Good morning, and welcome back to Shitbox Showdown! Today we’re looking at two old American cars equipped with what was once the default powertrain option. But first let’s check out the results from Friday’s big battle:
It’s the big Caddy by a nose over the diesel Benz. But more importantly, are you all with me on the soundtrack to your drive home?
Hell yes. And ska or punk does suit a big Caddy really well – I once knew a guy who had a Coupe DeVille about this age, with a functioning 8-track player, and he used to record his own 8-tracks to play in it. He’d tape over things he got at garage sales for next to nothing; once I was riding with him and he popped in a John Denver tape, and Black Flag came out of the speakers. It was glorious.
Moving on: For decades, nearly all American cars stuck to the same formula when it came to base engine and transmission options: an inline six and a three-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheels via a solid axle. Businessman’s coupe, family sedan, station wagon, pickup truck; it didn’t matter. If you left all the option boxes blank on the order form, you got a straight six and a three-speed stick, usually column-shifted. Many cars so equipped have had their engines or transmissions swapped since then, but not these two. Let’s take a look and see which standard-equipment car you prefer.
1963 Mercury Comet Custom – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 144 or 170 cubic inch overhead valve inline 6, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Odometer reading: unknown
Runs/drives? Yep
Ford’s erstwhile Mercury division was axed in 2011, and hasn’t really been missed much, frankly. Most Mercury models were more or less just Fords with fancier trim by the end. But once upon a time, Mercury models were more distinct from their Ford counterparts. This Comet is based on the first-generation Ford Falcon, but has a longer wheelbase and a “big car” look courtesy of quad headlights.
1963 was the first year a V8 was available in the Comet, but this one makes do with Ford’s “Thriftpower” inline six, though the seller doesn’t specify which displacement. They do say it runs and drives, but that’s about all the information we get. It’s a good durable engine, and served Ford well for a lot of years after this, still living under the hoods of various Fox-body cars as late as 1983. And a three-speed stick is about as simple as transmissions get; if it goes into all the gears, it’s fine.
This Comet is a little cosmetically challenged, both inside and out. It’s not rusty, at least, but it’s all in primer red, and judging by the door sills, not all the body parts were originally the same color. It looks as though someone started to restore it, and then ran out of time, or money, or gumption, or all three. But honestly, it doesn’t look too bad as-is.
It’s not nice enough to show off as-is, nor is it worth the money it would take to restore it. But it’s a solid, reliable car that could be a daily driver for the right person. That person might very well be the bass player in a rockabilly band, or a bartender at a tiki-themed bar, or maybe both…
1975 Pontiac Firebird with parts car – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 250 cubic inch inline 6, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: Moriarty, NM
Odometer reading: 106,000 miles
Runs/drives? Runs, but needs a new clutch
It’s easy to forget that base-model Firebirds exist at all. We tend to remember the Trans Ams and the Formulas and the Esprits, but it was possible to get Pontiac’s pony car in a plain brown wrapper. It came with a Chevy 250 cubic inch inline six, backed by a three-speed manual with a Hurst floor shifter. It has no spoiler on the back, no scoops or nostrils on the hood, and of course, no screaming chicken decals. But this lack of gingerbread lets the second-generation F-body’s clean lines take center stage. It’s a good design.
This sale includes not only the ’75 base model, but a ’75 Trans Am parts car as well. The Trans Am has no engine, transmission, hood, or title, which means it’s truly only a parts car. The seller isn’t clear which parts from the Trans Am they intended to use to fix up the other one, but they seem willing to discuss things with the right buyer. The base model car does run, but the clutch is shot, so it’s not drivable.
Inside, it’s dirty and sun-cracked, but it’s all stuff that can be replaced via various aftermarket catalogs, if you wanted. As it sits, it’s functional, at least. The seller has done a bunch of mechanical work to it – the fuel tank, fuel pump, starter, carb, and all fluids have been changed – but it still needs a clutch, and probably new tires, to be roadworthy.
The trouble is that restoring this car would cost just about as much as restoring a Trans Am, and it wouldn’t be worth nearly as much when it’s finished, so there’s little incentive to do a full restoration on it. But frankly, it’s a hell of a lot more interesting than a Trans Am, to me, at least. I guess if you’re willing to live with the patina, a clutch isn’t too hard to do, and you’d have a fun classic to bomb around in.
