I've had a few questions about my avatar lately. Way back in '88, I answered an ad in the paper for a '60 Comet 2 door for sale, and nothing else was mentioned about the car. Assuming it was a 2 door sedan, I called on it, talked to the owner for a bit, arranged to go out and see it, and that's when he mentioned something else about it: "Hey, there's just one more thing, this car is a 2 door wagon, not a sedan. I hope you're still interested, because two other guys that called on it hung up when I told them that." "I'll be right over" The body was nearly perfect. $175 later, it was mine, the tow strap hooked to the Bronco and my buddy and I dragging the non-running, bolt-action six banger depot hack home. I've always had a thing for the unusual, and it doesn't get much more unusual than a Comet 2 door wagon. And it sat. And sat. And sat some more. Offers were turned down. It became the in-joke among my friends - "When Hell freezes over" and "When Mike restores the Comet" became interchangeable terms in our group. After 18.5 years of excuses and a dozen other car builds, there were no good excuses left. I stripped it down to an empty can and had it painted, pure toner black and Viper silver with a little flake added to the roof, base/clear. I shaved the fender ornaments but left the rest alone. The interior and all the insulation were so dry that I removed most of it with a shop vac. The real work started with all of the oddball 2 door wagon window channels and glass runs being replaced, almost all of it custom made from bulk channel because it's not available. Every piece of weatherstrip and every other rubber part came from the Dennis Carpenter catalog. Interior is the stock bench with a V motif on the back rests that I designed and had a local hot rod upholstery shop duplicate in white tuck and roll, black trim, and silver piping. I two-toned the wheel in black and flake silver and added a Merc Man horn ring from a '63 Meteor. I used a nice '63 Falcon wiring harness under the dash and under the hood, to get the electric wipers and better turn signal switch. New moulded carpet and '64 seatbelts and armrests finished it off. All the stainless was polished, bumpers rechromed, grille polished, and stuff generally fussed over before assembly, and all plastic lenses were all replaced by NOS parts. The six got the boot in favor of a rebuilt '65 289 with a Weiand intake and an Autolite 4 barrel, C4, a '63 Sprint 8" rear, all new V8 front suspension, '65 Falcon V8 manual steering, and Granada disc brakes. Suspension is lowered 4" front, 3" rear, and has raised front shock brackets with 1.5" sectioned front bump stop brackets to allow normal suspension travel. Wheels are 14" Supremes with cut cones mounting '03 Marauder center caps, tires are Premium Sport 5.20-14 lowrider series bias ply. I finished it up just about a month ago, it's fun to drive, reasonably quick, and gets more attention than anything else I have ever owned. Still debating on whether to add a factory roof rack, lower rocker mouldings, and have it pinstriped. (whole car? just the roof?) Need some opinions on that stuff, I don't want to overdo it and it's got plenty of contrast with all the black, white, and chrome. -KK
CLEAN! Don't add anything! Wheels, peaks in grill and taillight trim give it exactly the right amount of busy detail on an uncluttered body.
DON'T EVEN THINK about the roof rack! lower moldings would be cool though. Keep the pins tasteful, not tons of it just because like too many cats do.
me i would lower it a little more in the rear, and do some simple, make that very simple pinstriping, so where in az you located?
Great job, clean and BEAUTIFUL!!!! Don't change anything - just enjoy it! BTW, What do your friends have to say now? lol
The Comet is absolutely killer just the way it sets. Needs nothing.....so add nothing. Just drive the wheels off it and have some fun.
Very, very nice job!! I agree with (most) everyone else - leave it alone and drive the wheels off it! Cool car. Malcolm
Only thing I would do...since you are in AZ would be to tint the windows and some AC. Looks really good.
How rare is that? How many years did they make 2-door Comet wagons? I've never seen one and I'm a big 2-door wagon nut! Thanks Jim
I wouldn't mind seeing a photoshopped rack on it, just to see how it looks. But damn, I'd be hard pressed to say it needed anything! ~Jason
That's gorgeous. I have that car's big brother, the 1960 Merc Commuter. I was undecided on a tire choice, but after seeing your Comet, I have to say the thin whites are perfect. Now it seems that Supremes are a serious consideration.
I love it the way it is. I hope mine looks as good when/if I ever finish. Currently I have a 60 Sedan that's all shaved and lowered. I also have a 61 Sedan that might end up a gasser.
That's soo...nice !!.. I sure wouldn't change it.. I was wondering like Jim A.. How rare is that ? I sure don't recall seeing a 2 dr. wagon either...
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