Well, it's about time I made an introduction.....64 Hardtop

[warren1328]

Hey all,
So it seems I've been a member here since 2012, but have kept a very low profile.
That's as I have been interested/casually looking/definitely looking/finally buying, but have taken until now to finally land my Comet.
Taken so long as I'm in Australia and have had family/other projects/etc going on also.
I'm a project engineer with Worley. Work mostly in the aluminium smelter industry for past 30 years. I have a small collection of cars that I've restored over the years, all from scratch. I also have a problem in that I very rarely part with them afterwards.....
There's a 65 Mustang fastback, 64 Aus XM Falcon hardtop, 65 Aus XP Falcon station wagon and a 65 Aus XP Falcon Sedan Delivery.
Have had an interest in early Comets for a long time, since I discovered our XP Falcon used 63 Comet front panels, and both XM and XP Falcons used Comet dash clusters. Also, the XM and XP Falcon hardtops used the same doors and upper structure and glass as the 63 Comet/Falcon in the US.
Been looking in earnest for the past 2 years or so now. Focusing on 64 Cyclone if possible, but the main criteria were 64, hardtop, V8, manual. From there, the focus became my budget and my skillset for a project. Went pretty close on a few Cyclones, but they were all either out of my price range, beyond my skillset, or autos and too nice to mess with......
So, with all that in mind, I pulled the trigger on this one. 260/3sp/Caliente
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17713
Of course I didn't see the posts about it on here until after I'd committed to buy it. But, my rationale was that it's a V8 manual, all intact, not rusty, and shabby and cheap enough that I could fix it up myself, and make the changes I want to, without breaking my budget or making changes to something too valuable.
After a looong, but pretty easy process, the car arrived in Aus in late June. Had it running within 10 minutes of it being unloaded from the transport and it passed inspection and registration the following week.
After taking a punt on buying from photos (and a few video calls), both myself and my mechanic couldn't believe how good a shape it's in. Have seen many guys over here burned by importing junk and had factored in a certain level of that as part of the deal. Body is almost perfect under shabby original paint, except for drivers fender and pass quarter has a dent and some attempted bodywork, but not a speck of rust anywhere in the body or underneath. Runs and drives perfectly and is smooth and quiet on the road. Could not be happier with my starting point. Attached are the photos I bought it from.
I will start a project thread to follow this through, but thought I'd get intro out of the way here. The project intent is to build a Cyclone, or a Cy-Clone to look as stock as possible, but with a 5 speed manual and further upgrades for driveability.
Sorry for the long-winded post.
Cheers
Warren

[SASSY]

Great intro!!
The car looks to be a great starting point for sure.
Happy to read your taking the car beyond stock as I truly believe these 64s were built to be hotrodded.
Will it be left or right hand drive?
There is another Aussie on here with a red 64 that runs 10s in the 1/4 mile. John Kerr,,,? I think is his name.
Look forward to your updates as you progress!
Fred

[warren1328]

Thanks Fred.
I don't know John Kerr, but I'm aware of him and his car(s) through another mate.
My 64 will definitely be remaining LHD. It's perfectly legal over here for cars over a certain age and I don't think the amount of work and expense required justifies changing to RHD. Besides, I'm used to it with my Mustang that I've had nearly 30 years
As mentioned, certainly making upgrades and mods here & there to suit my taste. Original engine likely to remain as engines are obscenely expensive here, but will warm it over a little. Changing to alternator today. T5 five speed to replace the 3 on the column, but it will look stock with original shift boot and repo 4sp handle.
All my cars are modified to some extent. The Mustang (K) has a T5 replacing the TopLoader. The XM coupe is a 5.0/5sp, and the other 2 both have alloy head crossflow 6cyls and autos. All of them are done in a way that they look as if they could be from the factory.

