Okey folks, pictures of a newbies ride, as requested!

Hi guys!
Here are pictures of my Mercury Comet GT. The pics do not show the minor cracks in the paint, nor do they bring out the slightly faded color. All in all, it´s a nice little car though. I will post a pic of the VIN-tag on the doorpost of the drivers side. I would appreacciate a decoding of this info, or a pointer to a VIN-decoder for these cars.

 

Okey, here´s part 2 of my picture-post. And as I mentioned, I would really aprecciate help in decoding the tag, or info on where to find an online-decoder if one is available.

 

Here´s what little I know about the car:
It was imported into Sweden from the US, as a used car, by a swedish car-dealership in 1973. I have the documents to prove this. The tag on the doorpost says that the car was specifically manufactured for export, but somehow it must have stayed in a showroom (or at Ford), or been sold to a person in the US despite what the tag says (at least as far as I can reccon).

In the late 80´s the car was given a thourough restoration, including a custom-paintjob of the body, enginebay and underside. The engine was given a slightly hotter cam and possibly pistons, but the 2v carb was kept. Headers were installed. There´s a custom made "twinbarrel" exhaust, and together with the headers this gives the car a very nice sound.

These cars (Comets and Mavericks) are very uncommon in Sweden. I don´t even know if they were ever sold new here by Ford, since they were originally meant as an answer to the european and japanes compacts it would have made sense if Ford never bothered. Ford of Europe had cars of similar size, and perhaps they didn´t want to compete within the "family". This is speculation on my part, but would explain why there are so few of them around here. I have personally only seen a couple of Mavericks, and while I have seen Comets in pictures, the one I now own is the first I´ve seen in person.

Can you tell I´m a bit excited about my "find"?

Anders O

 

Very nice Comet. The car was more than likely shipped to Sweden from the US. As far as decoding , try this link: http://home.comcast.net/~petebre/maverick/decode/index.html.

 

Great find. I have to agree with Jean that the car was doubtfully ever sold in the US originally. If any of what you were told was true, it was only a year old when "imported", as it is a '72 model. It is possible that it was used by an American dealership that happened to get it as a demonstrator before it was sold to be exported. These vehicles do not need to be titled, but have to be ultimately sold as used. The titles show them to be new vehicles, though, and the warranties are complete from the time that the new owner takes posession like it had zero miles on it. I'm not familiar as to how US vehicles are titled in foreign countries.

 

Jean Doll, there´s no doubt that the car was shipped from the US, waaay too much water between there and here for it to have been driven! (sorry, couldn´t resist )

The problem is the document that I have, that clearly states that the car was imported into Sweden as a USED car, by a car dealership. Let me assure you, our tax-authorities are pretty strict on these kind of things, so while it is possible that a mistake has been made, it isn´t likely. Add to that that this car wasn´t imported into Sweden until 1973! What happened (in the US) between its manufacture in december 1971 and its import into Sweden?
I´ll have to take a closer look at that document, to see what info I can get from it.

Thanks for the decoder! This is what I can gather from it:
Modelyear: 1972
Plant: Kansas City
Body Serial & Type: Comet 2-door sedan, standard or GT
Engine: V8 302cui 2bbl 143hp
Unit number: 527653
Color: Grabber Blue
Interior Trim: Black-Ruffino/Corinth, vinyl (mine´s all black, forgive a foreigner, but what does "Ruffino/Corinth" meen?Just a posh way to say "black"?)
Transmission: 3-speed manual
Axle: 2,79:1
DSO: Export

Anders O

 

Wes, you posted while I was typing my message to Jean Doll.
Yes, it is quite possible that the car was at a dealership, not sold to an individual. But wouldn´t the long time between manufacture and export suggest otherwise? Nevermind, this isn´t very important at all.

What I can say for SURE is that no car-dealership in Sweden would protray a car as being used, if they could sell it as a new car. Add to that that this particular dealer was NOT the official Ford dealer in Sweden, as far as I know. The car was thus NOT imported as a new car, in the normal way that new Fords are imported (and were imported). Instead it spent more than a year somewhere in the US, before being exported as a used vehicle. This much I think we can be certain of.

Anders O

 

Sweeeet, Swede!!!!!!! Weird steering wheel, wonder where that came from?

 

Very ,Very nice car!

 

Nice

That flex fan may be part of your cooling problem.

Thanks for posting.


Seth

 

Nice

Hey Swede
Sweet Comet you have there.What is that on the passenger side below the valance on the rear shot?Im not sure but I think ruffino & corinth are the types of vinyl used in the interior.
later Tim

 

Thanks guys!
Mavaholic, the steeringwheel IS weird. Probably a cheap aftermarket wheel put in the car in the 80´s when it was restored. It´s a nice leather stearingwheel though, and provides nice comfortable and steady grip, so despite its somewhat funky looks I might keep it, at least until I can locate a nice Grant wooden steeringwheel (my favourite as far as apearance goes).

Seth, interesting suggestion. I thought that the flex-fans were supposed to give BETTER cooling, but as usual I suppose that ability could depend on other factors too. Could you please elaborate?

Tim, the thing you see in that picture is a lightreflector, I believe you call them catseye? Probably something stipulated by swedish law. I know that they are required on some imported vehicles. After having given it some additional thought the Ruffino/Corinth is probably the texture of the vinyl, just as you say. Corinthian leather is a nice quality leather, so it makes sense for Ford/Mercury to use the word on their vinyl interior as a "sales-pitch".

On a semi-related note, I was watching the movie "The China Syndrome" tonight, and there was a sequence with a Ford Maverick 2-door sedan in it when the good-guy in his BMW was being chased by some bad guys in a Lincoln or similar. Isn´t it strange how you pay attention to things like this? I must have seen this movie at least 3 times before, but never given any thought to the cars in it. Before the Maverick turned up, I was even thinking how it would be ironic if there was a Maverick or Comet in the movie (seeing as how the timeframe was correct) now that I own one. Man, I´m becoming a Comet geek!

Ohh, by the way, could someone point me to a picture of a gas-cap for a 1972 Mercury Comet (GT if they were specific items)? Mine fits great, but the crest on it looks like it belongs on a Cadillac?! Now, you must forgive me if I am mistaken about this. I´ve had a -70 Mercury Cougar Convertible, but other than that Mercurys are uncharted territory for me, so I wouldn´t know the correct cap if it blew off a car in front of me and hit me in the forehead!

Anders O

 

Gas Cap

Hey Swede
This is what I run and yours appears to be the same and the crest is the Comet crest. Mine is for a 74 Comet. 1972 does not have Comet on it . I also have one that is a slightly different style here are the pics

 

Very nice car Anders! Thanks for sharing all the history on it with us. I know you'll enjoy being a Mav/Com owner, and I know you'll enjoy this message board - as you have seen these are the best group of car people on the planet.

As for your gas cap, if it is a wide red crest that is remininscent of the Cadilliac crest, it is indeed the correct one for your car. I have my old on around here somewhere, and I'll post a pic if you'd like. Until then, ejoy your new purchase and good luck!

Sam

 

Thanks My Comet GT, that´s it (the crest that is). Allright then, nice to know that I´m not driving around with a GM (shudder) product gas-cap on my beautiful Mercury! Just kidding, I am ofcorse glad that it is the correct cap, but I have nothing against GM. Although most of my cars have been Ford Mustangs, I enjoy most vintage american cars, and a lot of modern ones too.

Sam, thank you, and yes it seems as if I am really going to enjoy being part of this forum. There´s no doubt about the car, I´m allready enjoying it very much!

Anders O