On January 1st, 2018 the NRMCC had it's first meeting of the year at Maverick Comet grand central also known as Larry's garage with a stop later on at Tim Hortons. This was the beginning of the winter restoration of two Comets and one Maverick. A true winter odyssey. Follow along and enjoy.
First off a short drive to Larry's for our meeting at "the garage" to get some parts, look at a tranny to be installed at a later date, shoot the breeze and check out Larry's motor troubles (yet again).
And yes it was as cold as it looked.
Looking for some Comet trim pieces before the future paint job to Dave's comet.
And of course the main reason we made the trip, to see the transmission to be installed before the new paint job in the spring.
Dave loaded down with Comet parts and ready for a trip to Timmy's.
And we can't forget Larry's Maverick which is a bit dead sitting outside in the snow. He is having more motor problems and can't seem to catch a break. I think it's time for yet another engine replacement. I have faith that it will all work out by spring in time for the 13th Annual NRMCC Maverick Comet Meet and Greet on July 29th in Milton.
It's funny but Larry's Maverick sitting in the snow with a basically useless engine covered in a tarp still looks great and ready for some cruising.
After our garage tour we filled up Dave's truck with some parts and made a little trip for some healthy food at Tim Hortons.
Now onto John's '68 Comet, this big old girl was due for a full on restoration and the time was right for John. So here are a few pictures of it's progress.
It seems strange not to see John's Comet red but instead in grey primer.
There's some nice bright red paint and this Comet needs to be red.
After 50 years this Comet still draws a crowd.
Dave's Comet needed some transmission work done so he decided to get that taken care of before he started the paint work on his car. So we took the Comet out on a nice dry January day for a little cruise to Halton transmission in Mississauga to get the job done. Here in Southern Ontario in January if you find a dry snowless day you better go for it while the going is good. We managed to find a spot between snow storms.
But first we needed to escape the underground parking.
Aaaaaaa light, we're free.
Than arriving at Halton transmission where the work will get done. Let's play find the Comet in the picture below.
In these secret spy photos the boys discuss the game plan on the transmission work to be done on Dave's Comet. Shhhhhhh, don't look them in the eye.
Here's Larry Winter's beautiful Maverick sitting outside in the snow just before being pushed into his garage. Don't worry he was not going for a winter drive in this nice Maverick because the engine in his car is ....well...... a piece of crap and needs to be yanked out to see what's wrong with it.......... yet again.
Pushed ......yes pushed into the garage and ready for the engine removal.
The good thing is that the garage has been newly insulated and that will make it much easier to work on this dud of an engine or build a new one in some warmth. At least Larry has a few winter months to get things done.
Larry and his Maverick have had nothing but engine troubles as of lately. It's to the point that it is basically a useless engine in the Maverick and yet again in need of being replaced. Word is that a temporary 5.0 will be installed until a later date and then ........ well we will just have to wait and see. Remember good things come to those that wait and Larry has been waiting a long time for a properly working engine to match this beautiful Maverick Grabber..
Now back to John's '68 Comet, which is starting to get a wee bit of new red paint on it. The red is very much the same as the original paint but brighter and so very eye popping. I can't wait to see the entire car when it's done.
These guys even painted the rear window sill where the speakers are.
Look at that red paint, a hint of whats to come.
Here are a few more shots of Dave's Comet in the shop during and after the transmission swap.
With the transmission done Dave's Comet was ready to be driven home and parked. Now the wait to get it painted but first John's Comet has to be finished and than Dave's Comet will be next in line for a fresh coat of paint.
Up next, paint.
There are only two new pictures of John's Comet with paint on the body but wow do these two pictures do it justice. There is nothing nicer than seeing a car just painted still in the paint booth with the paint as new as it could ever be. What a beautiful red and this car needs to be red and no other colour!
Here are a few pictures of Larry's dud of an engine pulled from his Maverick. This is where we see what went wrong by taking this engine apart piece by piece. Hopefully there will be something that can be saved from this motor.
First off the motor will have it's rings removed, pistons soaked in degreaser and a little cylinder honing. I must say Larry has laid out the bits and pieces of this motor beautifully for our little expose, this is truly the sign of a pro.
The cylinder heads are now all apart and going in for a steam cleaning.
The bottom end is now altogether, the crank has been sent out, new main and rod bearings and new piston rings and Larry is starting to move closer to having a properly working engine.
On Monday February 5, 2018 the NRMCC went for a little tour to see John's '68 Comet, now out of the paint booth and at the shop to be wet sanded and to start assembly of this freshly painted Merc. It was truly great to watch John see his Comet painted for the first time. The look of joy on his face seeing his beloved car with a fresh coat of red paint is as real as it gets, John was thrilled and i was honoured to be there to see it all unfold.
John's massive trunk kinda looks like a pick up bed from this angle.
