Bearcat folklore

I entered another car show today. The Carolina Collector Autofest in
Raleigh, NC.
I rec'd a top 50 award. A '34 Ford wond best Ford of show.

I had 3 people mention Comet Bearcats to me.
One guy was from Tenn. and claimed that he had
a buddy that had one-'72, in high school. He swears
that it was a dealer option, bought new by his
buddy. It was a 4 spd. car with a Holley 4V. He
did not know if it had an aluminum or iron intake.
He said that it had the side pipes, headers, and
the black slotted mags with bright outer edge,
lugs and center caps. He thought that it had
a deal point distributor but was not sure.

Two other people mentioned them to me, but
only knew of the wheels, one was all polished
slots, the other was the black slots described
above. One of those was said to have sidepipes.

Back in '84/'85 there was a beige one with tan
interior and the previously mentioned black
slots.

I would like to document any info on these as
possible as I am compiling data and info for a
'71-'75 Comet GT registry.
If anyone has personal knowledge of these cars
please let me know.



Thanks.
Seth

seth@realtor.com

 

I have never heard of one, and neither has google as far as I can tell....

AC

 

Seth as I wrote in a previous message I saw two Bear Cats in 1972 at Morristown Lincoln Mercury in MorristownTennesse. 1 was a red with black interior the other was black with black interior. Both had Thrush side pipes with black slotted wheels. They also had Bear Cat script on the rear quarter panels above the stripe. I think this was a dealer option. Neither had 4 speeds both were three speeds. Shifter in the floor. Both were standard 302's with 2v engines. No headers. They looked good but since I had the Black 71 GT I didn't want to trade. I considered adding the parts to change mine but never did.

 

Ronald,
I thought of you when the guy mentioned a buddy in TN having one.


Seth

 

Being older than most on this board I remember a lot of cars back in the 60' and 70'.
The reason I believe that the Bear Cats did not have 302 4v and 4 speed is because of the cost. By the time the dealer added these options to the cost the Comets would have been in the price range of a Mustang Mach 1, Camaro or Chevelle and these were true muscle cars. Although I prefered the Comet over these cars cost wise they were cheeper. I never saw the 2 Bear Cats after they left the show room. I would like to find one even if it was in the junk yard. I would like to have some of the parts. I hope this helps.

 

Ronald-
Is that dealership still in business?
Maybe there is some guy who worked there
way back then and he remembers details. Perhaps
there are some papers around, photos, etc.

I tried this with my dealer, they laughed at me, big
corporate atmosphere now!
But don't let that discourage you.

ASK!!

Seth

 

Seth that dealership went out of business about 10 years ago. There is still a Morristown Lincoln Mercury but it is now Rusty Wallace Lincoln Mercury. Yes Rusty Wallace the Nascar driver. It is in a different location. The building is now a propane gas dealer. I tried to get any spare parts and literature from them when they moved. But they said that they had sold it to someone else. I had a good friend that worked in the parts department. He passed away about 5 years ago. I don't know of anyone else that worked there. But I may talk to some guys i know and see what they know about it.

 

FYI ... the dealer that created the Stabber Package in GA is still in business. Pugmire Lincoln/Mercury in Marietta ...

 

DM-
Let me know what you find out!!

; )

Seth

 

Hey Ronald....how far is Treadway from Morristown? My father-in-law lives in Jefferson City and we go down once a year and visit. Been to Morristown quite a bit. Love "Pizza Inn" on Buffet night!!!!

 

Craig: Treadway is about 20 miles north of Morristown. I have worked in Jefferson city a lot. We work all over East Tn, western North Carolina, southern Virginia and south eastern Ky. Next time you are in the area email me and I will try to meet you. I'll buy you that pizza. They have a cruise in in Morristown every Saturday night From early spring until the last of October.

 

Cool....I'll try to do that.

 

Comet Bearcat

The Bearcat was a regional option, the first one I saw was at Knoxville Lincoln Mercury in the fall of 1970. I ordered one from Morristown Lincoln mercury in the Spring of 1971, dark green with black stripes. I ordered too late to get the color I wanted and had to settle for one they already had coming in. Two GT,s arrived at the dealership in June and I purchased the red one and had them add the Bearcat option minus the lettering (it was in a box in the trunk). The Bearcat option consisted or Prowler wheels, D70/14 Goodyear Polyglass tires, Thrush side pipes Wood steering wheel and Driving lights. All Comets with a V8 were 302-2V with either 3 speed manual or C4 automatic. Mine was 3 speed manual, the other GT that came in at the same time was black, and I bought it a few years later(not a Bearcat) it was an automatic. The red Gt was my favorite car. I have some pictures somewhere ?

 

Bearcat

I owned a 72 Bearcat, which was my very first car. That is why I still love the Comet. It was bought in Greenville, SC, brand new, for a little over $3,600. It was black with a silver stripe, Thrush side pipes, Prowler wheels, white letter polys and fog lights. Mine had a 3 speed with a 2 barrel. I had a number of friends who had them, too. None of them had a four speed or a four barrel unless owners put them on themselves. Still love them...

 

Contact "littlemissstang" She is a member of this forum. She has a 73 bearcat that her mom purchased new