REGULAR PRODUCTION "showroom" model Comets were used to complete the fabulous durability run up the length of the Pan American Highway. Want to see the hefty car that made it from Cape Horn to Fairbanks without major repairs of any kind, just routine maintenance? Stop in at your Mercury dealer's now and check a 1965 Comet Caliente hardtop (above) with luxurious vinyl upholstery, walnutlike instrument pa:nel and steering wheel, and MultiDrive Merc-O-Matic.
Under the hood it has the 289-cubic inch V-8 engine, at the rear end an optional limited-slip differential, plus power steering and brakes. Add air conditioning to the package, park a jerry-can of extra gas in the trunk, put snow tires on the rear wheels, and you're all set to take off for the end of the world-either north or south. That's why it made sense to drive Comet through 16,200 miles of sleet, snow, mire, mountains, desert, jungle and back to sleet again in 40 days. To show you once again what this luxury compact Comet can do!