Every bit and piece of the body was painted bright red with the same care.
This 1968 428 Cobra Jet Comet is the real thing, one of only 24 ever produced. I wonder if any of the other 23 red 428 Comets still exist? This Comet is royalty and should be treated as such because they don't get much rarer than this. There has been talk of a few blue 1968 428 Cobra Jet Comets also.
The 428 in this Comet will also be, "refreshed" at a later date, just in time for the 2018 cruising season and also in time for July 29, 2018 in Milton.
Now back to Larry Winter's mighty Maverick, here are a few more pictures of the work he has done on his engine. It really is just a bit of work everyday that truly pays off. This little budget build seems to be coming along nicely..... but first......
The 306 chicken plucker is going for a little trip.............
After replacing a few parts, bits and pieces that could not be saved the engine is cleaned and that much closer to being installed in the car.
There truly is something scary as hell and exciting as hell seeing an engine about to go into it's new home. At the very least Larry will know that he did the work on this motor and not have to wonder, "What went wrong?" Can't wait to hear this thing run......... without the chickens.
Well it's in and onto the next bit of work.
This engine looks so close to being finished with the shiny stuff on it, you can almost hear this baby running down the road. Soon.............
Here are a few more pictures of John's 68' Comet, now in the rebuilding stage. This is a very exciting time to watch as his car comes back to life piece by piece.
A little surface rust after 50 years, a bit of sanding and a blast of black paint.
......and the Comet is ready for some new carpet.
There really is something about new paint and chrome that is so beautiful!!!!
Does that Matte Black hood scoop ever like nice freshly painted and mounted on John's hood. It's all coming along nicely.
Look at what i just won at Tim Horton's today. I guess it's better than just a coffee. Maybe Larry Winter could use it as i have a working motor. Larry Winter could you please contact me. :)
The latest pictures of John's Comet with it so close to being finished. Just a few more thing's to get done and it's ready to go. To get a better look at the car and to get a few nice bright pictures we rolled it outside.
John even gets to bring home his old fenders, i'm sure they will fit under his bed. Lets hope he never needs them but it's always good to have spares.
And it's official, John's Comet looks better than it did brand new. The paint is beautiful on this car and everything is soon to be complete. After our trip to see the Comet we stopped off to visit Fred Clark and as usual we ended up at Tim Horton's for lunch. Comets, Mavericks and food, the perfect combo.
This just in, after having to deal with a chicken plucker engine and repeated engine problems, Larry finally has a properly working engine, installed and ready to go. The Maverick was brought out for run and it ran great. This is a budget build with a better engine to come in the future but for now..... Larry's Maverick lives once again!!!! This car looks great moving or parked. Yup.
The final thing to be installed was the carpet in John's Comet. After a few problems with the wrong carpet being sent to the shop, the new carpet was then installed, as well as the seats. With the job finally complete the Comet was trailered to Don Palmer's shop for a bit of engine work. After that, all that will be left will be the start of the cruising season. Up next will be Dave's '72 Comet for a new coat of paint.
The Comet looks as good as new. So you can compare, here is a picture of John's Comet in the showroom of Sandy Elliot Motors in Chatham Ontario in 1968. It looks as good as new, now the big question is...... which Comet is John's Comet in this picture? I think it's the red one. :)
These next pictures are of Dave's Comet on his journey to the paint shop from Mississauga for a full restoration. This is the same shop that beautifully did John's '68 Comet. Our trip was on March 23, 2018 and the pictures are from two vantage points, one, following the Comet and vantage point two, the boys inside the Comet on their way to the shop. Enjoy.
Following Dave's Comet is nice but being in Dave's Comet is better!
The Comet arriving at the shop, when it leaves it will look stunning.
One last look at how she is ......... before........... how she will be.
And into the shop she goes.
And as always the NRMCC loves to end it's trips at a restaurant and Wimpy's seemed to be just the right place. Mavericks, Comets, old Rock 'n' Roll, records on the walls and good food. That's a great ending to a fun trip!
On Monday April 2, 2018 the NRMCC went for a tour way up North to see Dave and John's Comets and to see how Dave's car was coming along. We also had to find out what parts are needed to be replaced to complete the car. Here are the pictures of our trip and the two Comets.
It's something to see for the first time the Comet apart knowing what it will look like when it's done. Hard to believe we drove it up here seeing it with missing parts. All will be worth it in the end!
When doing a complete restoration you never know what you will find under the paint. In this case the drivers side fender was a dented bondo filled mess. Can these guys fix it.......you bet your ass they can!
Part of our trip was to see John's Comet at Don Palmer's garage and how it was coming along. It is almost complete with just a few things to finish and then soon will be the drive home ready to start the cruising season. Here are a few more pictures from our Comet tour. Enjoy.
