Muscle Car of the Week Video Episode #95: 1964 Mercury Comet A/FX 427

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Muscle Car of the Week Video Episode #95: 1964 Mercury Comet A/FX 427
#musclecar #v8tv
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Produced by Kevin Oeste and V8TV Productions, Inc. - Back in 1964, Super Stock drag racing racing was one of the hottest things going, and people loved the competition and energy of stock-appearing cars going much faster than normal. The next evolution was Factory Experimental, a class that allowed manufacturers to get a little crazier with performance parts and special pieces in cars that still appeared similar to what was for sale in local showrooms. This 1964 Mercury Comet is an A/FX car, one of 21 built, and it still retains all the "experimental" speed parts that it wore back in '64, like the 425 HP high-riser 427 and all the fiberglass body panels.
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[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Factory drag cars were the best. Ford's Comet, Pontiac's Tempest, and Chrysler's Dart were awesome!

[@sikpup52]

Great memories from a great era for a lot of us. Nothing like them and it was the ultimate then. Thank you for stirring up some wonderful memories.

[@johnjohnsn7633]

I had one of the 1965 Cyclones Mercury had Bill Stroppe build as Factory Experimentals. Mine was one of the 289 HP-powered B/FX ones and unlike the '64 one shown here, it came with fiberglass front bumper, fenders, hood and doors. Where the '64 had a 'Radio Delete' cover panel, the '65 had a complete fiberglass panel that covered where the radio, heater controls and the glove box had been. Additionally, the front windshield, door glasses ... roll up and vent ... were plexiglas, while the quarter glasses and rear windshield were factory LOF glass, the decklid and rear bumper were factory steel. Inside, special fiberglass bucket seats were installed in place of the usual Cyclone seats ... considerably lighter than those of the '64 FX'ers ...and the rear was replaced by a contoured fiberglass replacement cover. I ran it with the BOSS 302 in place of the 289 and set National Records in both AHRA ... at the old Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield TX ... and IHRA records ... at the old Dallas International Motor Speedway in Lewisvlle. Ended up trading the body w/o drivetrain for a fully running 1970 Mustang Mach I with the Drag Pack 428 'Shaker' Ram Air SCJ & 4-speed. Ended up selling it for cash. Later I learned it was extremely rare, as it was Factory A/C, which wasn't supposed to be available on 4-speed SCJs (something about the A/C condenser wasn't supposed to fit with the Drag Pack's oil cooler ... but it did). Back then Ford did some assembly line "specials" ... along the lines of Chevy's 'COPO' program. 🙂 Sure do miss both of those cars. 😒

[@davidchereneimmel8820]

Oh my love to see those headers just hanging on each side of that large oil pan on that beast..love it!!

[@CrzyMav]

Beast!! What a sleeper! Very beautiful restoration. Would love to own this thing!

[@tomswinburn1778]

Sleeper? That hood's kinda a dead giveaway. And the slicks.

[@SteelyPaw]

When I was young my dad owned a 64 & 66 M. Comet. I spent a lot of time in the 64. Great cars, and my favorite in both is the Cyclone version. After comet my choice would be Mustang but no later than 67 for all these platforms. I worked for a Mercury dealership from 1966 to 1970. I worked a few Mercury Marauders, but they were full size sedans with 428 and 429 V8 combining luxury and ride with power and sport. I could not get my hands on a 66 Cyclone but I did have a 66 Ford Fairlane GT 390 that was pretty hot right out of the factory.

[@jacobbondy1767]

What Mercury dealership did you work at? And the Cyclones are my favorite as well my dad and I both have one I have a 1968 Mercury Cyclone and my dad has a 1969 Mercury Cyclone CJ

[@fasx56]

Beautiful look back in nostalgia to the golden years of drag racing the 1960s, the car looks beautiful.

