The 427 Powered Comets That Ate HEMIs For Lunch

[@rarecars3336]

Comet or Thunderbolt - which would you take 🤔?

[@Duececoupe]

The Thunderbolt, only because of the P-47 Thunderbolt! 😎😉

[@georgebaker9352]

The Comet's Styling win out for me.

[@rarecars3336]

@@Duececoupe very fair reason

[@rarecars3336]

@@georgebaker9352 I do like the comet too - I actually prefer the 64 styling over the 65

[@Donaldwomble]

But you have to Remember The Hemi was what you could Buy Ford didn't sell nothing like it for the street

[@captjim007]

Ford, Chevy or Dodge the 1960's were just a glorious time for race cars in America.

[@rarecars3336]

Totally agreed

[@vaughnkavon3993]

And don't forget GTO . .

[@jerrellstrawn6409]

My first car was a 1966 Aztec Bronze SS 396 Chevelle with a 3-speed Muncie.

[@randycoursey7230]

My first car was a 1964 Comet Cyclone. It was equipped with a 289 hi-po, 4 speed. I wish I still had it, they are so rare.

[@captjim007]

@@randycoursey7230 My friend bought new a 66 Cyclone with a fully built 427. It ran 11.70's at 127mph back in 67.

[@robertg7970]

I bought a new 65 Comet off the showroom floor. It had hypo 289, 4 speed, bucket seats and the 3 gages on top of the dash. One of the best cars I ever owned. I had to sell it in 69 due to going overseas to Vietnam. It's one of my cars that I wish I had back!!!!!!!!!

[@gordocarbo]

Glad you made it back not glad you guys were treated like chit Thanks btw!

[@StuartBlake-iz6rf]

They are both great. Puts a small tear in my eye as I watch for the by gone days. Glory Days.

[@rarecars3336]

Absolutely true - both great cars for sure. The era of the raw performance machine is quickly fading away :(

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

Yes, us old guys always gets something in our eyes when we see the sixties~!!!

[@BobbyTucker]

@@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys , I get that feelin' somebody's peelin' onions....

[@paulberkuta4965]

My mom had a 1965 Comet Caliente - automatic trans with a 289 motor. I would take it to Raceway Park in Englishtown NJ and race my friends with it. Had a lot of fun but I NEVER told my mom that I raced her car. That car had the looks and was a nice car to drive. Red with a black painted top with a white interior - very classy!

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

What were your ETs?

[@ronniecox109]

I'm gonna guess high 15s .Unless moms 289 was a hot engine.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@ronniecox109 Gears?

[@paulberkuta4965]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion Don't remember it was a LONG time ago and only for fun.

[@paulberkuta4965]

@@ronniecox109 It was just a grocery with a 2 barrel carb. getter

[@XrayxRich]

I cry every time I see videos about '64 Comets. I owned a '64 Cyclone from 1980 to '93.

[@robertbelote5273]

I'm not old enough to have experienced that particular car, but I know exactly the way you feel , you see it and you're like , I'm never ever going to sell this and you say that everyday until the day it goes......

[@garybrinker4522]

I hope someone still has it going 😎

[@gordocarbo]

High schooler early mid 80s remember seeing many chicks in Comets running around. Most were 6 bangers but those Meteors and Falcons were trendy back then.

[@adambergendorff2702]

The comet with the SOHC, just so cool.

[@bbivens8263]

One of my Dad`s friends owned a 65 Caliente, he had his engines built by a racing engine company out of Memphis, TN. He was a legend around here. He never raced on a track, but nobody could beat him. All the cops, including the State Troopers knew him and really liked him, he was a great guy. They set up a road block for him one night and clocked him sliding through it, all four wheels locked up, at 140mph. He is in his late 90`s now and still has that car in his garage. I would choose the Mercury, it`s a much better looking car than the Fairlane.

