What car is the Comet in real life?
There isn't a single “Comet” car in real life. The name has been used by several different production vehicles, most prominently by Mercury and by AMC, during the 1960s. These cars are distinct models built on different platforms.
What you’re asking about is which real production vehicles carried the Comet badge. This article focuses on the best-known examples and explains how the name appeared across brands and eras.
Two main real-world Comet models
Below are the two best-known production cars that bore the Comet badge.
- Mercury Comet: A compact model produced by Mercury (the Ford division) starting in the early 1960s, designed as an affordable, economical car and based on Ford’s Falcon platform. It appeared in multiple body styles, including sedans and convertibles, and served Mercury’s entry-level lineup in that era.
- AMC Comet: A compact offering from American Motors Corporation (AMC), introduced in the mid-1960s as part of the Rambler/AMC lineup. It represented AMC’s small-car option in a competitive market and continued through the late 1960s into the early 1970s before the brand reorganized its model names.
Both examples show how the same badge—Comet—was used by separate automakers to market compact, value-oriented cars, each with its own platform and design approach.
Context and branding
The reuse of the Comet name reflects mid-century marketing trends that linked space-age imagery and speed with practical, affordable transportation. Although Mercury and AMC shared the badge, the two cars were unrelated in design and engineering beyond the common name.
If you mean a fictional or media version
In films, television, and video games, “Comet” can refer to fictional vehicles inspired by or distinct from the real cars above. If you have a specific title or scene in mind, tell me the show or movie, and I’ll identify the on-screen car and its real-world inspirations, if any.
Summary
The Comet name in real life does not point to a single vehicle. The most well-known examples are the Mercury Comet, a Falcon-based compact from the early 1960s, and the AMC Comet, a mid- to late-1960s compact from American Motors. Each car is a separate model with its own history, and in fiction, “Comet” may refer to other imagined vehicles.
How much is a 1972 Comet worth?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $11,700 for a 1972 Mercury Comet in good condition with average spec. What is the highest selling price of a 1972 Mercury Comet? The highest selling price of a 1972 Mercury Comet at auction over the last three years was $10,500.
What car is the Comet based on?
The Comet in 3D Universe Grand Theft Auto games is inspired by the Porsche 911, particularly the 911SC Targa from the late '70s to early '80s, with some design cues borrowed from the late '80s 911 models.
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.
Is the Mercury Comet the same as a Ford Falcon?
The Comet was initially based on the compact Ford Falcon, then on the intermediate Ford Fairlane, and finally on the compact Ford Maverick. Early Comets received better-grade interior trim than concurrent Falcons, and a slightly longer wheelbase.