[@C5Ron7]

👍👍I owned a 1964 Comet Cyclone, 289 cu in, 4 bbl, 4 speed, duel exhaust Factory Stock.What a sweet little car and for the day very quick! Wish I had that car today😢 I did own quite a few extremely nice cars from the 60s til today but given the choice this one would have been a keeper today. If only we knew then what we know today. Old saying wish in one hand and S*** in the other! 😭

[@oleandreasjensen5263]

One of the most beautiful and facination car I ever have seen. - A real BEAST

[@jimolson8424]

The 64 is a thing of beauty.... yet so bad ass...

[@polycarphunter2257]

1967 was my senior year in HS. i bought a 1964 comet cyclone, black with white bucket seats interior.

[@CrzyMav]

This is one slick and means as Mercury. I love to own this thing. Wow it's bad ass!!

[@richardhoepfner1633]

Man this vid brings back memories of my '64 Comet Cyclone. Very similar to the car shown. Wimbledon White with a Carmine Red interior. 289 C.I. with four-barrel carb. Mine even had factory "under-dash" A/C. I replaced the one down exhaust manifold with a Ford straight back and dual exhausts. Put a set of Monroe Gas Shocks and 4.11 posi punkin and embarrassed Z-cars. The only things that beat me were Five-liter Mustangs. A Great Car!!!

[@fordfairlane662dr]

The comets have a look thats outta this world...

[@randybeard6040]

I had a friend back in the late sixties whose dad sold used cars and his son, my friend must have owned at one time over a dozen of these 64 Comets. He could Tune and dress up these Comets like no one else during that time-Searcy, Ar......

[@ooiii8859]

Comet. My first car. Never knew the history. My father new. I understand. Thanks dad!

[@milehighgimpster]

I'm not a big Ford guy but the comet and falcon always get my attention at races and shows!

[@ianmcnll]

You do the absolute finest muscle car videos...great work! I had a '63 Pontiac Strato-chief 2 door sedan with 327 and 4-speed factory equipped. Your videos are short enough to keep interest and long enough to get in the major details...and you sure do know your stuff. Thank you.

[@Machi74005]

You sure that wasn't a 326?

[@ianmcnll]

Canadian made Pontiacs used Chevrolet engines and transmissions.

[@billcavazos2817]

Very nice. I'm building a 64 comet with a 2010 svt Raptor drivetrain. Supercharged 5.4 with the 6 speed auto trans 3.55 gears. A fun cruiser. Hope to be finished before Christmas.

[@eddiespagetti8395]

Sweeeet. I had a 289 rollerized and turbo.

[@nicksterklad1]

Very cool thanks for sharing the A/FX Meecury.

[@scottwright6647]

My 64 Comet Cyclone was the same color, white with red interior. Watching this brought back memories!!!

[@randycoursey7230]

I bought a 1964 Comet Cyclone used from a private party in 1971. It came equipped with a 289 Hi Po engine, 4 speed with bucket seats and Cyclone badges on the door panels. It was my first car. It was blue with black interior. She looked just like this one only it didn't have the teardrop good scoop. My inexperience as a driver doomed this car as I totalled it out a couple of months after bought it. These cars are very rare. I paid $700.00 for mine in 1971. I wish I would have been smarter way back then. These cars are worth a fortune today. I sure miss her!

[@N-Scale]

I worked for Mercury for a short time after AMC and they always had some sweet car. In 1972 the cool car was the Comet GT and even in the days right before smog they were a fun car. Mike

[@jeremythompson9895]

My mom had a 302/4 speed 73 Comet GT when I was a kid. My dad was a Ford mechanic and he did some aftermarket upgrades to it so it was alot faster than a stock 73 Comet GT. I remember Mom doing burnouts with my brother and I in the back seat. Great memories

[@jeremythompson9895]

My mom had a 73 Comet GT and my dad had a 72 Gran Torino Sport with the 351CJ/4 speed combo that he bought brand new from the Ford dealer he worked at, Jack Byrne Ford/Mercury in Mechanicville,NY

[@CrzyMav]

Mike Fifer , I loved the AMC AMX. Wow was that an American Icon American Muscle car.