[@timothyjohnson4285]

Great story....kinda reminds me of Robert Mitchem in the movie, "THUNDER ROAD"! 😊

[@jameswallace7351]

I have a 65 Catiente right now I'd love to have his

[@gordocarbo]

Wow!! Still has it, that is a die hard gearhead right there. Love to see it or hear about its condition. Poor guy probably cant drive it but still enjoys owning. Cant blame him! Hope it goes to good hands and not sold off asap.

[@bbivens8263]

@@gordocarbo You ought to see his 49 Ford sedan. Yeah, I`m not sure he`s still alive, haven`t seen him in 5 yrs.

[@agordianknot]

A gentleman from Ellijay GA, Bob Thomas, raced a 1965 Comet back in the day. He passed away a couple of years ago, but he had some of the most interesting stories to tell about his race days. He owned a propane company here in Ellijay and I was in there paying my tank rental one day when he started telling me about his race days and the hemis. His Comet was named Strip Tease, and it had the 427. He said the hemis were the toughest cars to beat and the only way you could do it was to get them off the line. He said the jump he got on them at the line was the difference between winning and losing. He told me he would dump the clutch at around 3500 rpm and thats where he would put some distance between him and the hemis. But, he also said they were coming up quick on him and if the track would have been 10 feet longer they would have passed him. Interesting guy, Bob Thomas, I wish he was still around.

[@chuckselvage3157]

Those 427s were quick. 11 second car all day.That's fast even today.

[@gordocarbo]

You better believe it! That CI seemed popular for the big 3 automakers when it came to drag racing. Maybe the 3.76 +- stroke?

[@chuckselvage3157]

@gordocarbo The FE was pretty stretched at 427 that's why they went to the 385 series 429/460.

[@slayer7682]

that red 65 Comet driven by Dyno Don has been a dream car for me

[@rarecars3336]

It’s so iconic that livery is awesome!

[@randycoursey7230]

@@slayer7682 Dino Don's Comet won 81 races in a row. His Grudge Match car I believe. I had a calendar of Ford and Mercury race cars. This car was featured on it.

[@gordocarbo]

@@rarecars3336 Used to ride my Schwinn Stingray by his shop to see if I could get a glimpse of his latest race car or hear it fire up.

[@johnbrown-o4r]

64 Comet, owned and drove one in 1964, i was 17 years old at the time. Great little automobile.

[@kevincraw5142]

It would have to be the Comet, forever, after I saw Jack Chrisman clean up at a 'winner take all' match race at Englishtown in '65, with a blown cammer stuffed under the cowl of that candy apple red rocket ship. As a FoMoCo 14 year old, watching him knock off all the GM and Mopar challengers is a day I'll never forget! And I'll never forget that sound either.

[@stewartsmith1947]

I watched Dyno Don run his Mercury Station wagon at Thompson Drag Raceway in Thompson Ohio . It was a match race against a Hemi Dart

[@tracyjones6284]

The 427 SOHC block Comet, HANDS DOWN.

[@onazram1]

I second that, four speed only..

[@tracyjones6284]

@@onazram1 HELL YEAH!! It isn't a real race car unless it has 3 pedals and a stick shift.

[@BobbyTucker]

@@tracyjones6284 , 3 pedals assures you get that 'wiggly stick'.....

[@tracyjones6284]

@@BobbyTucker .....and that wiggle stick should only be a straight line shifter.

[@Ricsha1]

Mine was a 1967 Mercury, with a 390 4-bbl V-8, through an auto. Later I made a few changes thanks to a friend in town, who built dragsters. It had a fiberglass hood, which I manually filed out the twin hood scoops. When Doug built it for me, he made a few changes. He started at the bottom end by putting in Steel forged 4-bolt mains, a Police car-427 Interceptor cam, and switched out the standard 4-bbl carb with a Holly 850 double pumper! I believe he took the cylinders .10 over. I used to race against Dodge 383 belonging to my Brother in law and another friend with a Boss 302. The Boss could leap out a little in front at the start, but we both top-ended just over 120 mph.

[@rarecars3336]

Sounds like a mean car - do you still have it?