These days, of course, “standard” transmissions are anything but, and pushrod inline sixes are extinct. And internal combustion itself is slowly falling out of favor. These cars are remnants of the past that make for conversation-starting toys rather than basic transportation. But that’s not a bad second life. Which one speaks to you?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
As a car, I prefer the Firebird, but for this case, definitely the Comet, which seems like an interesting rolling restoration (meaning it’s more likely to get worked on than something that doesn’t run). Firebird has too many issues and wouldn’t make financial sense to fix up.
The Comet has personality. Personality goes a long way
Comet, definitely. With those jet-turbine taillights and cherry-bomb muffler it’ll look and sound fast, and two outta three ain’t bad.
My vote goes to the Mercury. With the Pontiacs, I’m not sure which one of the two is supposed to be the parts car since they both look like parts cars.
Went for the Firebird, even though I really wish it had this instead of the stovebolt
(not that stovebolts are bad, they are very durable)
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ahead-time-pontiacs-ohc-six-build-one/
I agree that the Firebird without all the extra crap is a nice clean design and small block could be easily bolted in for some extra fun. This one was tough, but I went with the Comet..
An interesting conundrum for me. I love the clean lines of those Firebirds, and really I’m not a fan of most automotive designs from the 1958-1963 era.
However, as at least one other commenter noted anything useful has been taken from the Trans Am parts car, and whatever you end up with at the end of fixing up the Firebird probably isn’t worth the money and effort. The title issue detracts as well.
With the Comet you have an honest car where a little work would make a nice driver that can be enjoyed or used as basic transportation.
It’s not as pretty but the Comet wins.
Comet. It’s ready to go as-is, and the engine suits it better. It is a fun, old, lazy cruiser that makes no apologies.
This driveline just seems more honest in the Comet. Clean it up little by little, don’t sweat originality (looks to be missing door cards so just make your own).
Comet for me. Not a beauty queen, but likely to be a simple, durable car from an earlier time. Fun and likely to start up conversations just because it’s not a modern rolling appliance.
Comet, its looks are not so keen.
Comet, it smells like gasoline.
Comet, it makes you vomit.
So buy the Comet, and vomit, today!
I voted for the Comet.
Thank for the Summer Camp flashback
Comet. The Firebirds should be of more interest to me, having owned several Camaro/Firebirds, but that Comet just looks like a fun, quirky car that, unlike the Firebirds, doesn’t require buying a third car to make use of the other two. It’s a good thing that Comet is just far enough away from me to not be tempting…
Both have their appeal, and I love this generation of Firebird especially without all the spoilers & frippery of the more expensive models. However, with this engine & transmission combo, it won’t be fast and I’d rather have more space to bring the family along. Therefore, Comet for me
Comet here as making changes is not a ruin any value. Good older car to have fun in and confuse people with 3 on the tree. I speak from experience having 2 cars with that transmission.
I am That Guy. It’s much, much too entertaining to hand over the keys of something with a 3-on-the-tree to some unsuspecting young mechanic at a tire shop, watch them get in the vehicle and see a lever on the column and three pedals on the floor — at which point their brain explodes. Never gets old…
Good thing my truck had an easy to clean interior. Also manual choke for bonus points.
Comet. I wish it was a first-year model — bigger fins, weirder overall — but this one is still strange enough to suit me.
The little Ford “sixes” were pretty much indestructible. A friend in high school ran his Falcon out of oil, and it seized up. After it cooled, and a few quarts of 30-weight reclaim were added, it ran just fine. I’d expect this one to keep running forever.
After a trip to a paint shop — preferably a spiritual descendant of Earl Scheib — it’d be good to go!
I’ll take the Comet. However sourcing the driver’s side trim my be next to impossible. Might have to de-trim it and fill all the holes. I’d make it a Sunday driver
I voted for the Comet, on the basis that it appears to be a solid, honest car that mostly just needs a weekend of trim-fiddling, masking, and roll-on paint, sanding, paint, sanding, and paint (edit: and then more sanding, paint, and buffing…) to be a fun cruiser, or a daily for someone crazier and ideally in a climate far closer to New Mexico’s than New Hampshire’s…
…but Brother Daryl and Other Brother Daryl would make a great two-car LeMons team, especially with Other Brother Daryl being an authentic Trans Am (Y U RUNE KLASSIK?!) so the Firebirds get an honorary mention.
