Dressed To Impress: 1967 Mercury Comet Caliente Is Rarer Than Hen's Teeth

The Comet was originally meant to be an Edsel model. However, Ford decided to shut down the slow-selling brand in late 1959, and the model was shifted to the Lincoln-Mercury division and sold under the Comet brand. The early Comet was a rebodied Ford Falcon and Mercury's first compact car.

The Comet grew to become a mid-size car for the 1966 model year, when it started using the same chassis as the Ford Fairlane. The larger Comet also got a big-block V8 for the very first time. While the compact Comet had a 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) small-block as the top choice, the mid-size version came with the 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE on the options list.

The 1967 drop-top you see here is one of those Comets that were ordered with the 390 V8. And that's a big deal because the big-block powerplant is a rare sight in the Comet. Moreover, this convertible is also a Caliente, a mid-priced trim that slotted between the Capri and Cyclone. Between the drivetrain, body style, and trim model, this Mercury is an ultra-rare classic.

The Caliente was the second most popular trim package in 1967. Of the over 73,000 Comets sold that year, 20,658 were ordered as Calientes. However, only 1,539 were also convertibles. Then there's the 390-cubic-inch V8 engine and the four-speed manual transmission, which makes this Comet Caliente one of only 12 equipped with this combo.

And it's not just a "believed to be" type of thing; this Mercury comes with a Marti Report to prove it. However, the seller says the car might be the only one that's also finished in black. And given that only 32 Caliente convertibles were ordered in this color, the drivetrain combo is likely to make it a one-of-one gem.

The Caliente appears to be an older restoration. There are no visible flaws at first glance, but the seller says it's "not too perfect to drive and enjoy." He also mentions that the "finish shows some minor blemishes and touch-ups consistent with a well-maintained, enjoyed classic rather than a concours restoration."

The engine appears to be factory-correct, and it's likely original. The car "starts easily and runs strong," which is exactly what you want from a classic that you can drive regularly. Speaking of which, this Caliente packs the less potent 265-horsepower FE engine and not the four-barrel, performance-spec S-code mill, which came with 335 horsepower on top. But that's plenty of oomph for a mid-size convertible, if you ask me.

All told, this 1967 Comet Caliente is a pretty solid classic with a potent big-block V8 and a super-rare options combo. And the good news is that Comets aren't very expensive either. This classy drop-top is currently for sale via ACC Auctions and bidding is at only $20,000 with less than a day to go. It's a pretty good opportunity.