Did Ford make a Comet?
A brief history of the Mercury Comet
Mercury’s Comet ran through the 1960s as an economy-oriented compact, sharing engineering with Ford’s Falcon while carrying Mercury’s styling and branding. The model helped Mercury fill a smaller-car niche in the brand’s lineup during that era.
Origins and platform
Launched in 1960, the Mercury Comet was designed to sit on Ford’s Falcon platform. It provided Mercury customers with a compact, affordable option while leveraging Ford’s existing engineering and parts pool.
Generations and evolution
Throughout the 1960s, the Comet underwent styling refreshes and trim changes, transitioning from early 1960s designs to updated bodies in the mid‑decade. By the end of the decade, Mercury reorganized its lineup, and the Comet name gradually ceased as a standalone model.
Key milestones in the Mercury Comet’s history illustrate how the model started as a Falcon-based compact and evolved within Mercury’s range before fading from the lineup.
Was there a Ford-branded Comet?
In short, no—the name “Comet” appeared on Mercury models, not on Ford-branded cars sold in the United States. The Comet was Mercury’s compact, while Ford offered the Falcon as its own economy model. The two cars shared platforms and many components but carried different branding and trim emphasis.
Common questions about the relationship between Ford and the Comet often center on branding and platform sharing. The following list clarifies the distinctions and the historical context.
- Was there a Ford-branded Comet? No; the Comet badge was used by Mercury, not Ford, in the U.S. market.
- What was the relationship to the Ford Falcon? The Comet shared the Falcon platform and mechanicals but was marketed and trimmed as a Mercury.
- Has the Comet name ever been revived by Ford? Not as an active Ford model in recent years; the name is historically tied to the 1960s Mercury lineup.
Before listing, here are the main clarifications people seek about Ford and the Comet.
The historical record shows that the Comet’s identity sits with Mercury, reflecting Ford’s multi-brand strategy of the era rather than a standalone Ford model.
Summary
Ford did not introduce a Commod or Comet-branded Ford vehicle. The Comet was Mercury’s compact model, launched in 1960 and built on Ford’s Falcon platform, and it remained part of Mercury’s lineup through the late 1960s. For automotive historians, the Comet is a clear example of badge engineering within the Ford family, with Mercury carrying the branding and flair while sharing underlying engineering with Ford’s economy cars.
How much is a Ford Comet worth today?
The nationwide average price for the Comet is $28,167, with pricing starting at $17,500.
What is a 1965 Mercury Comet worth today?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $12,933 for a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente in good condition with average spec. What is the highest selling price of a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente? The highest selling price of a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente at auction over the last three years was $45,900.
What was Ford's version of the Comet?
The Ford equivalent of the Mercury Comet changed throughout its production, with the Comet initially sharing the Ford Falcon platform, then the Ford Fairlane platform, and finally the Ford Maverick platform in the 1970s. The Comet was often a slightly more upscale version of its Ford counterpart, with variations in trim and features.
| Ford Equivalent | Years | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Falcon | 1960–1963 | The Comet was launched as a version of the Falcon. |
| Ford Fairlane | 1964–1970 | The Comet grew to be Mercury's intermediate offering, sharing the platform with the Fairlane. The performance-oriented Comet Cyclone was a version of the Fairlane GT. |
| Ford Maverick | 1971–1977 | In the 1970s, the Comet returned to a compact size and was based on the Maverick. |
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Was there a Ford Comet?
Mercury Comet: A Compact Classic The Mercury Comet was a compact car produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1960 to 1977.
