Hooniverse Wagon Wednesday – A Mercury Comet With a Price That’ll Make You Vomit
Ok, so the title of this post was a line that Graverobber suggested in the e-mail he sent to me about this very special Comet Wagon, and I couldn’t think of anything else. So thanks Rob.
Anyway, here is a unique 1965 Mercury Comet 404 Wagon, with all the goodies anyone would want on a Ford Restomod; A fully restored 289cid V8 under the hood; Glassy smooth paint finish with an updated color palette; Sumptuous looking Torque Thrust (or equivalent) rims with performance tires; A flawlessly restored factory looking interior; All on a car you don’t see everyday. Make the jump to see more…
More Appropriate Models at a Lamborghini Dealer. (From the Dealers Website)
This car is being offered by Lamborghini Houston, of all places. One would usually not look for off-beat collectible cars at a place that routinely attracts Jersey Boys, NBA Stars, High Priced Call Girls or Eurotrash, but here it is. The Wagon is about as out of place as a car can get… It’s about as out of place as I would be standing inside a Lamborghini Dealership… but I digress.
The car is a 1965 Mercury Comet 404 Wagon finished in an absolutely stunning Silver finish over Black with orange accents throughout. The Orange is about the only thing that doesn’t really belong on this car, but that is a personal choice. This Comet is powered by a Ford 289cid V8 through a factory optional 3-speed automatic transmission. Was the transmission restored? Not one word was mentioned, but they went on to say that the Comet also features power steering, a power rear tailgate window, and the factory AM radio. The dealership goes on to say that this is a very well running car that fires right up when started.
OK, now for my commentary, not that anyone will pay attention. This is a beautiful car that was finished with only a few questionable touches. You know my take on the orange, but if you are going to build a restomod, why not upgrade the braking system with front disc brakes with maybe a dual master cylinder system? Since this car lives in Texas, why not go the extra mile and add in a Vintage Air Conditioning System? And that’s about all I would change to this car.
The current bid as of this writing is stuck at $10,000 with an unmet reserve. On the dealer website, the asking price for this superb wagon is $24,991, which may be a lot of coin but interestingly enough, one of the least expensive cars offered by this dealer. See the eBay listing here, and the Dealership Listing here.
So if you had the chance to restore a wagon like this one, what would you have done differently? Or would have not even bothered with a Wagon in the first place? Let me know.
Related posts:
- Hooniverse 24 Hours-of-LeMons Craigslist Weekend – Make way for the Vomit Comet (What a great theme!)
- Hooniverse Fabulous Fins Weekend – A 1961 Mercury Comet
- Hooniverse Wagon Wednesday – An Original 1977 Mercury Bobcat Wagon
- Hooniverse Wagon Wednesday – Meet the Big Kahuna, A 1965 Mercury Commuter Wagon
- Hooniverse Wagon Wednesday – A Low Mileage Mercury Colony Park
I think the blonde misinterpreted "Dump the Clutch" in the yellow Lambo.
But for that price, I'd expect better wheels, discrete AC, and disc brakes. You shouldn't have to do anything to this car for 24k.
I'll keep saying/writing it until I'm blue in the face, but modern Torq-Thrusts (if you can find them, the originals were better looking, and are actually quite rare) are the Beige of wheel choices, and being bigger than 16" makes them look weird.
Beyond the wheels, the lack of discs and AC might make this tough to live with in certain places, but it's not horrible. Even the orange isn't bad- a bit of contrasting color does this car a favor. I might have gone with a different color for those bits, but the orange is relatively tasteful.
Those are actually the factory "Bullitt" wheels from a '05+ Mustang. They're pretty played out even in the Mustang world.
They put them on a 67 Camaro as well, SACRILEGE!
<img src="http://www.lamborghinihouston.com/images/Chevrolet/Camaro/1475_TN228810/med/Chevrolet_Camaro_1.jpg" style="width: 610px; height: 458px; border: 0" alt="imgTag" />
Those are aftermarket TT replicas, not OEM.
Whoops, didnt read the description, just assumed they were either the TT M or Bullet wheels, none the less, I still dont think a wheel designed for a ford, then ripped off, should be put on a Chevy
Torque Thrusts (the originals) weren't really Ford specific.