[@larryharrison7314]

It was a rocket on wheels. A real sleeper for sure.

[@CrzyMav]

I can’t get enough from this little Monster.

[@CHaas-bn3xi]

My father was a Lincoln Mercury dealer back than Johnny Haas Lincoln Mercury 9200 W. Colfax Ave Lakewood Colo. 80215 home of the cat. He had a 1968 cyclone 428 cobra jet that pumped out over 6 HP. High 9s low 10s at Bandamir drag strip in Golden co. The name of the GREEN cyclone was the GREEN Winnie those where the days man

[@SouthernCrossMotors]

What a weapon!

[@tomnekuda3818]

Great video.....my brother had a Merc Comet with small block hopped up....very nice little car and it would surprise you, too! Thanks for all these videos.

[@fordfairlane662dr]

This is my all time favorite drag car!

[@1971SuperLead]

My dad had a white 64 Comet with the 289, 4 barrel, dual exhaust and three speed. He added a Hurst floor shifter. That car turned 15:00 in the quarter mile. Pretty fast for a stock car back then. I used to bust the motor mounts out of that thing all the time.

[@tomswinburn1778]

Yeah it was fast for back then. I laugh uproariously at all the claims of 13 second street cars back then. They DID exist, but not in the numbers braggarts would have you believe. A friend of mine had a 62 Fairlane with a 390 (known as a dog) with a big 4 barrel, duals, three on the tree and a real low gear. I don't know what internal work had been done on it, but he turned low 14s at the strip and ruled the streets in my hometown. His mufflers were u-bolt clamped to the exhaust pipes rather than welded, and he blew them off on a regular basis. His car was faster than the factory hot rods of the time. He embarrassed them regularly. I had a '67 Ranchero with 289-auto that I put the Ford "kit" in along with an aluminum intake and smallish 4 barrel. Supposed to make 271 HP but never dynoed. It was fairly quick, once I learned how to keep the ass end on the ground, but no where close to 14.

[@tashac2889]

YOU suck

[@tashac2889]

I hate you

[@bruceh92]

Comet shared platform with Falcon, not Fairlane. Not to nitpick, just a great little machine. Love it.

[@gtracer6629]

Glad to see this one has original suspension. In period they launched with what we call a frog hop...rear end came straight up and then forward. I saw another Comet on another channel launching with front wheels up in the air. In '63-64 both Comets & Thunderbolts did the hop.

[@mr.iowegian]

That is the most bad-ass looking car I have ever seen!

[@ronschlorff7089]

I love Mercs. !!! I own a 64 Comet Caliente 302, and 67 Cyclone 390; they are both mostly stock looking except my red comet has the teardrop hood, the white Cyclone came with a factory fiberglass dual scoop hood. Lots of head twists and thumbs ups when I drive them, not too common cars! Most folks ask: "What is it?" Not your "belly button classic car" (aka everyone has one) I say; not a Camaro or Mustang of that era. ;D LOL

[@TheKingMAC]

BLESS YOU... PEACE...

[@jerrykolosinsky4615]

I remeber watching fast eddie schartman at a local track in the day what a memorir wow

[@larryb6715]

I love these cars for several reasons: Very Rare, Very Fast, and it's not a Mustang!

[@tomswinburn1778]

"Deep into the 11s" doesn't hurt either. The "hemi hunter" name kinda says it all. Being a Ford/Mercury guy this car shows what the brand was capable of doing on the strip. That warms the hearts of old farts like me.

