Reader Frank gets snaps for spotting this great video — a true “time capsule” car. I’m thinkin’ this is the platform just before the first-ever Mustang (a 64-1/2 model) came out. Thanks, Frank, keep ‘em coming!
Hi Pam,
The link below is not necessarily on topic of retro homes, but it is a cute story about an 89-year-old woman who still drives her immaculate 1964 Mercury Comet with 540,000 miles on the odometer. I’d guess you could call it a time capsule car. Just like the mid century ranch homes, the cars of the 1960’s had beautiful clean lines. Thanks for keeping up your great site.
Frank
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
THAT is awesome! Riina and I only have about 160,000 on “Frank” her Ford Focus Wagon, but if she has her way it too shall pass the half million mile marker! It is such a great car. I have moved a refrigerator, two BIG vintage stoves, a vintage (70’s) washer and dryer, an 8′ long danish mod couch (on top of the car!), a pair of 50’s daybed type couches (both inside the car at the same time!) and all sorts of other stuff in this car. It gets 30 mpg on the highway and super comfortable! Why didn’t they continue the wagon in the new line? Such a shame.
Rachel is an inspiration. It’s funny how simply performing recommended maintenance on our purchases can reduce the need to replace them so often. I bet her car has another 500,000 miles in it yet!
Chris
That’s a great idea, getting all the parts with lifetime warranties. Most of us don’t even think about the possibility of having a car long enough to make them REALLY pay off.
Here’s our ‘93 Cherokee rolling over 200K (she’s over 225K now):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6DszTyaWrI
Fabulous! Loved the video as well as the “young lady” ! Hubby will get a kick outta this. Thanks for sharing.
Maryann
I’ve seen this before. This cute lady is precious and her car is gorgeous!
I drive an old car, but this is the best. Bravo to her, our through away society has not changed her at all.
I got hooked on Retrorenovation a few months ago. I’m also an old car junkie. (I want a house to match my 1970 Plymouth Fury better than my 1999 condo does.)
FYI, the 1964 Comet and original Mustang both evolved from the 1960 Ford Falcon platform.
Welcome, Paul, I’m glad a vintage car post pulled you into our Comments! Many thanks! Pam
Oh what a badass! I love the RR site and use it often for information but I just had to comment on this. I own a car made the same year as me (not telling) and its an enormous point of pride to keep her running. She’s not old! She’s only as old as I am. haha.
Rachel is fabulous – I want her for a neighbor! I still miss my old 1957 Morris Traveller. I hope Rachel and the Comet go on for many more years together.
I wonder if the inside of her house is an original treasure also?
She’s precious! I wish I could find a car to fall in love with…
That…is…awesome!!!
Up until about the year 2000, there were two elderly women in my neighborhood that were still driving vintage cars. One woman had a 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline, and the other had a 1961 Plymouth Valiant. Both were in mint condition, like this car. Take care of your toys, and they will last!!!
What a great story, and great video. We need more people like her. Love the Comet. I almost died laughing when I saw the JC Pennys reciept for the lifetime battery.
Fantastic! She’s pretty darned smart getting those lifetime warranties.
oh, she is fantastic! and the car, too, of course
Hip Hip Horay to the Sweet Little Lady. My Grandma Russell had a car just like that little Comet Mercury when I was in Grade School and Jr. High back in the 1970’s. Now Friends that little baby is Retro and oh so many cheers to the Owner and her Philosophy on life and the car. Long Live the Past and Long live NOW.
JOHN
A lovely woman.
Wonderful! This is why many old cars are NOT clunkers. As a fan and owner of 1960s American cars for many years, I can tell you that these cars were made to last (and when they don’t have tons of power accessories like power windows, power locks, power this n that…) they are even better because the manual accessories are just simpler and a snap to fix if they ever do need maintenance. Many of these old Fords from Falcons to Mustangs to Fairlanes to Galaxie 500s and even Country Squire station wagons get very decent gas mileage and one simple trick to further improve gas mileage is to use steel belted radial ply tires (they were not around in the early 1960s but to the eye a steel belted radial will not take away from the originality of these cars as tires basically look like all tires on the outside). I like the fact that she didn’t muck around with the original body, chrome or interior. These cars look best by being as original as possible.