It's just that Ford co-opted the design for the Bullitt Mustangs, as that's what McQueen's Mustang had on it in the movie.
Sorry, I meant the Torque Thrust M, not the whole Torque Thrust line. When I was looking for wheels for my Chevelle I noticed the M didnt have my Chevy bolt pattern so I assumed they were a Ford thing
Same difference. They don't suit this car at all.
Cragars or Centerlines would be so much better, in a reasonable size.
Agreed. The wheels pictured are pretty high offset as well (+45) so there's a good chance this car is wearing wheel spacers to make them fit.
It is definitely wearing spacers, at least 1.5" if not 2".
Started in 2001… on the Bullitts, then the '05 GTs, then the V6 got them. I have a set I can't give away.
But they look good on the right cars. Just not every car.
The ones seen here are specifically '05+. They have a higher offset than the earlier wheels. You can tell because the earlier ones had a deeper lip and flat center caps.
Yep- different offset… you'll find a post here where I ripped the brake line off the truck by being cute and mounting these on the Ranger. I shoulda believed the Internets.
So are they the early 30mm offset or the later 45mm offset versions? A couple of the early versions that I'm running on my CV are pretty beat up and I've been looking for a couple of replacements but the +30mm versions seem to have gotten a little hard to find.
American Racing still makes a few vintage styles of TT, I have the T70Rs 15×7 on my chevelle
<img src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/photothing2006/Chevelle/chevellenew.jpg?t=1317915740" style="width: 600px; height: 450px; border: 0" alt="imgTag" />
My Falcon's getting Daisies when it's new wheel/tire time for this exact reason. Not too many classic-appropriate wheels out there, and the world doesn't need another TT equipped Ford.
<img src="http://mmb.maverick.to/gallery/files/5/2/2/img_2607_original.jpg" width=250>
Via: <a href="http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=63265” target=”_blank”>http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=63265
I think it would look better with a set of Cragar D's though.
Everything looks good on cragar d's.
I have an old pair of daisies going on my 1967 Belair old school 2 door post 500 PLUS C.I. Fuel injected kinsler 8 stack converted to modern day EFI.Its going to be way kool.15x 8 on the rear and 15x 7 on the front.
For god's sake,if you're stuck with drums (or cheaped out on a disk conversion at part of your "build" more likely) don't advertize it by painting the drums orange.
Drum brakes aren't retro cool unless their aluminum and ridiculously large in diameter, behind spoke wheels, and covered in cooling fins.
Acceptable colors for plain old FoMoCo drums are shameful-black or old-man-hair-siver.
They could still have done a disc upgrade.
<img src="http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2009/06/brake_fail_jalopnik_07.jpg" />
It's too mod to be resto and too resto to be mod. All too often I see a restomod done, it's like this, where it consists of slapping new paint and some modern wheels on a car that is likely hiding some shame. (Half assed rust "fix" anyone?) When it's this clean otherwise, don't just put the wheels on there. Drop it, throw some disks on there, something… And as James above me said; don't paint the drums…
Keep the wheels and tires, give me a set of black steelies and some chrome Ford dog dish hubcaps and I'll give you 14K for it. That undercarriage doesn't look like much attention was paid to except for a pressure washer (1/2 ass) and a can of black spray paint. And this is just about the only car in their livery I would be interested in owning for any extended length of time.
They should have raided the parts department for a brake upgrade.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/u53t1.jpg" width="500"/>
Classic for suckers, this one is.
Although, I could do all the necessary upgrades in my driveway (as I did with my Falcon), but can't say the same for the body/paint (which is why my Falcon's gutters look like crap). So maybe…
…wait, how much?
Are those rear wheel arches stock? They just don't look normal/right to me. It throws the whole exterior aesthetic off, IMO.
They appear to be correct….
<img src="http://image.mustangandfords.com/f/9193513/mufp_0610_1w_z+1965_mercury_comet_villager_wagon+side_view.jpg" alt="" />
Strange, even in the stock photo you provided it looks like it has several sacks of concrete in the cargo bay. That uphill trim line from the bumper to the front door hinge doesn't help the look either. To each his own, I suppose. While I appreciate much older wagons I'll just hang on to my 245.
