What's a 1961 Comet worth?

[HEYBOSS]

Saw this 1961 Mercury Comet for sale. Black 2dr with red interior straight 6 with 41,000 original miles one owner. The car is in mint condition with the exception of a very small dent/scratch r/rear quarter, front edge of hood paint starting to crack and two small rips on front seats. Vehicle has been parked and garaged for last 5 years. Won't start due to dead battery but I can turn the engine by hand so there should not be a problem with it. I was asked to make an offer but don't know what's it worth.

Your help is always appreciated.



Thanks, Fred.

 

[illflem]

My sister recently sold my 90 year old mom's '62 Comet for $600. It hadn't been driven in 7 years and had been garaged it's entire 70k one owner dent free life. Knowing my mom's driving habits I doubt if it had ever been over 35 mph. I would have taken it but didn't feel it was classic enough to warrant a 1400 mile one way drive. Don't think it sold new for much over $1000.

 

[Motorhead]

Check Hemmings motor news. Almost anything that is old,lowmiles and in reasonable good condition is worth something to someone. Search the web for Mercury clubs. If you buy this thing, when you get it running,take off the valve cover,start it and make sure that the rocker arms oil. The early 144/170 cu. in. engines used an area around one of the rear head bolts to pressure feed the rockers. They notoriously plugged up and they ran dry. The fix,if you couldn't clean out the oil passage, was to run a 1/4 copper line tapped off of the oil sender to the valve cover or head. (I can't remember where they hooked it up on the head). HEY, act dumb, offer them low, and don't look to interested. Also remember that it wasn't running for a reason. You are taking a chance buying something not running. Let the owner know that. When I was a kid,(a while ago!) a friend of my brother had an old Comet. This thing was THRASHED. He shifted the three speed standard from a hole he cut in the floor hump and would pull or push the shifter rods to select the gear. He nicknamed it "The Vomit:--)" Chris

 

[illflem]

Fred, you got my curiosity up so I looked around, fully restored '60-'66 Comets go for $3-6k, with convertibles bringing the higher prices. There aren't many offered. I forgot all about the bombed Cyclone model, much more for this one. Surprised while searching that '70s Pintos are also considered classics, to each his own. Offer $500



What I'd like to find is a '60s Dodge Lancer, the kind with the push button auto trans and the old faithful slant 6. Sort of weird looking by todays standards.



#ad

 

[Task125]

hey Fred,

I forgot to ask you about that car,what the hell you going to do with it anyway. O and thanks for helping with my truck sat.

Mike

 

[HEYBOSS]

Mike

You're welcome, How was the ride home?

That DTT stuff kicks, the smart controller is a real nice piece, hope you'll enjoy it.



In all honesty I didn't even have any thing in mind with the car. I wasn't looking for it, I was approached by a customer if I had any interest in it, so I figure I had nothing to loose by looking at it.

This car is like new, I mean new even all the chrome shines just like the car came out of the show room. May throw some nice mags on it with some 60s or 50s tires and it would be a head turner. I like old stuff, just another toy.



Forgot so say thank You for lunch, thanks



Fred.

 

[JES]

old stuff

Gee Fred your sweet lady likes old dtuff errr stuff . I mean she still lets you hang around. Keep it stock it'll be worth a lot more that way. Just like you would have been.

 

[Task125]

The ride was not to bad,Made it home by 10:00. The truck ran great,just got to get that lift pump fixed,I will take care of that this week.

Sounds like a plan with the car,just low ball him.

Thanks again for all the help,I'm sure I will be up your way again,Mike

 

[emarsh]

There is not much demand for them, parts are VERY hard to come by compared to Mustangs, etc. They are very unique, I have a 1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone, paid top dollar for it here in calif, but they only made about 7500 of them. Its only woth what someone is willing to pay, I'm sure you can get it cheap; whatever you feel comfortable with. Go for it! I really like Merc's, have you seen the new Maurader?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hop up that little 6

Hey Fred, if you do pick up that car there are some options to hop up that little 6. Clifford Performance has been in business for many years selling HiPo components for 4 & 6 cylinder engines.



One downside to the little Ford 6 is the intake is integral with the head. Fortunately Clifford sells adapters to give you a couple different options here, one where you can use 3 stock carburetors, another option lets you use a 500cfm Holley. They also sell hot cams and headers (dual and single outlet) for these engines.



Another downside of the 144 and 170 inch motors is they have 4 mains bearings. If I were to rod that car up a bit I'd go with either a 200 or 250 six, I think their external dimensions are identical and should drop right in, plus they have 7 main bearings.



Check out Cliffordperformance.com



Someday I want to do a hot 6-cyl gasser, I have seen a few and they have a sound of their own. I saw an article where a guy with a '71 Camaro seriously souped up a Chevy 250 and was able to turn low-mid 12s in the quarter mile.



I saw a Duster with a very hot Slant Six with a lopey cam. It had dual outlet headers/dual exhaust and oooooh baby, it sounded sweet!!



Vaughn