History 64/65 Comets old drag cars lets see pictures

Does anyone know the history of the Canary Comet? It looks to me like a Dealer car Converted to a race car.

 

I can see it now a Orange and White 64 A/FX comet. Matching Crew shirts ,white pants Orange socks.

The Terror of the west The Creamsicle Express



I need to find some of those white wall tires for my Semi

 

from what I heard was that the hairy canary was the McCoy Mercury that was sold and converted into a sbc under the hood. not sure

 

Ken and Muttley;you guys keep finding all the COOL old pictures!!! I thought I had a lot,not even close!!!Ken,you and Fast Eddie already have most of the orange and white uniforms,just need orange t-shirts and socks[and the hauler]!!!! I realize we get away from the original intent[or title] of this thread,but show me one that has not!! ROY.

 

Mr.Squirrel;those do look like Government Motors V-8 insignias on the fenders,you may be right!! ROY.

 

I'm still thinking Regular Comet. You can see they never cut out the radiator support for the inbound air intake tubes.

 

Heres some more pics of this Comet "Cammed Heat".This was on Classic Car with Dennis Gage this last year.

I have to say I'm really liking the use of the 64 Marauder grill in the car.Looks like it fits well and gives the car a meaner demeaner. That almost sounded like a name for a bad ass Comet.

 

Speaking of small block cars, I Dont understand why someone hasnt done a Doug Nash tribute car. I think the 64 was Damn Cool.

Looks like The small block is giving the Hemi a Run.Good job on the pics Mutley.

 

Just rolled in from a two pass day at Fontucky. Typical zoo, but the track was well prepped, and no wind!! Carded a best quarter mile time of 13.37 @101 mph. I'm still waaay off on the rear end gearset. Was turning 5,500 thru the timing traps. Time to step it up several notches. Anyone have a set of at least a 5.60-something. I'm wondering now if a 6- something would even be ok? There is still more in this engine, but I cannot get that convertor to lock up yet. Gears, gears, gears!! Roy- you were right!!!

 

I scanned the picture of that car from the June '66 issue of Super Stock And FX Magazine. I'll hit some of the accompanying articles highlights...............

"With the factories supplying all types and sizes of optional powerplants, engine swapping isnt quite the popular sport it used to be. So when we recently heard about a Comet battlewagon being mated with a Chevy engine, the reaction was raised eyebrows, to say the least. When our source of information added that an Econoline straight front axle was being installed, we just had to go see this wonder of wonders.
Painted bright yellow and dubbed "Hairy Canary", the machine sits in front of a combination used car lot and repair shop owned by Al Heinkel and John Gurst of Maplewood, New Jersey.
The Comet in question began its career as a Ford race machine, complete with bubble-top hood, fiberglass frontend, thoroughly reinforced underside and the well known Ford traction bars. Because of classification problems encountered during its second season, Al and John felt it would be best to campain it in the Modified Production class. They had plenty of experience with Chevys so they decided to switch to a Chevy powerplant. In A/FX the allowable weight was 3040. With the 337 cubic inch Corvette bored .60 over, the minimum weight went up only ten pounds to 3050, giving a very favorable displacement to weight class position."

 

thanks Mutt for sharing that. so I was right from the get go. it was a drag car from the factory and converted General Monkey in the engine bay later on

 

Good job Mutley. What a shame. But that was drag racing in the day, Does it mention in the acticle which Comet it was? Was it the McCoy Comet?

 

Interesting read. I always wondered why the changed powerplants. Gives me some ideas......

 

from what I remember from reading the reason the McCoy comet was sold was because they had a hard time getting parts for the car and got tired of dealing with Ford. they kept the engine to there car and dont remember what they did with it but the Comet was sold without a engine in the bay. thats where the new owners took it and put that GM engine in it. I got to find where I read that at.

 

here is a pic of one I just finished painting for a guy

 

dkcollard;WOW,Mercury should have had a tan interior option!! That Cyclone is BEAUTIFUL!!! ROY.

 

Muttley;thanks for the info on the Canary.I may not like the off breed transplant but realize teams were trying things to stay competitive !! ROY.

 

Mutley, cool article and thanks to you and Ken for the pics and info. With any of this do you guys ever come across stats of certain comets?
Roger

 

That factory Ram Air hood is Damn Cool.

 

Yep.

It doesnt say.

No problem.

I post just about everything I find on these cars.

 

I cant believe no one makes those. I'd love to have one for my car.

 

Crites restoration products,they make a 65 ram air hood

 

Muttley;you any good with fiberglass? There are posts over on CometCentral of a guy building his own using a broken 66-67 hood and a stock 65 used for a pattern.Original 65 are CRAZY money!!!How would you get your patina to match? ROY.

 

Not that one, I've asked. The woman on the phone had no idea what I was talking about.

I've never tried using fiberglass, but if my other mechanical "skills" are any indication of the possibility of success I'm sure the results would be slightly less than stellar. I'll have to check that post out. The coolness of that hood would far outweigh the lost weathered finish.

 

Muttley;as far as I can tell,no one is repopping that hood,too bad because I bet they would sell a lot of them!! Many people don't want or need[or like] the ram air style hood,the factory twin scoop would fit the bill!!I hear you on trying to make one,Muscle Car TV made it look SO easy to make a custom hood for their 64,nothing to it!! ROY.

 

HAHA, yeah.......and it only took thirty minutes including breaks for commercials.

 

crites does carry that hood,,over the years have purchased the 65 cyclone hood and not long ago a 66 fairlane 427 hood,you got the wrong info.As far as installation was a bit of work

 

my mistake,see what you mean in custom hood.it is resested like a 66,67.That would be some work,crites has only the factory style.Many years ago had engine fire and found out how fast a 67 hood could burn