Hi all, I have found a Comet that I am really torn on.Thinking about making an offer to buy it. I look at it and say, "parts car". I think some of you from the Rust Belt might look at it and say "primo resto material", but I'm not sure. Here's some details ... 1977 big bumper 2 door. The good ... 6 cylinder, auto, supposedly runs and drives well. Good hood and trunk. Glass looks fine. Quarters look OK. Supposedly does not have any cowl leakage (need to verify that, of course). Looks like a typical 30 year old Florida car. The bad and the ugly ... It had a vinyl roof at one point and that really did some damage. Rust-throughs all along the drip rails and front edge near the windshield. Bondo bubbling across the entire surface of the roof. The top was definitely repainted, hard to tell with the rest of the car. Chips and surface rust on all sharp edges. Surface rust on bumpers. Drivers door bowed out of shape at bottom and perhaps repaired in the past (hard to tell what was up with this). Since roof replacement on an otherwise very clean car was a forum topic lately, I wanted to get opinions on what board members though about this car. Would anyone here go through all that trouble on a car the seems fairly solid but really needs a going through? I say part it out ... I can feel the flames from the Rust Belt as I am hitting the Submit button.
You haven't mentioned price. How much are you going to have to pay for this one? Have you calculated that versus what it is worth in parts? What shape is the interior in? Color combo? What options does it have? Have you driven it? I need more info before I can answer. Jim
It is pretty plain-Jane and worn. White with a tired red interior. Being a 6 cylinder big bumper car, is anyone going to do a complete resto including a roof transplant? The whole roof is swiss cheese. The best things can say for it is that it is 2 door, and the rest of the body seems like it could be saved with a lot of work. Most of us seem to want V8, small bumper, so, the even the drivetrain is not that big a deal to most of us.
If you have the space for parts storage and feel that you can get a decent return for your efforts, then let the parting begin. we can't save them all and usually it takes parts from several to restore one decent one. Jim
An update ... For those of you who said "Save it" or were on the fence, you can relax. This car is at the seediest car lot that you can imagine. I finally met the owner. ("We don't open until 11 AM"). He is as seedy as his car lot ... tall, skinny, short-on-hygiene, biker missing one leg. (Gee ... I wonder how that happened ...). In our all-too-short conversation, he referred to that Comet as "a great car, ... just needs some bodywork ... doesn't leak oil ... $2500". I just nodded knowingly, content in the knowledge that he will be safely storing this car for me for a long time, while the fiberglass across the entire roof continues to blister.
I have a 74 2door in South Carolina I am going to do a roof swap on,,, it really isnt that big of a job,,, its all in how you do it,,, done alot on diferant cars,,,and 2 on Mavericks,,, They came out fine,, Replacing a roof complete is about a day job,, Its all in the measurements and if the donor roof is straight,,, cut more off then you need from the donor car,,, If you need help,,,PM me and we can chat on a land line,,talk you thru it.. Joe