[@gordocarbo]

302 trapping 120mph is pretty stout! That takes some doing

[@thomasboomhower6719]

I drove a thunder. 0ne of a hundred. With 8 inch slicks. Take a deep breath, Drive it like you stole it.. enjoy the memories memories

[@josephpacchetti5997]

This brings back fond memory's, my first trip to the local drag strip was in 1966.👍🇺🇸

[@tjdime]

I had a Comet 4dr with a 6cyl motor. took a door off and moved a bike in it. Made a 2x4 roof rack tied down with yellow rope for hauling furniture and attached a heavy metal frame trailer on to it. Pumped twice to have brakes. Operated driver's side wiper by hand in rain storms. 3spd on the column gave out in first gear, 2spd after that. YUP! Great car!

[@kellybikeco]

i love that early Caliente with the horizontal duel headlights... just a really nice looking car... thanks for sharing...

[@abcullens2328]

Jack Crissman driving the Sachs and Martin Blown 427ci '64 Comet, Wild stuff! I'll take a Thunderbolt thank you.

[@micheldemers8893]

I had a 66 Comet Capri with factory 390 and 4 speed. It was rated at 265 horsepower due to it being a 2 barrel carb version. A 428 intake manifold and carb with a set of headers and a cam change made a huge difference. The red 65 Cyclone of Dyno Don is the only way to fly.

[@opera93]

Thanks, great Comet… interestingly, I had a 1966 4 SPeec / GALAXIE 500 XL 352/ 4 X, in Burgandy/ BKACK DELUXE INTERIORS (* the fancy wheel covers rattled), in 1967..&(low miles): had to metallic Brakes/ Monroe Super Indy 500 shocks/ tires immediately ( no Disc brakes/ air Conditioning Option,had to put in COOLANT RECOVERY SYSTEM(*not Factory installed, Kit thru Ford Performance, my Emergencey Flasher switch in GLOVE BOX, Etc. ) lot **of miles in this 1966! Great driver, until 1974/ ish::

[@charliebay9441]

Ford guy through and through, but I knew very little about these Comets, or the A/FX drag class. a little before my time. Very cool. The '65 Comet looks awesome. With a 427 cammer? Priceless. Excellent work.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

I like the comet caliente however I have always loved the Thunderbolts because my uncle had one..That was so coo l that I would love to find one or build a replica at least...-John

[@okiesmack]

Had a red hypo 289 comet . Was a dream car

[@fasx56]

The 1960s, the Glory Days of Drag Racing. Remember many local Drags I went to, good memories. Never was in the part of the country where the Big Names raced their AFX and Super Stock Cars but many magazines covered the Big NHRA Races so they went nation wide.

[@iknklst]

The race shop I work at has two Thunderbolts, one a SS/A the other a SS/B, and a '65 Comet Caliente with a 427 SOHC with Hilborn mechanical injection running alcohol. The B 'Bolt is the second fastest Thunderbolt on this planet.

[@gordocarbo]

Shop I worked at SoCal in the 80s got in a legit Thunderbolt, never been touched since its race days. Decided not to restore, it was in too good of shape cosmetically and mechanically. Never forget the way that thing sounded....One Nasty s.o.b.

[@frankw7266]

It's nice to see the Comet getting some love. I had a '65 Cyclone with the 289 Hi-Po, and that thing was a little rocket ship, especially during the malaise era of the 80's when hardly anything had more than 150hp.

[@gordocarbo]

Noticed those in the 80s but as a high schooler had no idea these cars weighed what they did. 289, 283, 302s were tons of fun. Spin them up high and would take it long as you had a decent valvespring

[@robertweldy1941]

As a little kid at the time, I remember the McCoy Mercury Comet well. The dealership was just on the other side of our block, and the car was garaged about 100 yards up our street. When they were tuning the car, everyone in town could hear it. Not to mention, Cecil County Dragway was not far away and it was a popular drag strip at the time. Nice machines.

[@rarecars3336]

Did you ever see it run at the strip?