It's funny how in the end everyone always ends up under the hood. It has never been cleaner, even when a new Comet back in '68.
The NRMCC went for a road trip again to see Dave's Comet on April 21.Here are more restoration pictures from our visit to the shop.The Comet has now had the trunk lid and engine bay painted. The rest of the car is mostly in primer and the hood has been fixed beautifully as well as the driver side fender. Check it out.
But first a slight detour to visit Mad Mav to pick up Vince's '68 Comet hood.
With Vince's hood tucked away in the truck, now onto the shop.
Now remember Dave's driver side fender, here it is now and yes it was fixed all in steel and not filled with bondo. I think they did a fantastic job, well done.
Here's a shot on the other side of the fender, nice neat and clean.
What's new with Dave's Comet, a few pictures with some shiny new paint.
More pictures of Dave's nearly finished Comet from our tour, May 10, 2018.
We weren't excepting all the striping to be on the Comet when we arrived but were thrilled when we saw that that much was done. The car looks great and is nearly ready for the drive back home to NRMCC headquarters.
Hey pal....... back away from the Comet!!!!! :)
What's better than one Comet.......how about two Comets. Yes this one is painted with the same paint that is on the "big'' Comet and painted by the shop that did the full size car. And yes there is some assembly required by a skilled professional.
Next set of pictures will be the trip home all painted and pretty.
With John's Comet almost finished there was the matter of the tranny needing a little work, nothing major, plus a few odds and ends to tie up and some fine tuning and then the restoration of this beautiful family heirloom will be complete. More on this to come.
Finally Dave's Comet was finished and ready to be brought home. The paint and body work were done and the car looks great, all that was left was a rim change and some goodies to be added under the hood. But first the trip home in this beautiful 72' Comet. Here are the pictures of our trip back to NRMCC central. Enjoy the ride, 'cause we sure did!!!! :)
But first a few pictures of Dave's Comet before it leaves the compound.
And now........the trip home.
So i says to Dave, i says, "What happens if you step hard on the pedal?"
Oh i says.......wow!
And as our odyssey of two Comets and one Maverick concludes, here are the finishing shots of the completed cars ready for the start of the 2018 cruise season. Engines, Transmissions, paint and body work.......on my!
Larry's Mighty Maverick, the way they all should look and sound!
Larry's Maverick making an appearance at the NRMCC Early Summer MavCom breakfast in Mississauga at Wimpy's Diner. A good place to start the cruising season of 2018.
Dave's Comet is finally finished, complete with new wheels for that ready to go down the strip look. He decided to stay with the original colour but added the GT stripes and body coloured wheels. Add in some transmission work and the whole package makes this Comet a stunner all day long!!!
The picture below is one of Dave's first trips out with his finished Comet. This shot was taken by the MCCC from the roof of the Canadian Tire at the Dundas and 403 Friday night cruise in Mississauga.
Looks absolutely fantastic, here at another cruise night!
And lastly there is John's rare '68 428 Cobra Jet Comet. We have left this car till the last to wrap up our Two Comets and a Maverick story. The reason....... because John has owned this Comet since the mid seventies and has a lot of years in this car. It always was part of the family and like family, you love it bumps and all. When John's best friend Terry passed away in 2017 he wanted him to fix up his Comet like new. Terry wanted it so much that he made sure after he was gone that it would happen for John. So after much work, money, love and time this Comet was finally finished and given the love and attention that it deserved and a friends wish for his life long buddy has finally come true. This Comet now looks the way it deserves to look. Here are a collection of pictures of John's Comet, made perfect, made possible by Terry. John you are a lucky man and you made your friends final wish come true as well as he did your's. We will let the following pictures speak of the years that have passed and to the years to come for this rare, cool 1968 Cobra Jet Comet.
One of 24 428 Cobra Jet Comets, here is two of them parked in the show room.
Just recently found, a picture of what could possibly be John's Comet at Grand Bend Lanes in or about 1968 around 6 years before he bought his car. It's a 50 / 50 chance with only two red '68 428 Cobra Jet Comets ever in that area. This picture is worth a million bucks.
Making some tire smoke at the now gone Georgetown strip around 1975.
The Toronto Star article on John's Comet hanging in Don Palmer's shop.
Racing at Cayuga in Southern Ontario in 2017.
Visiting an old friend.
One of John's first cruise night appearances with the Comet freshly painted and restored. This was at the Mississauga Classic Car Club's Friday night cruise on Dundas and 403 just as it rolled in. Picture taken from the roof.
John's Comet at another cruise night, looks like a new car.
The man and his beautiful machine.........say no more!!!!
Hope you enjoyed our Two Comets and one Maverick, a winter restoration odyssey, the end of an epic.
This article is dedicated to the loving enduring memory of Terry "Crapper" Phillips and the strong and beautiful Pat Castonguay. You will never be forgotten.