[@jeremythompson9122]

I'm a Mopar guy and I've never been a big Mustang fan but I love the 1964 and 66-67 427 Fairlane's/Comet's. Most FE 427's ended up in full size Galaxie's but the FE 427 in the intermediate Fairlane/Comet is the absolute Holy Grail of factory Ford muscle in my opinion. I believe the 64 Thunderbolt/Comet 427 and 66 Fairlane/Comet 427 were only sold to drag racers but the 427 was actually a regular production Fairlane/Comet engine option in 67. Even then only 229 Fairlane 427's were made in 67 and the 427 Comet's are even more rare. But I would gladly settle for a 427 Galaxie...preferably a 63 1/2 or 65

[@bluesharp59]

I commented about a year ago but I had to come back watch this again. So they only made 20 one of these cars it's got to be worth some big money. I mentioned in my comment down below that it reminds me of a t bolt yes it does as far as race ready I meant. Either way I wish I had one or the other in my garage right now besides my diecast collection. Great video once again and thank you.

[@MrBluoct]

Sick

[@kylevantassel7259]

Would love to see one of these done on the 65-6 A/FX mustangs . Not the long nosed versions like Rhondas but the ones that were done just like this comet . I would really love to see you do a video on one if you have one. Love the videos by the way. By far the best car channel on youtube with the most relevant cars... Keeping these cars in the spotlight after all of these years is doing quite a service to the car community.

[@Jvcomet]

Nice 👍

[@doughboy7686]

My dad has a 2 door 64 Comet in good condition has 280 something engine he has a 351 Windsor he wants to bore out to a 427 and put in it. Gotten sick the last few mths with cancer but he lives Ford's

[@tomswinburn1778]

I sure hope he kicks cancers ass. I'm 13+ years into beating kidney cancer (thanx Doc's) and would love for him to realize his dream.

[@jeremythompson9895]

289

[@jeremythompson9895]

Hope he beats that shit.....my grandpa was a hardcore Mopar man. He died of lung cancer. He Had a 69 roadrunner when I was a kid. Man that thing was fast as hell. 383 4spd

[@sergeantmasson3669]

A few of these cars were built using the Ford 427 SOHC "cammer" engine. Dyno Don Nicholson had one of them as an AFX match NHRA racing car.

[@ronstewart3431]

Nice car 🚗

[@mikeoc217]

My mom had one when I was a kid! I think it had a 289 it was a tire smoking machine! She would hit the gas start blazing those bios ply tires going Ooo Oooo cause it was squealing 😂👍🏻🇺🇸

[@BackSeatHump]

If I'm not mistaken the FX 427 Ford Thunderbolt cars used half-leaf spring suspension up front, not the ones pictured in this video.

[@jagco2594]

wow nice

[@falconeddie1393]

WOW! When cars where cars. Saw both Sox & Martin, and Dyno Dick Landy at Union Grove Wisc. Awesome car man.

[@johnjohnsn7633]

Make that 'Dandy Dick' Landy.

[@deanstuder1775]

It was Dyno Don Nicholson that was a team mate of Ronnie Sox driving the 1964 427 Mercury Comet in A/FX class. They dominated same as the Ford Thunderbolt did in Super Stock class. Lions Dragstrip Long Beach Baby. And all over the country but I saw them and probably Big Daddy Don Garlits in top fuel on the same night.. Those were the the days. Ford did make a statement for a couple years . These were practically Cobras. I'm a Chevy guy, but l must give credit where credit is due.

[@gshock3092]

Probably my favorite FX car bar none!

[@zelphx]

I still dream of my '64 Cyclone.

[@bluesharp59]

Very Nice and Thumbs Up ! Liked your video.

[@ice_fox]

I prefer the stacked headlights of the 65, but this sure is a beauty.

[@tetchgallery8494]

Colour coded door locks - nice touch

[@slayer7694]

Awesomeness

[@bluesharp59]

Great car had to watch it again. Happy holidays to you your family and all your subscribers.

[@edge2sword186]

That high riser had twelve point seven to one compression ratio and around five hundred horse power .Some boat racers had 14 to 1 compression and tunnel ram manifolds and around 650 hp.

