Michigan Mick's 71 Comet Project

I'll be at the Roundup for sure. I hope to have the car on the road within the next two weeks. I'm trying to drop off my car to the interior guy to get the headliner, carpeting and package tray completed. He's also arranged for the windshield and rear window to get installed. Then the car is roadworthy and I can get the seats and door panels completed when I get some more money. I was hoping to make it to the car show at Ford World HQ on June 12th but I'm not sure if I'll have my car back yet. I'll be at the downriver cruise on the 25th for sure.

 

2012 Update

It's been a long time since I posted anything on my project. Since I got the car on the road last July, I've enjoyed the heck out of her. I put on about 3,000 miles and took her to over 50 car shows. The ole Comet won a lot of awards, although that was not my purpose or intention when restoring the car. I just wanted to relive my childhood and become a classic car cruiser.

The winter in Michigan has been basically snow free and extremely mild, we broke all kind of temperature records. Every couple of weeks I've been able to take the Comet out for a spin and put on over a 100 miles during the winter months on short weekend cruises.

I've got my first car shows of the season coming up - two indoor car shows. First one is April 6-7 in Taylor, Mi at the Gibraltar Trade Center, Second one is April 20-22 at the Gibraltar Trade Center in Mount Clemens. Both are benefit shows for the Shriners. The show on good Friday has been sold out for a couple of weeks and will have over 100 cars.

To prepare for the shows I got my interior door panels done by my interior guy Jerry Stewart at All American Auto Upholstery. He did a fantastic job. The seats will eventually be done in the same combination of vinyl and fabric you see on the door panels. I also have the front bumper out for re-chroming but I don't think it will be done in time for the show, so I'll pick it up next week and put the old one back on.

Here's a couple of pictures: First one is after a thorough cleaning and waxing on an 80 degree day in March, I installed a new trunk liner, washed the bottom of the car and the wheel wells, cleaned the interior and put on a coat of wax. Second is the driver door panel and armrest. Third is the installed passenger door panel.

 

Mick,

What a cool-looking fabric to use on that insert!!!

A while ago, I noticed how light of a color you used on the metal parts of the doors and frankly had some doubts, but I see the light now ... nice vision.

 

My wife and I spent hours going through all of the fabric and vinyl books. I had picked a darker green fabric with fleur di lis pattern but she talked me into the lighter green fabric. I can't wait to see it on the seats but it may be a while since that will be quite a chunk of change. I am pleased with the look too.

 

Fantastic work on that car! I just went back through your buildup and you've done awesome work. Congratulations! Beautiful car.

 

Very nice. I like the color and the wheels.

 

I just spent 45 min reading the whole build up.VERY nice work looks great!!!

 

will you be at Gibraltar both days
I'll look you up on Friday if your there
Tim
Mrbrooksy

 

Very nice! Like the color combo...

 

I'll probably make it to the show Friday at Gibralter in Taylor, look forward to seeing it at some local shows again this summer, hopefully I'll have my car on the road too...

 

Thanks. I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Can't wait for the crusing season to get in full swing here in Michigan.

 

Yep I'll be there both days at the one in Taylor and all three days at the one in Mt Clemens. See you there.

 

Thanks Derek. I did the same thing over the weekend and went back through and looked at my thread. Hard to believe I've been working on this car for 4 1/2 years.

 

Yeah it's a lot better than the original color combo. My original Comet had a gray gold interior. My brother actually painted it that color first. But when we saw it next to the interior color we said . Colors didn't go together 40 years ago and they still didn't go together. We took a vinyl swatch over to the guys at PPG and they color matched the interior paint. I'm really pleased how it came out. I can't wait to get my seats done. The only thing stopping me is the money.


I just got a call from the re chroming shop and my front bumper is done just in time for my car show on Friday and Saturday. I'll post some pictures of the bumper after I pick it up tomorrow.

 

Baby's Got A New Smile!

Got the bumper back today from the re chrome guys. They did a great job. My baby has a new smile now and she's really beaming. She was a little self conscious before because her smile was kind of dingy.

Now she's already for her car show tomorrow.