250ci six with 145 horses and a 302ci V8 with 210 hp have been additionally obtainable within the 1971 Comet.
The bottom transmission within the 1971 Maverick/Comet was a three-speed guide; the Maverick had a “three-on-the-tree” column-mounted shifter as base tools whereas the Comet acquired a sportier floor-mounted shifter at no additional value. No four-speed guide was ever obtainable from the manufacturing unit on a highway-legal U.S.-market 1970-1977 Maverick or Comet (although I am positive some sellers put in them in new vehicles), however a three-speed automated was obtainable for $183 additional ($1,362 in the present day) on the 1971 Comet.
All in all, a fairly cool financial system automotive from a half-century in the past, and its two-door format makes it appear to be an awesome candidate for some fashionable working gear and a basic sprucing-up. Sadly, there’s rust. Oh sure, there’s rust. Many years of rain and snow entering into the passenger compartment have eaten massive holes within the flooring, for starters.
Then there’s the rot within the ordinary locations. It is repairable, however the price could be much more than the worth of the tip outcome.
The physique has some alarmingly thick layers of physique filler, hiding who-knows-what outdated harm.
The inside has been totally ravaged by the weather as effectively. A 1971 Mustang on this situation is perhaps price restoring, however not a Comet.
Bobby Hull thought it was nifty.
A small automotive can solely be first… if it lasts.