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mfMRTBDpgkM/TBEvqYnYd-I/AAAAAAAAMcU/KJ3FooJMu-k/s1600/4266525397_d372df6d42_o.jpg" width="700" border="0" style="border:none;" alt=" " />
Drop the front end by 1-1.5" and it really helps the lines.
Ask me how I know.
Did you just cut the springs?
Mustang V8 coils, cut one full loop down.
God, this is a mixed bag wagon. I really, really like the Comet wagon, and the color is really nice. It needs disc brakes, AC and different wheels. Changing those things skyrocket the acceptable price. At $10k, I think it is an alright deal, but the dealer price does induce vomiting.
It's a beautiful car, except, as previously mentioned, those nasty orange drums and the wheels. I like the wheels but not on this Comet. At that price, I don't think they really want to sell it.
I agree with everyone here that: 1) the price is too high; and, 2) some important details have been overlooked in this resto-mod, like the brakes and lack of A/C.
Well, not everyone. I'll be contrarian on two points: (1) I'm perfectly okay with drum brakes, even though I wouldn't paint them orange. I don't even mind a single-circuit master cylinder. (2) I don't like air conditioning. Yeah, I know, I've been spoiled by the mild coastal Pacific Northwest climate, but I just see AC as one more thing which not only requires its own maintenance but also gets in the way of maintaining nearly everything else in the engine compartment or under the dash. I'd rather just open the vents and roll down the windows. Unlike today's cars, on this Comet that combination would actually be effective at pushing air through the cabin. In extreme circumstances, I'd even open the wing windows. Those work great.
I live in the Miami, Florida area and while you are right in that the Comet would be well-ventilated, air conditioning is for all practical purposes a necessity in a closed car here. I wouldn't even pay $10,000 for a non-A/C daily driver car (unless it's a Panoz, Caterham, or some other roadster), much less $25,000. The A/C is not just for the heat either – it's no fun sitting in traffic during a blinding summer thunderstorm watching all your windows fog to opaqueness.
As for the brakes, single-circuit drums would be acceptable had this been an all-original car and had I intended to keep it that way. However, this is a resto-mod and the brakes should have been upgraded in the process.
Drums are fine in most cases for a classic cruiser. Particularly if they're well sorted power drums.
I think most modern aversion to drums comes from "my uncle's old GMC truck on the farm" or some such story. Well, yeah, a truck that's had the same fluids in it since the Kennedy administration is probably not going to be functioning in tip-top shape.
The only reasons I care to upgarde to disc are twofold:
1) Heat soak (hard windy road driving or towing)
2) Mud/dirt entrapment
1) is really only reason for front discs, 2) motivates 4-wheel discs for offroading.
I've had (and have) plenty of vehicles with drum brakes, and they work fine, as long as they're maintained correctly. It helps if you have a manual trans, of course, so the engine can help with the braking.
My favorite A/C replacement so far is: no roof. (Yes, I know you're in Seattle, I grew up in Olympia, I know. If I moved back, I'd keep my convertible anyway.)
Wheels are way to big. Stance is too high. I dig the orange.
Needs 15-inch wheels and beefy rubber.
But really, it's a fugly wagon to begin with, so that probably wouldn't help.
Always so clever……you are. Long time, no see. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yeah, it's been a while. I was pretty sick for a couple of weeks (the sickest I've probably been since grade school, which was a long time ago). Between trying to keep up with work while I was operating at 50% capacity, and being cranky and not wanting to talk to anybody, I didn't feel like doing much posting. But I was still reading – just not commenting. Which reminds me, I have a picture that I need to post for you from my vacation this summer. I was going through the pics on the camera, and found one that I knew you would appreciate. I think it's on my wife's laptop, so I'll try to track it down. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
I'm anxious to see what that picture is. I hope you are back to 100%, health wise, friend. So good to see you!!!!!
Here it is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8488406@N06/64158226…
I'm not 100% yet, but I'm feeling pretty decent. I'm back to doing a little running, basketball, and biking, and it's nice to get a little exercise again. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving!
You just made my day with that picture……you funny, funny, man! I'm glad you are feeling better and able to get back to exercising. I had a very nice Thanksgiving, and I hope you did too. Always nice to talk to you.
