Trailblazing Comet - 1973 Mercury Comet

While it doesn't mean such a person doesn't exist, we've never met anyone with a burning desire for a 1973 Mercury Comet sedan. In most ways, it was little changed from its 1971 introduction, and it sold in essentially identical amounts, too: about 55,000 two-door hardtop coupes and about 30,000 four-door sedans, give or take a thousand units. Every single year.

Okay, the 1973 models had a new grille and impact bumper that made them look even more Maverick-like than before, and the top-of-the-line 302-cu.in. V-8 two-barrel had by then dropped from 210hp to 138hp. Nowhere in there is there something to light a fire. Aside from those who brought their kids home from the hospital in one, or had some other sentimental attachments, that fire really isn't burning anywhere.

Not even for a dyed-in-the-wool Ford man like Schenectady, New York's Joseph Dagle, who didn't go out to find a Comet; instead, thanks to his love of Ford V-8s, it found him, and now it's here to stay. Growing up on a farm near the Canadian border in Maine, there was precious little in the way of automotive entertainment. All he could do, working in the fields, was listen. "I always loved the sound of engines," he said. Cars going down the road, tractors--whatever it was, it called to him. Thus, it was a special treat when a V-8 Ford farm truck made an appearance, even though it was leaking water. Or perhaps because: "This'll take five minutes," said the driver, whipping out a wrench and a rag. And with that, he started in on all those Ford head bolts. In no time, he had the heads off, cleaned up the gaskets, and was back in business while the sun still shone.

After that, there was a flathead engine in high school shop class and from there, "I guess Ford stayed in my mind for a long time," Joseph said. Eventually, when he was able, there was a 1957 Ford, then a mid-year '63 Galaxie 500, 390 and four on the floor. And a 1975 Granada, while he was at it.

While Joseph was driving around in the Granada, the Comet wasn't in his life, but it was in his wife, Barbara's; it belonged to her employers. Ten years on, they decided it was time for new cars, and offered Barbara first crack at their current rides: the four-door Comet and a Lincoln, both purchased at the same time. Barbara thought the Lincoln was too big, but brought Joseph over to the garage where the cars were kept so he could take a look. "I opened the Comet's hood first and saw the little 302 V-8 in there. I said, 'That's the car for me,' " and so it was.

Despite a decade's use, the Comet sedan showed only about 25,000 miles, but Joseph was there none too soon. Scraped-up painted wheelcovers and a big ding you can still see in the rear driver's side door suggest someone was on her way toward parking by feel. Joseph said that while the previous owners stored it in a heated garage, they weren't washing it regularly. The interior was immaculate, however, and they had done routine maintenance, so the engine was in great shape. The vinyl top was less so, and he had it recovered within a couple of years; he's not sure the color is a perfect match for stock, but it was the closest the shop could come.

In the quarter-century since then, Joseph has driven his Comet more than 75,000 miles. He's had the C4 automatic transmission out three times, but just for preventive maintenance--he firmly believes in regularly changing the fluid, filter and tightening the bands as needed. "That's what keeps a transmission in good shape," he said. "Very seldom will a transmission wear out if you take care of it...but then again, I'm not a hot rod anymore."

About 10 years ago, Joseph put in a new heater core, and the radiator gave out in 2008. "I never spent money on it to speak of, except to keep the engine going good," he said. Running it year round (only when the roads are dry in winter) helps keep it in top condition. He uses Mobil 5W-30 oil in winter for easy starting, and never anything heavier than 10-30 in the summer. Points ignition makes tuneups easy. "I've never had it at the garage, aside from inspection and transmission," he said. "Other than the body, it's all Mustang parts, really--the radiator was a Mustang part, so NAPA has almost everything. Parts are cheap, it's easy to fix, and the ride is good," Joseph reported. "Actually, that's the best part about having this car--from here to where you're going, the ride is good.

"Every time I take this car out, even if it's down to Kmart, I'll meet someone who'll talk to me about it," Joseph told us. "I love it! It's a car, that when they were out new, maybe wasn't looked at much. But now, even though it's a four-door sedan, they do."