[Caveman49]

Yes great intro, and nice looking rides you have there. I’ll be following your build with the Comet, sounds like it’ll be some nice mild changes to it.
I had a good friend over there years ago when I was into El Caminos, I had probably four or five parts Elkys at the time. He has passed on several years back (2010), but the memories of him and his wife will always be with me. His name was John Waymouth, he and his wife Paula lived in Melbourne. They made a visit to us here in lower Alabama (LA) and while here he was able to pick up some needed parts for his elky, as parts, like you mentioned, are pretty difficult to get down under.
In any case all the best to you and yours Mate!

[A/FX]

Welcome to the group. You have a very nice collection of blue oval cars, the sedan delivery is outstanding. If you convert your Caliente to Cyclone trim there will be literally hundreds of small holes to close up, that will make final bodywork challenging if the sheet metal becomes warped from the welding. Cyclone trim is not the easiest parts to find, or the least expensive. I will be following your build thread.
Jim

[Jims65cyclone]

Welcome back, Warren! Looks like a very nice 64 Comet you've landed. Sorry about the disparaging remarks I made about your ride back in March, but the burp jug and rear quarter kind of jumped out at me when I saw the Craigslist add. Looks like you scored a hidden gem. You've got a great car collection, too. You're new one will fit right in. I've been building a garage to work on my Comet, and was pretty proud of it until I saw your set up. Wow! THAT IS NICE! I see you went with a gray epoxy floor coating with no speckles like I did. My son-in-law gave me the heads up on not using the speckles in a working garage. He said if you drop a screw you have to sweep to find it. Looking forward to following your build.

Jim

[warren1328]

Hey Jim,
No worries at all re the remarks. Although probably lucky in hindsight that I saw them afer I'd already comitted to buy....
You're right about that pass quarter, it has a dent and some poor attempt at bodywork. Driver front fender also has some crappy work, but it will all be removed and fixed.
From what I've been able to gather from the second owner, Dale, he bought it from the original owner who was about 90 by then.
He had done the "work" mentioned and also painted the roof silver for some reason.
When I asked Dale, the response was "old man doing old man stuff".... Otherwise, it's pretty much untouched throughout, but for a small ding on the trunk lid & trim and a few old-man bumps here and there.
You're right on the epoxy floor too! Moved into this house about a year ago and was sure to get the keys a couple weeks early so that I could get the floors done. Had same in my previous, much smaller shed and it was great.
Funny thing about the collection. The agreement with my wife has always been something had to go if I was to buy anything new. The sedan delivery has always been "that" car, although every time I drive it I change my mind..... Finally committed myself to selling it and on the day it was to go to a swap meet, the wife changed HER mind and talked me out of it. This after being a brick wall forever on the subject, even when the kids tried to talk her around

[poboyjo65]

Welcome aboard! nice score finding a comet without much rust, though it still wouldn't surprise me if it needed a hole or 2 patched in the floorboards. you really cant tell until you pull the rug & stab around with a screwdriver because they rust from moisture getting inside the cabin through poor weatherstripping & clogged quarter drains under the side widows.
I've seen 64's with the side trim inserts deleted showing body color & liked it, especially on a black car. Also I've seen the trim inserts painted black on red or other colors & liked that too. I always wondered how it would look with only the rear part of the trim that is around the comet letters. I think that would look good too. Be a lot of holes to have to fill to delete it like Jim said but since you dont have rust to fix wont be too bad. He's right about cyclone trim being hard to find,64's being a lot more rare than 65s because of really low production numbers.
the rest of your fleet & shop are very nice !

[Lou's Comet]

Hey Warren, nice find. Looks like a solid car to start with. Agree with John and Jim, lot of holes to deal with if you delete the Caliente chrome. I like the side trim of the Caliente.

Nice collection I would get confused with the LHD and RHD cars lol.

And kudos to your wife with keeping them all

Welcome to the forum!

Lou

[Joe Travers]

Hey, Warren!

I'm w/ A/FX Jim on the sedan delivery. That's a sweet little ride!
Used to gravitate toward those type vehicles when I was a part-time musician.
Called those 'gig rigs'.

Joe

[Sugarmaker]

Warren,
You have been a member here longer than me but welcome back. Great cars you have and the 64 looks like it has found its forever home. Love the shop. I wished I had coated my floors!
Looking forward to your build thread too.