[@jameslaw3740]

I've had 2 1965 comets. One with the 289 high output, three in the tree, would lift the body up and off the body in all three gears....sold my last one in 2023, all original indie six with three in the tree....wish I had the 289 still today......both were red and herringbone (dogtooth) interior.......love the lines of the 65's , now I'm pushing 60 and have had a lot of beasts in my day but will always love the 65 cars the best....anyone with a 427 car today would have a lot of money sitting in their garage.

[@srt8rocketship241]

They had a gear drive to replace that chain in the sohc. Mass of gears. Chain stretch was a thing. Check out the one Garlits has at his museum. Don said it would be a contender today if Ford had not pull the plug.

[@BobbyTucker]

That chain was 8 feet long! lol!

[@chadkent1241]

Pete Robinson designed the gear set and nearly everyone else ran the chain and degreed to cams a few degrees off to make up for the chain stacking @ high rpm

[@chadkent1241]

​@@BobbyTucker6 ft

[@srt8rocketship241]

And then change out the chain. I mean , you do what you gotta. Still a badass piece.

[@motownXJdad9565]

my other choice would be the Ford eqyivelent to the comet, id like to have Hubert Platt's blue 427SOHC powered Falcon👍

[@bbivens8263]

The Sprints were very good looking cars! And a built 289 4spd was the way to go.

[@BobbyTucker]

@@bbivens8263 , We all called them "HYPO 289s", a stocker was a HYPO 289/271...

[@kyleanderson6505]

Take the Comet hands down. Definitely the more interesting and faster choice.

[@49fortune7]

I love the'64 or '65 COMET!!! My fave is the '65. My dad had a '65 Comet, and my friend had a "65. In the late 60s I had a '57 Fairlane 500 2 door hardtop, in which I stuffed a 428 Super Cobra Jet, with a 4-speed stick. That '57 was a powerful scary car when let loose. At 100 mph I could punch the gas, and it would burn rubber. As I said, scary powerful!

[@BobbyTucker]

You probably had a 3.08 rear end in that Beast, lol. I can understand scary. lol!

[@49fortune7]

@@BobbyTucker First I put in a 390 with 4 speed stick and replaced the automatic differential with one from a rusted out 1957 2 door sedan with a 6-cylinder stick that was given to me by one of my high school teachers. Don't remember the ratio now, maybe 370, because that was almost 60 years ago. The 390 was powerful and fast, but never spun the tires at 100 mph. The 428 Super Cobra Jet was a totally different scary story!

[@roguewarr4662]

To my liking I think the 65 Comet was the best looking car in race form . Back then ,My older brother and me race a Comet Caliente in the D/mp class in the late 69 .with a 351 Cleveland .Those were great times .427 sohc was a great engine ,hard to beat .

[@BobbyTucker]

Who did your front end work to accept that Cleveland engine?

[@roguewarr4662]

@@BobbyTucker Wow I don't know if I can remember all the details from back then, But my brother did all the work , we started with a 289k ,then moved to a 302 with Moody heads ,when that motor let go , in the early 70,s ,he came by a 351 Cleveland ,I know we modified the oil pan , Shock towers, made our own headers .Yes it was stuffed in there . Plugs were a bitch to change . Ran a tunnel ram intake with 2-4 holley,s ,4spd ,think it was a 4-10 or 4.56 gear . Car was called (checkmate Ford) color was white NHRA NED. Division .Sold the car in the late 70's early 80's to a friend of his who put the car back on the road ,less the Cleveland . Then I never seen the car again .Those were the Fun day's of drag racing ,simpler times , unlike today's overly complicated car's .

[@ronhall3686]

Great to see Sam Auxier's 1965 A/FX Comet sponsored by Moyer featured in the video.

[@brineich]

Being a hard core Ford guy, back in the 70's I owned 3 '65 Comets: a Caliente hard top , Caliente convertible, and a Cyclone! Always loved the lines of the '64-'65s.

