1972 Mercury Comet GT

The Comet was originally planned as an Edsel model. It was reassigned to Mercury dealerships after the demise of the Edsel brand, where it was marketed as a standalone product for 1960 and 1961 as the Comet.

The Comet was based on Ford Motor Company's compact  Falcon and later Maverick platforms . As a Mercury, early Comets received better grade interior trim than concurrent Falcons, and a slightly longer wheelbase.

In 1972, the glory days of high performance were over, but Ford knew how to keep speed alive in the new age: instead of more power, they simply used lighter cars. Pretty good call there, I'd have to say...

Sharing most of its sheet metal with the Maverick , it used a different grille, taillights, and hood, as well as different badging. The taillight pods were shared with the 1970 and 1971 Mercury Montego and Cyclone models. Underneath it all was the same basic chassis that had originally been used for the Ford Falcon, the original Comet, and for the mid-sized Ford Fairlane, Mercury Meteor, and later Mercury Comets.

The base engine was the 170 cid inline 6 with a single barrel carburetor producing 100 hp. The 200 cid inline 6 with a single barrel carburetor producing 115 hp, and a 302 cid V8 with a 2 barrel carburetor producing 210 hp were optional for a few more bucks. Transmissions were either a 3 speed manual or 3 speed automatic with either column or floor mounted shifters.

The Comet was available as 2 and 4  door sedans and in base from 1971 to 1977, and "Muscle Car " Comet GT series in a 2 door sedan only from 1971 to 1975 . Much like its Ford sister car The Maverick Grabber, the Comet GT  featured a blacked out grille, dual body side tape stripes, high back bucket seats, wheel trim rings, dual racing mirrors, bright window frames, black instrument panel, deluxe door trim panels, and a simulated hood scoop.

Although 1975 was the last year for the Mercury Comet GT, the GT features remained available in 1976 and 1977 with the "Sports Accent" option group.

The Comet model was offered with comparatively few changes through the 1977 model year, and was then discontinued to make room for the new Mercury Zephyr for the 1978 model year. Personally, the best comparison for both the Maverick and Comet was to drive an inline 6 version of either, then climb behind the wheel of a Grabber or GT V8 model. The smile on your face lasted at least a few hours afterwards. Some clean examples of these cars can still be found today, without inflicting TOO much damage to your wallet. They're fun...I'd take one.