MERCURY COMET

De Mercury Comet is a car that was produced by Mercury between 1962 and 1969 and 1971 and 1977. The Comet was initially based on the compact Ford Falcon, subsequently on the intermediate Ford Fairlane, and finally on the compact Ford Maverick. As Mercury, the early Comets received better interior trim than the contemporaneous Falcons, and a slightly longer wheelbase. The model was eventually succeeded by the Zephyr and the Monarch.

The name “Comet” was a trademark of Cotner-Bevington as the Comet Coach Company, which built ambulances and hearses. Ford bought the name in 1959.

Mercury Comet from 1960

1960 Mercury Comet station wagon

The Comet was originally intended as an Edsel model. Ford announced the end of the Edsel program on November 19, 1959. However, production of 1960 Edsels continued until the end of November. The Comet was transferred to the Lincoln-Mercury division to be sold at Mercury-Comet dealers, where it was marketed in 1960 and 1961 as a standalone model as the Comet without any Mercury division badge.

The early pre-production photos of the sedan, which were developed simultaneously with the Ford Falcon, show a car remarkably close to the emergence of the Comet, but with a split grille following the pattern of Edsel models.

With the introduction of the production model, the split grille was replaced by a new one in line with Mercury's design themes. However, the tilted elliptical taillights, first seen on the Edsel prototype, were used and bore the part number “E” (Edsel). While the short-lived 1960 Edsels used elliptically shaped taillights, the lenses used on both cars differed in length and width.

Certain other parts also came from the 1959 Edsel, including the parking lights and dashboard buttons, and were used on the first-year Comet. Keys for the 1960 and 1961 Comets were shaped like Edsel keys, with the center bar of the “E” removed to form a “C”.

Mercury Comet from 1965