Here's yet another 1964 K code "289 High Performance" Comet for sale on eBay. This one even has an automatic transmission! Wow! Note the standard 2 digit DSO code, a sure sign this car was never a real HiPo. The standard harmonic balancer and vacuum advance distributor say it all..Nice looking car, but really NOT as advertized.
How do you like the Galaxie front seats?
yep, sure is K coded,but not to specs
They are nice looking cars.. but i've heard the K code Comets are not K codes as a Ford would be ..K code for Mercury is something like 200 hp or 2V car.. can someone bring some light to this for me.. .. just want to clear some cobwebs.. thanks Mike in Germany..
The Comet 289 HiPo option was actually announced by Mercury's 1964 TSB #3 dated 10-4-63. This bulletin was superseded by #3A dated 4-17-64. #3 was supposed to be destroyed, but I have a copy. #3 offered only the 3-speed with 2.71:1 rear, which was essentially the Daytona Durablity Run package. #3A added a 4-speed with 3.89:1 rear option as well. As a piece of trivia, Mercury was supposed to code the 289 HiPo was "D" in the VIN, but it never happened. If they had, it would have resulted in the Comet and Mustang using opposite coding for the 289 regular-fueled 4V and the 289 HiPo. I think Mercury coded the regular 289 4V as K to cause the uninformed to think they had a "hot" engine. But, I will say that this was a great engine for around-town driving. Good motor in the Mustang, too. A heck of a lot better than the 260 2V!
Quote from bobmannelThe Comet 289 HiPo option was actually announced by Mercury's 1964 TSB #3 dated 10-4-63. This bulletin was superseded by #3A dated 4-17-64. #3 was supposed to be destroyed, but I have a copy. #3 offered only the 3-speed with 2.71:1 rear, which was essentially the Daytona Durablity Run package.
That makes sense...I knew that the L-M TSB #3 existed, but never had a chance to see a copy. I'll always remember the 1964 Comet ad campaign that was based on the 100,000 mile durability run staged at Daytona to show off the reliabilty of Ford's (High Performance) small block V-8. They also ran another group of "Durability" 1965 Comets from the tip of South America at Cape Horn, to Fairbanks, Alaska, in a 40 day 16,200 mile trip on the very rugged Pan American Highway system.
Quote from bobmannel#3A added a 4-speed with 3.89:1 rear option as well. As a piece of trivia, Mercury was supposed to code the 289 HiPo was "D" in the VIN, but it never happened. If they had, it would have resulted in the Comet and Mustang using opposite coding for the 289 regular-fueled 4V and the 289 HiPo. I think Mercury coded the regular 289 4V as K to cause the uninformed to think they had a "hot" engine. But, I will say that this was a great engine for around-town driving. Good motor in the Mustang, too. A heck of a lot better than the 260 2V!
The "phantom Mercury D code" was continued in the manuals for 1965. My 1965 Mercury Master Parts Book refers to specific 289 HiPo engine, drivetrain, and suspension parts for use on Comets with "Warranty Code D". Oddly, the same book has NO listing in the Engine Code Section for a D code (HiPo) engine. The few authentic 1965 HiPo Comets I've seen have an A code, or are blank at the 5th position of the VIN. They all have a 6 digit DSO code.
No it's not a K, and I don't know the reserve, but it is a bad ass looking body style, recently(?) restored, and if the right price could still be a good buy. look for the positive guys. the car is what it is and any old car is good to have at the right price. educate the seller, maybe he doesnt know better.
64 "K" code Comet was identical to the "D" code Mustang engine with one major exception. The Mercury cars received a 1.12 Autolite carb.
Horsepower remained at 210.
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