[@johnnydavis1994]

Almost 70 now, I remember those days as a kid. Went 140 in a pro-shop-built Cyclone, almost a 1,000-mile road trip in a 68 Cobra, Hemi hunter. Going through the gears in old gasser type hotrods and blowing up as a passenger. I believe I was speed shifting a 67-fastback mustang well before I got my drivers permit in 1971.

[@42lookc]

I didn't know these cars even existed! Comet or Thunderbolt? The Comet. No question. The SOHC if possible! Wow!

[@timothygreen7708]

My father had a 1966 GT 390 four-speed red and white I still have a mini photograph of that car with my grandfather and my mother together. I would sure like to be able to afford a nice one today. I was born in 1964 and I am now a retired West Virginia underground coal miner in southern West Virginia absolutely love those cars thank you for posting and have a great day.

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for sharing your story - sounds like a super neat car! Its so hard to find nice Comet's these days it seems unfortunately :( Thanks for watching!

[@robertsnyder5149]

I used to eat Hemi's for breakfast too with my 1970 Challenger R/t 440 Six-Pak. I was never neaten by a Hemi. I ran high 10's at 130 mph. I also had three 1966 Comet GT;s Two were 4 speed cars and one auto.

[@moparnut6286]

Damn right.... my buddy a chevy guy...hated the 440 six pack....he never beat one.

[@Colt-tf6xf]

You never ran across a GTO with tri power buddy

[@robertsnyder5149]

@@Colt-tf6xf Yes and they ran into my 1970 Challenger R/T 440 Six-Pak which ate them for breakfast aalong with big block Camero's,Nova's and Corvette's.

[@joesutherland225]

Comet Caliente convertible of that era were my favorite ford's to this day.

[@rarecars3336]

The Comets in general have such good bodylines - way better than the falcon IMO

[@garymcmullin2292]

no contest, the Comet has the look, I would love that style of car today if they made them.

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

I would love to see this Comet go up against the 1968 Dodge Dart lo23.

[@MrR6guy]

it would lose or throw a rod

[@marcchaffee7751]

@@MrR6guy Ya , the Dodge would .

[@philsocks3386]

Look up crissman comet, the ram charger teams got beat by it all over the country, look it up.

[@alanarmstrong2323]

Cristmans Comet was an animal !

[@marvinjames2766]

In 79 to 82 i hade a Comet Caliente 4 door and i loved it, It was fun to drive.

[@Zzus321]

No replacement for Displacement 💪🏁

[@andrewmcbain4119]

Efficiency counts for something. FE V SOHC

[@CJColvin]

Amen brother and the 427 SOHC Cammer V8 will make any modern V8 squeal

[@kpadalldotablet1009]

In 1982, I had a 396 with Corvette tripower in my 1969 Chevelle. The heads were worked and the cam was 500 lift and 326 degrees duration with 11.76:1 compression. When I was having the engine built, everyone said it was a boat anchor of a motor. The mechanic, who use to race and build his own sprint cars in California, built it for 7500 RPMs. He said, "Now go out there tonight and show them how a boat anchor runs." LOL That thing was insane. RPM can be a substitute for displacement. I sacrificed street-ability for it, though: idle at 1150RPMs with an unmodified Turbo 400, which means taking it out of gear for every stop-- lol.

[@chadkent1241]

The Coyote and 4.6 4V have both been quicker and faster in the 1/4. The 5.4L 4V has been 300.4mph. These performances don't fit that description

[@chadkent1241]

​@@CJColvin😂. Nope.

[@jeffcoakley5675]

Dam so strong and looks of its own A dream car for many Cheers

[@CJColvin]

Wish Ford would've put the 427 SOHC Cammer V8 in some production cars, that would've been badass.

[@arthurcutaiar9994]

Thunderbolt. My first love, but the comet is a fine looker too.

[@harrytaint3089]

I have a 65 fairlane, its running a 347, auto and 3.89 gears. Yes its fun, and has fun with big blocks.

[@thomaskauser8978]

@harryt- used to rollup to Denver for shows in my friends small block '65 500 . it flew.