Blech, hard no on that Firebird. The parts car is missing all the parts needed to make the project worth your efforts. The Comet is pretty much ready to go as is. Dull primer red paint suits a 60 year old economy car perfectly. It’ll never get you anywhere in a hurry with that tractor powertrain, but who cares? Nobody will expect you to arrive on time once you tell them you are taking the Comet.
I have some concerns about the Firebird. In the ad the seller states “I have the original Title from the 1st owner” which implies the title is not in the seller’s name. Is this even a current, valid title? I once received an original paper title to a car I purchased only to find out the seller had requested a duplicate at some point. The newer duplicate invalidated the original title I received. Fortunately, the previous owner was willing and able to help sort it out, but my state makes it very difficult (? impossible) to register/title a vehicle in this situation. I would be very cautious about buying the Firebird. If title the seller gives you doesn’t end up being valid, it may not be possible to register the vehicle or even prove you own it.
I prefer the styling of the Comet so I would vote for it anyway, but the potential for title issues for the Firebird would prevent me from considering that car.
My states need a Bill Of Sale and no title for on that old. You can have one made if you want it.
I have had this issue come up on two vehicle purchase in two different states. Neither state (Minnesota or Florida) allowed me to register or obtain title with a bill of sale. I have even seen some language in Florida statutes that expressly state a vehicle sold without a title is considered stolen, even if it is sold with a bill of sale. Some states make it easy to register old vehicles with no title (I have lived in at least one state that didn’t require titles on older vehicles), but not all.
I used a bill of sale (with VIN) to register, a couple of weeks later title. And this was not the Vermont closing loophole.
Washington is pretty straightforward in this regard. The state requires a title regardless of the vehicle’s age but applying for a new title without having received an old one from the seller just means waiting three years to get it. Registration is issued immediately, so the car is still usable, and it’s even possible to sell the car to someone else during the three-year waiting period. The new buyer just has to wait the remainder of the original time before getting the title themselves; the clock doesn’t reset to a new three years.
My state will issue a new title, but it takes a few weeks. Not having an active title can cause problems.
In my case, I sold a car and signed the title, and the next two owners did not (one was a used car lot). The third owner called me when the vehicle was towed, and the police would not release it from the impound lot, since their name was not on the title, which was still in the glove box. I was worried that taking responsibility would leave me open to paying the tickets, and this would also have required time off from work to drive a couple hours to help a stranger. I’m wondering at what point the fines were more than the vehicle’s value.
Comet for me. I wonder if the paint is original (or possibly a respray) just heavily oxidized, and not primer. Based on the door sill/dashboard paint, I could see it fading to that shade of chalky red after decades in the sun. In which case the Comet would look fantastic after some polishing.
If I’m going to take on one of these as something to not restore, but just have some fun with, I’ll take the Comet. It has more quirky character. It also runs and drives.
The Comet is the better car here. It’s 4 doors and a cooler color 🙂
The Firebird didn’t get cool until 76 when T-tops became available (limited special edition option in 76, then regular option in 77), but the 76-77 T-tops are smaller than the 78+ T-tops (different suppliers).
The 67-69 models beg to differ. T-tops or not, those Firebirds will always be cool.
T-tops are THE defining feature of the Camaro/Firebird. When you think of those cars, you think of T-tops. Camaro or Firebird? Oh yeah, the car with the T-tops!!!
That’s why the new Camaro failed. It didn’t have the core feature that people expect in a Camaro: T-TOPS!
Meh. I had a 2002 Trans Am with the T-tops, and they were cool, but I would not say they were the defining characteristic. I would much rather have a convertible. And when I think of a Firebird, the first that comes to mind for me is the ’78 slicktop coupe that I almost bought at 16, but my parents wouldn’t let me add it to their insurance so I couldn’t. Sad day.
I’ll take the Firebird, fix the clutch, get a quickie spay in gold, learn to make J-turns, and live out my Rockford fantasies. Think they’ll let me park a beat-up trailer in Malibu?
That was my same thought. Now I’ve got that theme song stuck in my head.
I voted for the Comet. I have a thing for cars with fins, even little ones.
I once asked a guy how he felt about cars with fins, and he said he’d never felt a car with fins.
Aside from some tunes, the Comet fits the theme. Its a 4 door cruiser, no need to have some flash, the Firebird will always be wanting more.
Of course this may change a lot throughout the day, but at 16 votes cast we are 8-8. I thought the firebird would take it by a mile. It does for me, but I feel like this is one of the rare instances in which you really can’t go wrong either way. Sure they may not be worth restoring, but they are both good, honest cars as is.