Mercury : Comet Caliente 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente hardtop unrestored

Up for auction is a 1964 two-door hardtop Mercury Comet Caliente. This is an all original, unmolested, rust-free, numbers matching California car. The car was originally purchased in North Hollywood and was then sold to a collector, where it was stored (and regularly rotated) for 25 years in a climate-controlled warehouse in Las Vegas. It was part of a collection that was being sold off when I bought it in 2000. It has 96,000 original miles, about 4,000 of which have been put on since I have owned it, and I have always kept it garaged. I have had new tires and shocks installed, the drum brake system completely redone, and the front-end suspension totally rebuilt by a shop specializing in old Fords. I had the original carburetor rebuilt at the time the suspension was done, and a new o.e.m radiator, a new fuel pump, and new motor mounts have all been installed professionally.

Both the interior and exterior remain in their un-restored, original condition. The color combination, which is called Palomino, features a two-tone tan and light brown interior that matches the tan color of the exterior. The car has zero rust, has never been in an accident, and looks much as it did 44 years ago.

As the pictures show, the carpet, headliner and upholstery look practically new, though there are a few minor flaws. There is a small hole (about the size of a quarter) in the vinyl on the side of the driver’s seat and another, slightly smaller hole in the vinyl below the back seat. On the driver’s seat there is also a seam where the stitching has become partially unraveled (the seam is about four inches long). The chrome caps for the exposed L-shaped seat frame pieces on the driver’s side are missing, the plastic sheath for the emergency brake handle is cracked, and the woven weather stripping near the driver’s side window is partially frayed (see pictures). The kick panel on the driver’s side has a crack in it, and the emblem that goes on the center console is missing. Aside from these imperfections, the interior is in incredible condition.

The original paint is also in excellent condition. The primary external flaw is that the passenger side door and rear quarter panel were scraped at some point when the car was being rotated by the previous owner. As you can see in the pictures, there is a slight depression in the metal and the paint is scratched on part of the dent. There is also a small ding (about the size of a dime) on the hood, another smaller ding on the top part of the fender on passenger side (next to the hood), a very small scratch/ding on the driver’s side rear quarter panel, and a small dent on the rear bumper. The paint shows wear marks on the driver’s side door (where one’s arm would rest with the window down) and on a few other edges. The trunk shows little use, but there are a couple of scratches on the wheel wells. The original whitewall spare tire is still in the trunk, and the trunk liner is in very good overall condition.

All the faux wood grain panels, glass, chrome, stainless steal, and seals are in great condition, and the undercarriage is extremely clean. All of the lights work and the lenses are in very good shape. The dashboard has no cracks or fading, and the original AM radio works well, as do the speakers. The original registration display sheath remains on the steering column, and the car still has the original, dealer-installed lap seatbelts (this is a very rare option). Included in the pictures is a photograph of the owner’s manual, which shows the original place of purchase as well as the protecto plate.

While both the engine and transmission are original and neither has ever been rebuilt, the 260 v8 runs well, and the C-4 transmission shifts cleanly and doesn’t leak. There is a noise that could be a lifter or maybe a tiny exhaust leak, but otherwise the engine is in good shape for being 44 years old. I recently had the car inspected by another mechanic that only works on old Fords, and he was amazed at the originality and overall condition of the car, and recommended leaving everything as-is.

This car can be picked up and driven home, or, if you prefer, you can arrange shipping. It is currently located in Sonoma, California, which is 60 minutes north of San Francisco, Ca. When I bought the car in Las Vegas, I drove it 650 miles to the SF Bay Area with no problems, and I have had no problems since.

All of the repairs I have had done have been restorative/preventative and all have been done by shops that specialize in these cars. This is a very rare Comet in almost impossible-to-find rust-free, unmolested, original condition. I have tried to give as much information as possible because the car is sold as-is. For the old car enthusiast, especially the Comet enthusiast, you won’t be disappointed. Good luck bidding!

The Body plate indicates the following:

VIN

4J23F309881

4=64 Model year

J=Los Angeles Assembly plant

23=2DR HT (Bucket) Caliente

F=v8 260

Body info:

63C = Caliente Bucket

G = Palomino

69= Crinkle Vinyl – Medium Palomino

31A = January 31st

52 = Los Angeles

4 = 3.25 to 1 Differential

6 = Dual Range 3 Speed Automatic