Comet (marque)

Comet enjoyed immediate success in the marketplace, selling 116,331 cars for the 1960 model year.{{cite web |title=Comet Model Overview |url=https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/mercury/comet/1960/1960-mercury-comet |website=Hagerty |publisher=Hagerty Media |access-date=9 May 2024}} 1960 was a short model year for Comet, lasting only from March - October 1960.{{cite journal |title=Comet |journal=Motor Trend |date=October 1960 |volume=12 |issue=10 |pages=30 - 33}} Comet sales increased by 58% for 1961 models to 197,263 units. Comet outsold the Mercury brand by 70% in 1961.{{cite journal |last1=Skinner |first1=Phil |title=What in Heaven?: The Unlikely Story of the 1960 - 1963 Mercury Comet |journal=Collectible Automobile |date=October 2006 |volume=23 |issue=3 |page=59}}

File:61 Comet (9129842287).jpg

• Revised front grille{{cite web |title=Comet Model Overview |url=https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/mercury/comet/1960/1960-mercury-comet |website=Hagerty |access-date=9 May 2024}}
• Comet adds 101 horsepower Thrift-Power 170 6-cylinder engine as an optional engine upgrade.{{cite book |title=1961 Comet |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |pages=8 |edition=C61-105 |url=https://fordheritagevaultmedia.com/api/links/c29a9048c4864d89915b29f4f39330e4/uuid/13a4dfe820aa4c609291d2abab692269/access |access-date=10 May 2024}}
• Reduction in exterior paint choices from 11 to 10 colors{{cite book |title=1961 Comet |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |pages=8 |edition=C61-105 |url=https://fordheritagevaultmedia.com/api/links/c29a9048c4864d89915b29f4f39330e4/uuid/13a4dfe820aa4c609291d2abab692269/access |access-date=10 May 2024}}{{cite web |title=Fine Car Styling for the Economy-Wise, Comet |url=https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/mercury/60com/60com.html |website=Mercury Brochures |publisher=Ford Motor Company |access-date=9 May 2024}}
• Revised front fender trim
• Comet side emblems moved from front fenders to rear fenders{{cite book |last1=Burness |first1=Tad |title=My Dad Had That Car: A Nostalgic Look at the American Automobile 1920-1990 |date=2017 |publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers |location=New York |isbn=978-0-316-43091-3 |page=383 |edition=First}}
• Comet S-22 model added to Comet line{{cite book |title=The New Comet S-22!!!! |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division, Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |pages=1–4 |url=https://fordheritagevaultmedia.com/api/links/c29a9048c4864d89915b29f4f39330e4/uuid/6ce8fc777a134de184d1c2ca3c1b753a/access |access-date=10 May 2024}}
• New Comet logo emblem for roof quarter panel (sedan models only)
• Addition of full-width chrome trim panel with Comet name incorporated above rear bumper (sedan models only)
• New deck lid handle with integral lock (sedan models only)
• Interior dome light moved to center of the roof vs. just above windshield
• Front upper A-arm busing changed from rubber bushing to pre-lubricated, threaded metal bushing
• Die-cast aluminum front engine cover replaces stamped steel cover
• Addition of vertical ribbing to reinforce oil pan in both motor options
• New Comet emblem for glovebox{{cite journal |title=Comet |journal=Motor Trend |date=October 1960 |volume=12 |issue=10 |pages=30 - 33}}

For 1961, the Comet S-22 package was released for Comet 2-Door Sedans. S-22 was available with either motor and transmission. Promoted as a luxury-oriented package, Comet S-22 models gained:

• Front bucket seats
• Center console with storage compartment
• Front and rear De luxe armrests
• S-22 steering wheel and De luxe horn ring
• De luxe wheel covers
• De luxe door and quarter trim panels
• Additional insulation/sound-deadening material
• Factory undercoating
• Cigarette lighter
• Door courtesy-light switches
• Bright-work on door and window frames{{cite book |title=The New Comet S-22!!!! |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division, Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |pages=1–4 |url=https://fordheritagevaultmedia.com/api/links/c29a9048c4864d89915b29f4f39330e4/uuid/6ce8fc777a134de184d1c2ca3c1b753a/access |access-date=10 May 2024}}

Comet S-22 was treated as a 5th offering in the Comet lineup, and received Body Series Identification Code 17 in its VIN. Standard Comet 2-Door Sedans were designated by the number 11.{{cite book |title=1961 Comet Service Specifications Handbook |date=1961 |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division, Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |edition=FORM NO. MD-9937-61}}

To prepare Lincoln-Mercury-Comet dealerships to competitively sell in the compact car market, Comet identified primary competitors in training materials:{{cite book |title=Comet "Quick Facts" and Price Comparisons |date=1960 |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |edition=C60-102 |url=https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Mercury/1960%20Mercury/1960-Mercury-Comet-Facts-Booklet/index.html}}

• Rambler 6
• Valiant
• Studebaker Lark
• Chevrolet Corvair
• Ford Falcon

The Comet line of cars was folded under the Mercury brand for the 1962 model year,{{Cite book |last=Gunnell |first=John |title=55 years of Mercury: the complete history of the Big "M" |date=1994 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=978-0-87341-311-4 |location=Iola, WI |page=128}} with Comet models wearing Mercury brand and Comet model emblems.{{cite web |title=Comet Model Overview |url=https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/mercury/comet/1960/1960-mercury-comet |website=Hagerty |publisher=Hagerty Media |access-date=9 May 2024}} Rear end styling was revised to better resemble other Mercury models such as the Meteor.{{cite web |last1=Shea |first1=Terry |title=From the Ashes - 1962 Mercury Comet |url=https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/from-the-ashes-1962-mercury-comet |website=Hemmings |publisher=Hemmings Motor News |access-date=12 May 2024}} Comet models were included in Mercury brochures, workshop manuals, and advertisements for the first time for 1962.{{cite web |title=Introducing the 1962 Ford Family of Fine Cars |url=https://fordheritagevaultmedia.com/api/links/c29a9048c4864d89915b29f4f39330e4/uuid/6f2c964d69d44b16af7abc038b6487fa/access |website=Ford Heritage Vault |publisher=Ford Motor Company |access-date=9 May 2024}} The Comet Drive automatic transmission was also renamed to Merc-O-Matic Drive for 1962.{{cite book |title=Comet "Quick Facts" and Price Comparisons |date=1960 |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company |location=Dearborn, MI |edition=C60-102 |url=https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Mercury/1960%20Mercury/1960-Mercury-Comet-Facts-Booklet/index.html}}{{cite book |title=Mercury Comet '62 |date=1962 |publisher=Lincoln-Mercury |location=Dearborn, MI |page=13 |edition=LM62-112 |url=https://fordheritagevaultmedia.com/api/links/c29a9048c4864d89915b29f4f39330e4/uuid/1804b1815bef44bfa394efb585844662/access |access-date=10 May 2024}} By adding Comet to the Mercury line of cars, Mercury brand sales on paper more than doubled from 1961 to 1962.{{cite web | url=https://www.automobile-catalog.com/production/mercury/comet_1gen.html#gsc.tab=0 | title=Mercury Comet 1gen production numbers data }}

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Category:Ford Motor Company

Category:Lincoln vehicles

Category:Mercury vehicles

Category:Compact cars