Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The lead photo is of a third generation, 1966 Mercury Comet convertible that sports a 289 CI V8, a C6 three-speed automatic trans, power steering, power brakes, a dual exhaust, has black bench front and rear seat interior, and is shod with Anthracite hued Boss five-spoke wheels. Delightful!

The Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford introduced a big sister car to the Ford Falcon in March of 1960 called the Mercury Comet. Though still classified as a compact car, the Comet was a foot longer than the Ford Falcon. Back in the day it was called a “senior compact”. Having the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, many automotive historians now recognize the Comet as the first midsized car. Read on as we look back at Mercury Comet history across six generations, from 1960 through 1977.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The great-looking and eventually race-dominating Mercury Cyclone was produced from 1964 through 1972. Formerly known as the Comet with the S-22 performance package, the Cyclone started off life as the performance version of the compact Comet, from 1964 through 1967. In this article, we'll take a look back at Mercury Cyclone history and some of the details that made this model a legend.

Mercury Cyclone History

Many of the great muscle car innovations were born from a desire to beat the competition at the drag strip. In the early '60s, automakers were cramming the largest and most potent V8 motors they had into ordinary production models, then stripping out weight, upgrading suspension components, and installing wider tires to create specialized track cars. Such was the case for Chrysler when its engineers took a 1963 Dodge 300 and dropped a Ramcharger 426ci V8 under the hood.

Camaro Built by "Mr Chevrolet" Dick Harrell Featured in Restoration Industry Leader's Huntington Beach Showroom.

For enthusiasts, a car's story can be more important than the car itself. Whether it’s spending memorable moments in the garage with dad, date nights and cruise-ins with that special someone, or highly-embellished tales of well-earned race victories, a car with a unique history becomes much more than mere transportation, it becomes the main character in its own story. The latest addition to the Classic Industries collection, a unique 1969 Camaro built by one of the greatest legends in drag racing, is a character with its own unique history. The story begins with John Penso, part of the Flying Dutchman funny car crew and close friend of drag racing legend “Mr. Chevrolet” Dick Harrell. When Penso wanted a fast car for the street, but couldn’t find anything fast enough, he knew Harrell was the man to see. Penso made arrangements to fly to the Dick Harrell Performance Center in Kansas City, Missouri and drive a 427-powered 1969 Camaro back to his home in California.