Projects The '65 Mercury Comet - Garage Find To Grandpas CFX Drag Car

In 2013 my father got the itch to build a 65 Mercury Comet. In the late 1960's and 70's he was an amateur drag racer. He wanted a car that would bring him back to the days when his weekends were spent at the drag strip.

While many were deer hunting my dad was on a different kind of hunt...the hunt for a Comet.
Finding a nice '65 Comet would prove to be a challenge. Finally he heard of one that was tucked away in a garage with 45,000 original miles. He was told it would be difficult to convince the owner to part with the car. After some phone calls and some prodding he finally convinced the owner to let him view the car. Upon seeing it he knew he had to make it his. Some time passed and after several more conversations the owner agreed to sell.
Here are some photos from 2014, the day he arrived to purchase the car. The car was a time capsule of sorts and in remarkable condition. My dad is retired and he was eager to get started.

The body panels were straight and rust free.


Both the front and rear bumpers were in pretty nice condition.



The interior was quite remarkable and the dash was perfect

The original 45,000 mile in-line 6. It ran perfect.


There was a minor stain on the back seat, but nothing that couldn't be fixed.






The car was loaded on a flatbed and transported to my father's where it would be transformed into a CFX drag car. My father being very particular with his projects soon removed the body panels, pulled the drive train, and interior so all could be assessed.

 

With the body panels removed the restoration and cleaning began














A 9" Ford rearend from Johns Industries

 

The front and rear bumpers were sent in for rechroming.






He ordered a 5 speed Tremec TZ transmission and Kevlar clutch. Modern Driveline custom made a steel driveshaft.



Disc brakes up front and drums in the rear.

 

While the engine was being built, the restoration continued.

He ordered an aluminum Boss 302 block with Edelbrock Performer heads.







Dougs Headers

 

Time to drop in the power plant.




Work continues on the interior...





A test fit of the new seats and a throwback to 60's drag racing.

 

The car was sent to the engine builder for some fine tuning. It was then brought back home for final completion.

 

.

 

The front will sport torque thrusts and the rear will represent with black steelies.


The hood painted Hot Rod Black


Gauges wired and working...


The beautiful original 1964 Rotunda Tach is right at home on the dash.



45,609 miles on the body. About 20 miles on the drive train at this point.

 

Interior is coming together!







Today we took the car for its first drive since returning from the race shop where the engine was broke in and the car was set up.
It has incredible power as it easily laid a 300 ft posi rubber patch with the Rev limiter pegged at 6,000 rpms. It's insanely fast and has incredible torque.

 

On with the hood!

 

Wow....nice 305 scrambler.....and great he got to build such a nice car to enjoy ! Great thread !

 

Very Cool

Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

WOW!! Great story and very very cool Comet....

 

She is a beauty.

 

Man that brings back memorys!! I had the exact same car but in darker blue, 6 cyl and all..Nice job the old man did for sure..Give some specs on the engine please..

 

Mannn...if I could sell my F100 I'd build something similar...great car. Check the junior stock thread on here..also a killer comet thread

 

I loved it in stock form and love it even more now. You nailed it for sure.

 

Very nicely done.. A class act.

 

It has 2 1/2" exhaust with an H Pipe with Heart Throb Velocity chambered mufflers. Here it is with the full exhaust. I'm hoping today I can convince him to open the headers so we can really hear that Ford Racing engine sing. Exhaust sounds pretty nice.

 

Damn, that car is Cherry!!!!!
Sounds healthy also....
Gotta love that!!!!!......

 

We put it on the lift this morning and I pulled the caps off the exhaust . We fired it up and backed it out in the driveway. It sounds awesome!! Very healthy. Definitely got the neighbors attention!



Here is a shot of the exhaust





Thanks for the compliment on the Scrambler, he really enjoyed that. He bought one new when he was in the Air Force back in the mid 1960's. At one point he sold it. Several years ago he got the itch to get another one as he had so many great memories on that bike. It needed a little work so...of course...over a Winter he tore it down and completed a light restoration. It turned out pretty cool and it runs great. It makes him smile and it's pretty cool garage art.

 

Nice!
Simple, tasteful, no doubt fast!
Looks good with the fat radial on the rear, the ‘65 Wheel opening helps when fitting a large, wide tire on a Comet.
Vintage Honda’s are cool also, I have a ‘69 SL90 just like he one I bought new, this one has 1,100 original miles on it.
Jim
‘64 Cyclone-owned it almost 50 years now.

 

What a awesome job, beautiful attention to details... looks "Spot-On" ... well done.

 

Grand slam.

 

Freaking beautiful..

 

Car is looking better and better and sounds good too.

That Scrambler bring back so many memories it was my first bike way back in 1971.

 

I really like your Comet. Reminds me of my old Cyclone convertible. 271hp 289 4 speed car.
I have a 65 Caliente stored in a barn in Georgia, waiting for me to build.

 

Cool. Hope to start on my 65 some day.