[@jmason61]

This came up randomly.. those muscle cars were absolutely bad ass & amazing.... each was special, that don't happen anymore for regular priced machines that regular people can afford

[@gregallen4272]

It shows up on Halloween weekend in Dawsonville GA Hubert Plat was a good guy he talked to everyone who came by . His son brings his falcon 427 fuel injection to the show he has some very limited edition die-cast cars about one hundred a piece but the show is very crowded and the skeeter dirt cars on display are a look at the 1960 southern sprint cars they were incredibly fast and has almost very limited safety . Cool show amazing ford cars for such a remote place.

[@busterdee8228]

I had a 13:1 SBC motor. You could see the domes through the spart plug hole. And, when the valve springs got a little tired, the valves left shadaows on the domes. I can't even picture a 14:1.

[@eldorado1830]

Love the 427 , makes a mean machine.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

🏁 Great vid!! 🏁

[@scooterdoughmas3012]

Hell to the yeah😁🤩😎

[@JasonMyers-c6z]

Very nice! I miss my '64 Fairlane Sports Coupe. I'm about to buy a '65 Comet Caliente. And yes, I plan on rebuilding it as a street legal A/FX car.

[@elvispresley3340]

NEATO stuff. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA

[@northdogueman]

I'd like to have my 63 Meteor that had a 410 murk medium rize. that ran 11.30 every time it made a pass! with todays trans and slicks i'd have a blast!

[@rarecars3336]

Yeah geez 11.30 then, with todays tech for sure 10s would be possible

[@kenb5279]

Circa 1980/1981. A bodyshop owner friend had a '64 Comet A/FX, tucked away in the back, teardrop hood but (I think) it was cut out. The 427 had velocity stacks on it (I remember the tennis balls). Tow tabs were present on the front. Maroon in color, checkered flags (or fuzzy dice) painted on the doors, and a straight axle on the front. I was a Mopar fan at the time and took no particular interest in the car, or when he later needed to sell it due to divorce. I heard it went for $1500. (mid-1980'ish). Sounds like a fish story, yes. A true one though. The shop was in Forty Fort, Pa. The owner was Paul Grabko.

[@JackFenstemaker]

I know the car!!!

[@danrashley5001]

Great job on this video!!!!! I have the '64 in this video that says Comet on the door. The Don Reider and George Weiler A/FXer.........

[@gtojoe1968]

Probably the Comet just to be different. What a wonderful time that must've been. Being born in 68' - i missed the factory race cars. Although, some of the stuff coming out now is also insane - just not as free-wheeling.

[@psully311]

Had a 1965 Cyclone non K 289, so Im partial. The SOHC must have been one wicked scary ride!

[@kevinhuber8723]

Thanks for the video, great footage!

[@kurtdobson]

I ran a ‘66 427 airplane 500 in my college years. Premium fuel was $0.24/gallon. The Terry/Wood team showed up at one event. Their ‘66 car was 2 seconds faster, so I asked the team what their timing setup was. They said “son, you don’t need to know”… I asked why not; they said because “we’re running a small block.”

[@Ebolter1]

yeah , that is why everyone raced 427's - the Hemi cars ruled the times back then and still do

[@philsocks3386]

Jack crissman comet ruled Mopar back then, look it up , ram chargers chased him around all the tracks back then.

[@trukr817]

I had a 1964 Comet Cyclone with HP 289 and 4 speed. The thing shocked me, ran against a 383 Mopar and beat it the day I got it. it was a fun car. I wish I had it, my 1965 Mustang rag top, 1959 T-Bird and a few other things now, oh well..

[@georgiafan6618]

These cars had high compression which contributed to their HP numbers. You needed high octane fuel which was plentiful then. They were fussy. After 73 oil crisis, no luck obtaining leaded racing fuel. Today, you can build anything fast that you desire. Computers, and multiple geared modern trans, meth - nitrous, blowers and turbos make for huge streetable power. My Tundra is a reliable, 600hp blown daily driver. I love it. Runs on pump gas, starts up every day.