[@gshock3092]

Probably my most favorite of all the AFX cars! Don had one and Ronnie go figure! Lol

[@hotrods27]

Did anyone notice the time correct hand built lift bars and cross member? This car is a real time capsule and his report was pretty straight forward without a lot of wrong BS thrown in.

[@randallmunson9909]

Exhaust headers are wrong.

[@Tegridynews]

Love it

[@rickycollins4633]

Where is that wagon? That's the one I want to see.

[@johnjohnsn7633]

That was the one they built specifically for 'Dyno Don' Nicholson.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@johnjohnsn7633 Don Nicholson always built his own race cars, NOT Ford.

[@johneddy908]

That '64 Comet actually used the Falcon platform, although it was a bit longer. It was two years later that the larger Fairlane-size Comet took its place.

[@coltsfan79]

Actually 60-63 Falcons had 110" wheelbase where the Comets had a 114" wheelbase from the start. In 64 they made the Falcon 114", it was the first year you could actually swap out doors, fenders and hoods minus the trim between the 2. The Comet did have an additional 6" of sheet metal behind the rear wheels. It was the 114" platform that they cut the Falcon/Comet bodies off and set the Mustang body on.

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@coltsfan79 Yup, lots of Ford "cousins" in those years. My 64 Ranchero shares a bunch of parts with the comet of same year, and I have beaucoup early Mustang parts in it, like the 1966 200 inline!!

[@johneddy908]

@@coltsfan79, Mustang had a shorter wheelbase than the Falcon/Comet - 108 inches compared to 114 inches.

[@bluesharp59]

Reminds me of the 64 T- Bolt

[@caratcranker5874]

Looke nothing like a T Bolt, what da yah mean? Looks like a Rambler.

[@gocubsgo7609]

bluesharp59 kinda does in a way.

[@FYMASMD]

@@caratcranker5874 only difference is the body. Underneath its virtually exact. Tool. Its fast. Who Fucking cares what it looks like. Oh you do.👎😝

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@FYMASMD Best on the street if they do care,.... then comes the big surprise, and crying time begins. "I thought it was a grandpa's car!!" Reminds me of my buddy's '62 Galaxie 406, tri-power, four speed; lots of guys in Mustangs, and Chevelle's made that mistake!! Back in 1966 when we cruised that "Roaring Beast" in L.A. area, before we all got drafted or married the following year!! ;D LOL.

[@anthonyberardi8904]

Same car basically. I like the looks of the Mercury Better tho.

[@Robocoppat]

Best looking body styles. I'd love to have one with a 302 , 6 speed tranny, and the biggest cam that'll run on the street.

[@ruachadam5227]

A million dollar car...at least.

[@zairomolino4074]

so cool

[@daveh7186]

This is Mercury’s version of a thunderbolt .

[@bigthunder2860]

My first car was a 64 comet calentay 289 4 speed a good car for a 16yr. Old to learn the finer points of driveing and get stuck in it was very easy to park

[@jimmybritt9537]

Great presentation but you could have given us some quality engine idle and drive bye sound 👍👍🇺🇸

[@mariahaug4515]

Sleeper my ass. You see this you BOW!

[@dallenshields873]

My first car was a 65 Ford Fairlane with a 289 cu. In. 200 hp 2 Barrel 3 speed on the column.

[@theoriginalmungaman]

The altered wheel base was invented by Dick Landy. He would move the wheels back for better weight transfer a little at a time. Once the track officials noticed the new class and term "funny car" was coined! Yep always following Mopar!

[@chrisgoffe5048]

..i would steal it

[@64fairlane305]

No V8TV, the FE427 high-rise sideoiler was not a "425hp". While assurance-rules made all big-block enegines end up as "425hp" back then, the real numbers of Fords FE427 nascar-enegine was +550hp.