Brakes, brakes, breaks!
…Is what the high-priced NBA fake Eurotrash from Jersey will be screaming the first time they try to stop this from freeway speed. I've never driven a car with front drums (I think. M-body LeBaron?) and it sort of frightens me. I probably wouldn't go over 50 unless I was on an airstrip. Speaking of going over 50, how about that engine? I'm not looking for anything outrageous, but a 351 would be nice maybe? I'm sure you could make the 289 as powerful as it needs to be. Unless you spent 24K on this. Then you wouldn't have any money for paint, either. They did that already? Then why is it still metal-coloured? My first thought was red with wood, but that would cover up the lovely chrome accented sculpty bits along the side. Cover them up almost as much as painting them white on silver. Maybe a nice period-incorrect blue would be good. It's a Lamborghini dealership, they must have something more interesting then silver. Orange… might be too much. Maybe if it was white with the white parts orange. The orange in the interior looks good, but that interior would benefit from any colour. All black in Houston with no AC? That must be pleasant. I don't know what to do about that, but this original interior with woodgrain where the orange is and blue where the black is and a different blue where the more-black is looks nice. It wouldn't go with white/orange paint though. Maybe white/green, with a green interior? I don't know what I'd do with this, but it isn't this.
The title of this article reminds me of NASA's "vomit comet". I'm about to go to lunch, so I will spare you the video…
It reminds me of my morning at the office, where a sick coworker sat in his office and vomited for a good five minutes.
Not a good morning, today.
Even at $25k they might could just sneak it in as an option on a new Lamborghini.
+1 just for the "might could" in your post….from this old Ozarkian…
This is clearly Lambo's new Halo car.
Not too long after this car was built, we kids were singing the Comet song (sung to the tune of the song from "Bridge On The River Kwai":
Comet, it makes your mouth turn green;
Comet, it tastes like kerosene;
Comet, will make you vomit;
So buy some Comet,
And vomit, today!
And what's up with the orange? It's too late for Halloween. Either take it back to stock, or add four-wheel discs, a dual circuit master cylinder and power booster, a/c, and a five-speed manual with overdrive.
FWIW. I just returned from the impromptu show down at Bellair Plaza. I spotted two nearly identical 67 Nova wagons totally modernized with discs all around, wheels and tires such as on this Comet (I'm not really into them so an ID is out of the question), A/C, shaved rear door handles, excellent new paint and interior, both sporting small blocks and three pedals. One was $22K and the other was $16K.
I love it, but not $25k love it. I'd be at $12-14k, maybe. Agree with the crowd, not a restoration, not a real mod. Looks like it's had the big ROI stuff done well (paint, body, interior, wheels) but no real engineering upgrades which are not sexy but add much substance.
I'd have supercharged the 289 or shoehorned in a 351C. Upgrade to a 4 sp auto, add AC, real brakes, etc. Whoever did this car either could not do the technical part, or planned to do only what boosted the car's value.
Looks like everyone is trying to flip this one for big bucks. Problem is, the money is not out there for a car like this. The bling buyers are broke and the smart money guys see right thru this car. Betcha $10 the dealer is in it for $15k .
BTW, I love the orange bits. The car desperately needs color, and orange is just different enough. If the car was a little more modded, celery green would look awesome, as well.
This not a Resto-Mod it's a restoration that was messed up with late model Mustang wheels and some Orange accents. To be a Resto-Mod it need something from at least the last decade besides the wheels. A HO 5.0 and a 5sp or AOD at the minimum for motivation if not a 32v 4.6. It also needs at least the relatively cheap and common front disc and power dual circuit master if not discs all the way around.
I like the stance on the brunette, tho I'd really have to check closer for fit and finish on both. Why no undercarriage pictures????? Oh yeah, pretty car too.
A little late to the party, but I agree on the points already mentioned in the article and the comments. Too expensive, wrong wheels (steelies and chrome hubcaps would fit better), upgrade the brakes to discs in the front at least, and AC if we got this far already. I could live without AC, but wife and kid would suffer. I don't remember being in a (baby) car seat as a 1 year old, but but on a 110 degree day sitting all snug in that bolstered car seat, even with the AC blaring, my 1 year old sweats like a dog.