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This 1965 Mercury Comet is the product of a rotisserie restoration completed in 2012. The result offers a sporty look and many upgrades far beyond what rolled off the assembly line. Mechanicals include a tri-power 302ci engine, 5-speed transmission, 8.8” rear end, front disc brakes, improved suspension, and electric power steering. It now has air conditioning, electric exhaust cutouts, Bluetooth stereo, and updated seats. And cosmetics are excellent with a brilliant yellow paint job that can’t be missed.
This Comet was discovered in Louisiana in 2005. It was a rust-free 6-cylinder grocery getter that was ideal for this project. The car was completely disassembled and stripped to bare metal. Some of the restoration pictures have been included in the photo gallery. The new two-stage paint is Ford Bright Yellow. It also received a silver stripe and attractive air-brushed accents. The underside and firewall were painted silver, while the inner hood and trunk were lined with mirrors. All brightwork was rechromed or replaced as needed. The Torque Thrust wheels with spinners look perfect here with BF Goodrich tires from 2021.
The original 200ci straight six engine was retired in favor of a contemporary roller cam 302ci V8 pulled from an Explorer with 29k miles. The top end was redone with a Ford “Blue Thunder” medium rise tri-power intake manifold topped by a trio of Holley 2-barrel carburetors with a progressive linkage. The ignition was converted to a conventional distributor with a single coil. Note all the polished stainless parts and fasteners in the engine compartment. A Tremec 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive was also installed. This is followed by a 3-1/2” aluminum driveshaft feeding a shortened 8.8” limited slip rear end with 3.73 gears.
There are many other mechanical upgrades. The dual exhaust offers Flowmaster mufflers or electric cutouts if you want to make some noise. Subframe connectors were welded in place to improve stiffness. The front control arms and spring perches were upgraded with roller bearings and adjustable strut rods were installed. Brakes were converted to front discs with a dual reservoir master cylinder. Variable assist electric power steering was also fitted to the car. The battery was relocated to the trunk and a new Mustang fuel tank was installed along with an electric fuel pump.
The interior received new front seats from a 2000 Escort ZX (sans headrests) which are far more comfortable than the 1965 pieces. The upholstery and door panels were all done in a matching black pattern. The instrument cluster houses five aftermarket gauges along with a matching dash mounted tachometer and shift light. The original dash trim remains intact and looks fantastic. Just below sits the aftermarket air conditioning unit along with a Sony AM/FM/Bluetooth stereo. Note the heat and defrost functions were removed in favor of the a/c. The wipers, horn, headlights, brake lights, backup lights, hazards, and turn signals all function properly.
You don’t see many 1965 Comets out there, and that is a shame. They are great looking cars and are essentially a Mustang underneath. This award-winning example has seen countless upgrades and includes a binder of build photos. And while a comparable Mustang would fetch far more money, this one remains a nice bargain in the collector car world.