[@larrylewis6725]

Loved your video. Good memories!

[@thomastiritilli2158]

I always wanted a Thunderbolt, so she's the one I would pick, I HOPE one day I can pickup a Fairlane clone with a FE 427 in it. I got my 2021 Shelby GT500, Now the vintage stuff. I am a old school MOPAR guy also. I had a very Modified 1969 Plymouth GTX with a 440RB, roughly 650HP 700lb of torque back in 1978 through 1992 time frame.🙂

[@merylpelosi8485]

When I used to pull up next to a Hilborn injected 427 SOHC Comet in my 1964 Dodge Hemi Polara, the engine would just quit running in my car. I'd never seen a Hemi be afraid of any other car, but that Comet scared it to death. They would push my dead car out of the way and let a '63 Impala pull up next to it, but the Chevy would always run off and hide behind its trailer. Nazcarr or whoever should outlaw these cars.

[@arthurwatts1680]

It's been a while since I visited a dragstrip but when I did, virtually all of the elite classes were dominated by the Hemi. Sure, heavily reworked Hemis configured to do nothing more than defy physics over the quarter-mile, but the design has clearly stood the test of time. Given a choice between a new house and a blueprinted Hemi race motor, I'll take the house but like I said, it's been a while ;)

[@kurtnielsen6684]

The ford and Chevy 427 are way under rated!!!!

[@bobbyeddings1031]

I'm a mopar guy, my 19 yr. old is a ford guy, ( mustang gt.) we have these conversations all the time.

[@srt8rocketship241]

Scared is a stretch. Competition is more like it. Holman and Moody had some badass Fords.

[@WilliamKiene]

I believe the 1964 Mercury "Comet" had a longer wheelbase(114" ) than the Ford "Falcon" (109.5 "). In the 1960s on the West Coast sports car tracks, I saw Mercury Comet 'Calientes' road racing with 289ci V8s, 4 speeds, etc.

[@nattytafari9669]

Both ❤❤❤

[@PeterStec-x2q]

1964 comet caliente is one of the nicest looking cars if not the best looking period.

[@roncochran2290]

That's a tough one..........leaning to the Comet

[@RodneyRotten]

The 427! It is sill an FE block! 90 day madness for NASCAR.

[@Arthagnou]

they had high stall converters I believe. wasnt engine innovation that got them to the other end first. Good on them!

[@aaronthomas3917]

Ahhh, return with me to those thrilling days of yesteryear...

[@earlyetman5588]

1965 Dodge Polara 426 Cross Ram Race Hemi A/FX car. The guy had 70+ drag trophies around it!

[@afwoods]

Man, I want one of these.

[@roadking99jokerst60]

Sox and Martin were running a Merc early , before Mopar.

[@StevenReaves-d7g]

My late mother drive a Ford Galaxy and it had plenty of power with the 390 engine 😮😮😮😮

[@charlesmarshall2697]

I only ever saw these Comets at three races in Tennessee and North Carolina and lost all three to altered wheelbase fuel injected Hemi Mopars. Lunch for the REAL HEMIS!

[@johnnylightning1491]

I'd choose the Comet because that's what my neighbor Doug Nash used to race back in the day.

[@mattfinateri9885]

i would chose the 65 comet ,i have a small block 65 i owed for 25 yrs and get folks telling me cool car and yes it is that i love it ,im 71 yrs but those 427s r bad ass .c u on woodward ave

[@davidwood1923]

Sad that it didn't last long... Thanks for Sharing

[@scooterdoughmas3012]

THX dou just what the doc ordered 😁🤩😂scooter😎

[@gubbylee]

The Comet with the SOHC and with the FE all day everyday !!

[@garrycalcott9200]

Thunderbolt I always had a thing for Fairlanes I owned a 66 gt 390 with 4 speed ate chevelles and camoros all the time

[@cutlets6152]

You didn't race the right Camaro then. If you went up against a 68 396/375 Camaro with headers, tune, 4.56's and jets, you'd be looking at tail lights. Beat the vaunted Cobra Jet Mustang 428's all the time.

