1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Restomod

Description

A Mercury Comet hardtop is already a rare sight on the classic car scene today, but this 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Restomod is truly a singular creation inside and out. With a custom exterior design, a comfy two-tone A/C interior, a five-speed transmission, and a Cobra Mustang's powerhouse, this is quite a unique and fun show-stopper.

Mercury fans already know they are looking at a distinct creation because most of them probably thought a 1965 coupe was coming at them. This has the stacked headlights and wide grille of a '65. And the dual scoop hood even reminds us of a '66 Comet Cyclone. So this one is about putting its most aggressive face forward. But why do this to a 1964 car instead of starting with a 1965 hardtop? The answer reveals itself as you move further along the car. The '64 had an exclusive style with beautiful bright trim zooming up the sides. They paid particular attention to ensuring this looked clean, straight, and radiant when this car received its comprehensive restoration in 2010. The three-element taillight panel is another exclusive detail that makes the 1964 car the one to have. The body shows off clean and classic lines from a well-prepped restoration, and the glossy dark red paint is a quality professional application that sets the right tone of both elegant and aggressive. The wheel design reminds us of what would come on some of the classic Shelby Mustangs, but these are modern alloys with a modern 17-inch size. And that makes for a full package that hints at what's under the hood. So as you look over the full custom style on the outside, you see this car was carefully crafted to mix the best of beauty and brawn.

The interior is all about looking authentically vintage but feeling fresh and comfortable. So you have a new headliner, new carpeting with Comet-script floor mats, and plenty of beautifully bright trim for this premium Mercury. And the look of the two-tone seats is so attractive that you'll love leaving all the windows down on this hardtop so that people can get a better look inside. The restoration was also about improving comfort while still looking vintage. So the radio looks like a stock unit, but it was re-engineered to be an AM/FM unit with a CD changer and auxiliary input. The classic-looking under-dash air conditioning system hides a modern setup that works through the dash controls. They even replaced the windshield and side glass to ensure this feels clean and insulated. And we appreciate how this is a well-done driver's setup. That means front bucket seats with a center console in between. And there are thoughtful extras like the Mercury center cap on the upgraded wood-rimmed steering wheel. And the floor-mounted classic tach works nicely with the stick shift.

This one loves to have well-integrated upgrades, and the engine bay has the largest surprise. The smooth inner walls of the engine bay funnel your attention to a 4.6-liter V8 motor borrowed from a 1999 Ford Mustang Cobra. This powerhouse was custom designed and rebuilt as part of the restoration. The engine was disassembled, cleaned, and inspected. The block was lightly honed and given new rings on factory-forged pistons. The forged steel crankshaft was polished, new main and rod bearings were installed, and the heads were cleaned and polished. A new Comp Cams camshaft was installed, and the values were upgraded, too. And since this is a coupe that likes to both be classic and extra caliente, the V8 is now topped with a Demon 850 four-barrel carburetor and a custom-built intake. This setup is about being both powerful and useful, and that's why you have good supporting pieces, like an MSD ignition and a large electric fan, and you can even plug into a computer to adjust the timing. As you look underneath, you'll see this was upgraded to be a better all-around driver with a Mustang II-style front end, front discs with drilled & slotted rotor, and power rack & pinion steering. And the upgrade to the '99 Cobra's five-speed manual transmission gives you firm control over the upgraded coupe.

A ton of work went into this custom hardtop, and there are even the build receipts to prove it! This proves they took the time to build something powerful, comfortable, incognito, and unique. Call now!