We first met the owners of this car in Tuxtla Guiterrez, Mexico, at the start of La Carrera Pan Americana. This is a six-day, many mile, historic rally that recreates the original event and twists through Mexico from the south to the north. Silas and Vicky Ford had come to ride along with our team-- the Pepsi/Volvo-sponsored Volvo 544 of Bill Shanahan and Danny Velloretti-- on the rally. The Fords were eager to see what it was all about. We (the Vintage Racing Services Inc. crew) had restored, prepared, and were supporting Bill Shanahan's Carrera-winning 544 Volvo at the event.
Si is a dedicated, Aston Martin enthusiast with vintage motoring in his blood. His wife, Vicky, seemed enthusiastically tolerant. They seemed to enjoy La Carrera, sharing the excitement and coping graciously with the discomforts.
Years later, the spring of 2001 to be exact, found them at our shop to discuss and plan a new adventure. The London-to-Kathmandu Vintage Rally proved the object of their query. A long and demanding road rally of this nature demanded planning-- and a degree of respect.
We reviewed various vehicle options taking into account the perils of the event. Logic and event rules conspired to lead us to select an early 60's Ford product. This is a vintage event and we sought both the right (read strong/safe/reliable) car with a period rally precedent. Our "gearhead" recollections revealed that the Ford Motor Company had prepared and rallied their Mercury division's Comet Caliente in the mid-sixties with some success. The die was cast.
Acquisition of a suitable example followed, as did an extensive restoration and preparation process. Times changed, terrorists intervened, and Kathmandu became Athens. The Fords were undeterred and the completed, very tested, and reliable Comet left our shop via container, bound for the U.K. in September of 2002.
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The Comet and its new owner, ready to start |
Ford Comet Caliente, work underway at a fever pace |
Plain, simple, and strong |