[@romemancer7905]

And Dodge was shocked one day when the First Alcohol fuel burning SOHC Comet Funny cars blasted their way into the history books...The competition was finished !!!

[@rarecars3336]

Yesssir

[@jungle486]

Mopar dominates to this day. The rest is history.

[@vernanderson4358]

Interesting . Afx hardly qualifies as a grocery getter off track 11 second car massaged as a experimental unit unusable on the street. Same time frame Studebaker produced a Comfortable family car named the super Lark R3. Only 5 litres but 400 plus HP running 12.6 sec at 114 mph quarter mile. Perfectly useable every day for family use and congested traffic. Makes one realize the big 3 really couldn't compete with Stude even with HUGE cubes and totally non- production line factory experimental Monstrosities. Now the Avanti R5 - 304.5 cuber running Approx 600 HP... That's something to Write about. Capable of 220 mph and achieving 198 mph at Bonneville in1963. Sure would have been fun to watch it run the quarter mile against these comet or track only hemis. Likely would have beat both. Too bad we'll never know.

[@kenmoule825]

​@vernanderson4358 The weight of the Avanti was huge. Studebaker had better heads imho.

[@vernanderson4358]

@@kenmoule825 do you know the weight of the comet ? It was like all afx' era. Fiberglass and aluminum. Often one bucket ONLY.plymouth went to extreme of removing even a visor and one windshield wiper. Actually the Avanti was under 3300-3400 lbs bcuz it was fiber glass body. But the super Lark R3 in the challenger body was likely under 3 G's. But remember the Avanti R3 was a 0-60 under 6 seconds and low 13s at 110 MPH quarter mile. And that was only the 400+ HP version. Add 200 more HP as in the R5 and should have been easy 11s. To go 198 mph on the slick wet Bonneville salt AND lose traction takes at least 600 HP. And that's why Granatelli had to give up then and there as the car was dynoed for 220 MPH. None of the comets or plymouths could even BEGIN to approach the Avanti R5 sheer power and speed. Not nascar not fx'ers in 63-64. Just a shame it never had the chance to run quarters. But 198 MPH BEAT EVERYTHING Detroit had to offer. Even at 178.5 mph in the basic R3 Detroit had nothing to touch it.

[@chrisdaigle5410]

A 427 SOHC Comet would definitely be my choice and with a racing history would be worth a whole lot of money!

[@jeffmckc2081]

Only Car I ever want back, I had as a Kid 1965 Comet Cyclone with a 298/271 and a T-10 Four Speed White sent it to the Crusher in the 80's quarters where rusted and the unibody was broke with no subframe connectors.

[@perceive8159]

The quickest published 1/4 mile time for a stock 1970 Challenger R/T SE with a 426 Hemi, 4-speed, and 4.10:1 gears was 13.10 sec. at 107.12 mph. This was on the lousy stock tires and through the factory exhaust manifolds. (Automobile catalog) source. The 1967 Comet 202 “R” Code was one of the true ultra rare factory lightweight race/street cars made in the 60’s. It was a bare bones 2 door post sedan that was 9″ shorter but much stronger than the heavier hardtops. It came with the monster FE 427cid side-oiler, dual 4-barrel, medium riser, 425hp engine. It also was equipped with the 4-speed Top Loader gear box and the famed 9″ rear 3.89 Trac-Lok, all from the factory. 1/4 mile 14.3. A Hemi eater on the street, na I don't think so. 😎

[@leefury7]

Perhaps my memory is imaging that there was a Super Cyclone Comet. I saw was in 65 or 66. It had a one piece front end that folded forward. The over and under headlights had the lower lights punched out for tubing going to each of the two four barrels. It was street legal. My brother's friend had it. Only saw it once.

[@ronrichmond4694]

Definitely the Comet. 👍👍👍

[@BackFire10mm]

Love the 65 Comet, but Thunderbolt ATW..

[@USCG.Brennan]

I had a '66 Caliente with 390. Wish I still had it....