Many auto buffs are familiar with the Mercury Comet compact of the early 1960s, however, few know that it was intended to be produced as an Edsel. Development of the Comet dates back to the heady days of 1956/57 when the Edsel was in its final stages of development and poised for great success, being that Edsel was the next step up from Ford in price it was only natural that Ford Motor company's plusher version of its upcoming compact bear the Edsel moniker. However, by 1959, shortly before the Comets scheduled release, a decision had been made to discontinue the Edsel marque during the 1960 model year, so in a last minute scramble the comet was given a new grille and re-badged simply as the "Comet" and released for 1960, it wouldnt be until '61 that the Comet would be absorbed by Mercury.
