If you had the opportunity to meet an early '70s drag racer or fanatic, you'd notice the sparkle in their eyes as they describe a Mercury Comet. The Mercury Comets, especially the Caliente, were magnificent compacts from Ford's premium division. The Caliente performed well, felt good, and looked good, leaving no scope to complain. The car was a pinnacle of the style statements in the late '60s.
One particular Caliente that appeared for sale on eBay, however, is no regular Mercury Comet of the 1960s. This 1967 antique is a 55-year-old garage maintained stunner. The light blue is a subtle blend of the lightest of greens with a dash of off-white. Plain green is a unique choice of dark colors for an interior that contrasts its exterior.
This Mercury Comet Caliente is currently for sale for $15,495. Here's everything you should know about this glamorous convertible.
How The Mercury Comet Claimed Its Place
Mercury's main goal was to appeal as a better designed Falcon, a car Ford manufactured during the same period. Comet's also performed better than the Falcon and took no time to replace them.
It was very likely that each car had to convince the market to overtake Ford in their sector. Mercury's marketing strategy was to impress customers with an impeccable body design and a long lifetime.
The Mercury Comet Caliente Stood Out Within Its Series And Against Competitors
Amongst the Mercury Comets, the Caliente dazzled. Mercury’s Caliente came to the market under three varieties: a 4-door regular sedan, a 2-door convertible or a 2-door hardtop coupe. The coupes were the most desired versions amongst the entire series and rose to fame in no time.
The box cut design and the slender back made it recognizable amongst the crowd. The interior was a standard wood-grain trim with loop-pile carpeting. Interestingly, the cars came with accessories that contemporarily seemed apt. For example, it included a defroster/ heated lighter and deluxe armrests with courtesy lights.
The Maintenance, Make, And Build Of This Convertible
The convertible is an 8-cylinder, gasoline-run V8. The powertrain is a rear-wheel drive and utilizes an automatic transmission to transmit power to the engine. The engine provides a base output of around 289 HP. Fortunately, this car still uses an unmodified engine, carb, radio and wheels.
The car is in well-running condition after topping the fluids and tightening the power steering pump. Although the vehicle is in running condition, a repaint and a tune-up would hone this beauty to perfection. The fact that this car survived through 55 years proves they weren't bluffing about its durability. Any antique collector would love the fact that a single owner had maintained this beauty.
If you love retro-tech and V8s, a convertible like this one is something to consider. This 55-year-old relic is something every race coupe collector would love having.