[@edge2sword186]

They weren't side oilers and had an Iron Crank without cap screw rods Lightweight valves and a 324 duration cam .TRW forged pistons

[@jeremythompson9895]

In 64 it was still a top oiler design. Side oilers came out in 65

[@jeremythompson9895]

I'm almost positive.....could be wrong though

[@jeremythompson9895]

The Thunderbolt and Comet A/FX 427 high riser was easily over 500 horsepower. But the street version of the R-Code 427 really did make 425 hp at 6000 rpm

[@shogunMR]

he is just saying what Ford rated it at so the insurance companies would take it easy on folks. They know it was 500 plus easy

[@mitchellyardanoff4666]

Ford and Mercury should have built more of these cars with this drive train

[@ChillingwithMalc]

I have my grandpas 64 4 door comet.

[@canoebelue]

I had one of these but mine had a straight six. 170 ci I think.

[@branon6565]

That car is beautiful brutality, it's just a great lookin car....

[@futten3230]

dig it

[@1957kwick]

I would’ve thought as light as the car is it would’ve been a lot faster.🛠👍🇺🇸

[@arttrombley7385]

This Merc is as pretty as my second wife and She was " Muy Caliente ". Lol

[@terrycarter8929]

Polar White (like a polar bear)

[@davehelmboldt6790]

Isn't this the Mercury version of the 64' Ford Thunderbolt? It also had that 427, cold air induction etc, right down to the tear drop hood and fiberglass front clip. There's a video on that car from Muscle Car of the Week, too. Or look st American Muscle Car episode here on KZbin. . Great videos Kev...that's why I subscribe...every week.

[@wayneschnaak762]

Dave Helmboldt the compression ratio is different from the thunderbolt. The thunderbolt had an ultra high compression and special pistons with cutouts to clear the valves. The mercury was only a 10:1 or something and no special pistons. It's a bad ass car but it sure isn't a thunderbolt.

[@johneddy908]

The big 427 V8 would later gain an extra cubic inch and become the 428-cubic-inch/7.0-liter "Cobra-Jet" V8. It would be an option on Mercury Cougar from 1968-1973.

[@robertsnyder5149]

My 66 Cyclone 390 had a toploader and you couldn't break them.

[@chuckselvage3157]

425 HP at the wheels

[@wickedsnake8032]

Were can I find rule book for 1991 super stock???

[@actthree34]

Do you guys still produce videos about the restorations you do in your shop? I really enjoyed them. Not saying that Muscle Car of the Week isn't fascinating.

[@V8TV]

William Large We sure do... have a bunch of new ones coming. Thanks!

[@richardthompson1149]

I would love to purchase either and A/FX or B/FX

[@alanwood5857]

Stuffing the biggest mill into the smallest car = power to weight ratio

[@caratcranker5874]

This gorgeous Ford looks like a Rambler, interestingly. It's the closest Ford I have seen to Dodge, Chev etc, anyone else agree here?

[@lynndempsey4096]

Carat Cranker your fucking stupid as shit

[@anthonygonzalez5840]

There was a fire shoot down from underneath engine.

[@donwest5387]

that's "Wimbledon white"

[@invoxicated]

Danger Danger Danger Will Robinson !!! Get the women, kids and Chevys off the streets.

[@paranorman1646]

hey i was wondering how rare is this car cause i will be buying one soon and also how many were made

[@donwest5387]

only 10.25/1 comp. ratio!?

[@robertsnyder5149]

The only ones I ever saw had cast iron toploader 4 speed transmissions and not the aluminum T-10 which that big engine would destroyu in hurry.

[@Algonac9]

It should be doin' low 10's in the quarter not 11's.

[@retiredafce3373]

I know where the Yankee Mercury is.

[@warrenpierce5542]

Not a Prius.

[@mynameis9057]

warning warning! danger Will Robinson ! so did Lost in Space engineers moonlight at ford between shoots?

[@josephtaverna1287]

Ford first on race day fast on race day and last but not least ferocious on race day No Junk Chevrolet