My first car....In 1964, my father bought a "bottom-of-the-line" Mercury Comet 202 two door sedan. White with black interior, 170CI inline six, 3 on-the-tree stick, no carpet, radio delete and power nothing. The only option was full wheel covers.
Great car?.. Seating for 6, 28 MPG around town, 20 gallon tank?. Built like a tank. Dad gave it on to me with about 85K miles when I turned 17 in 1973.
2 weeks after getting my license, took out the right rear quarter and rear bumper while goofing around on a dirt road in Wharton State Forrest. m-d2 m-d2
Phase 1 (had no $$$)Installed a radio; off came the hub caps?..black rims with chrome lugs; JC Whitney cheapo floor shifter; carpeting; hi-back ?tombstone? buckets from a ?70 Duster.
Phase 2 (had very little $$$)Bought a ?64 Comet Calente hardtop parts car; 260CI V8 with about 80K miles, no transmission? $50 including towing to my house. Swapped the engine, rear, air shocks and front suspension into my sedan; 3 speed trans & bell housing from a junkyard; set of used ?chrome reverse? rims & good tires ($90) from a friend; used Lakewood traction bars, headers and ?Thrush? mufflers, Sun tach on the dashboard.
Shortly after the V8 swap, I spun the car while banging 2nd on a wet road?. Hit an embankment and rolled the car onto its side?. driver?s side down. Bent tie rod; door handle crushed, slight windshield crack. Got a $25 door (same color) from a junkyard, replaced the tie rod and I was back on the road in a week. Like I said? Built like a tank. drive&& drive&&
Here are some photos of a day at Atco Dragway in early 1974???. Best ET of 16.81. Not bad for a 260V8, 2 barrel, 3 speed with a 2.80 rear.
To put this in perspective, Car & Driver got the exact ET when they tested a Corvette 350 that year.Yes, I am giving the "peace sign"........ P#3 P#3
Yes, I am wearing a "Easy Rider" stars and stripes helmet......
Yes, I was a cool dude..... stoned# stoned#
Phase 3 (had a little more $$$)Eventually swapped in a 302 with a 3.50 rear??. would smoke the tires at will. I drove the thing to Illinois while in the Navy; when I got home in late ?75 I stripped the thing and had it towed to the scrap yard.
I intend to own another ?64 Comet some day!