Early Comets received better-grade interior trim than concurrent Falcons, and a slightly longer wheelbase.

Developed concurrently with the Ford Falcon, early preproduction photographs of the sedan show a car remarkably close to the Comet that emerged, but with a split grille following the pattern established by Edsel models.

Early Ford styling mules for the station wagon model carried the Edsel name, as well.

While the short-lived 1960 Edsels used elliptical-shaped taillights, the lenses used on both cars differed in length and width.

For 1962 and 1963, the Comet shared a considerable number of body and mechanical parts with the short-lived Fairlane-based Mercury Meteor intermediate.

In 1960, the only engine available was the 144 cid Thriftpower straight-six with a single-barrel Holley carburetor, which produced 90 hp (67 kW) at 4200 rpm.

In Canada, for the 1960 model year, Meteor-Mercury dealers sold a compact car called the "Frontenac".

[4] The Comet was introduced to the Canadian market for the 1961 model year and replaced the Frontenac as the compact offering by Meteor-Mercury dealers.

Available only on the two-door sedan, it was billed as a "sport" package, although it shared the same mechanicals as regular Comets, with the only changes being S-22 badging, bucket seats, and a center console.

(The Villager name had previously been used to denote the four-door, steel-sided station wagon in the Edsel Ranger series.)

Its basic lines were shared with the new Falcon, but the front grille used styling similar to that of the Lincoln Continental.

Then in descending order of trim levels were the Caliente, 404, and 202, replacing the previous Custom and base models.

Drivers included Ronnie Sox, Don Nicholson, and Wild Bill Shrewsberry in conjunction with Jack Chrisman.

[citation needed] For 1965, the Comet received updated styling front and rear (including stacked headlights, similar to what full-sized Fords, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs would use at the same time).

The base six-cylinder engine was increased from 170 to 200 cubic inches (2.8 to 3.3 L); still using a single-barrel carburetor, it produced 120 hp (89 kW) at 4400 rpm.

The base V8 engine was increased from 260 to 289 cubic inches (4.3 to 4.7 L) and, using a two-barrel carburetor, it produced 200 hp (150 kW) at 4400 rpm.

These intermediate-sized cars used the same basic chassis as the original Ford Falcon and Mercury Comet compacts, but were stretched with longer wheelbases.

The Comet wagon introduced a Dual-Action tailgate, able to both fold down or swing aside, an idea soon copied by all the major U.S.

Mercury's mid-sized line-up ranged from the basic Comet 202, through the Capri, Caliente, Cyclone, and Cyclone GT models, as well as steel-sided Voyager and simulated wood-paneled Villager station wagon models, which were comparable to the Capri.

New engine options included a 302 cid V-8 engine using a four-barrel carburetor and generating 220 hp (160 kW) at 4400 rpm (standard on the Cyclone), a 351 cid V-8 using a four-barrel carburetor generating 290 hp (220 kW) at 5200 rpm (standard on the Cyclone Spoiler), and a 428 cid V-8 using a four-barrel carburetor generating 335 hp (250 kW) at 5200 rpm (standard on the Cyclone CJ[13]).

[6] The base engine was the 170 cid inline-six with a single-barrel carburetor producing 100 hp (75 kW) at 4200 rpm.

The GT featured a blacked-out grille, dual body-side tape stripes, high-back bucket seats, wheel trim rings, dual racing mirrors, bright window frames, black instrument panel, deluxe door trim panels, and a simulated hood scoop.

A new Custom decor package featuring vinyl roof, body-colored wheel covers, wide vinyl-insert body-side moldings, vinyl bucket seats, luxury carpeting, and extra sound insulation was a popular option.

In July 2010, USA Today reported on a 91-year-old Florida woman, Rachel Veitch, who was still driving her 1964 Comet Caliente daily.

The car was retired in 2012 after accumulating 576,000 miles, as Veitch had decided to stop driving due to her eyesight becoming too weak.

[16] The 1971 model year was the Cyclone's last, as the muscle car wars wound down, and it was absorbed into the Mercury Montego line.