Mercury was long the unloved middle-child of the Ford Motor Company, and few questioned the wisdom of closing it for good as the Blue Oval struggled to stay afloat. Even though it’s been decades since Mercury produced a truly compelling product though, the brand still has devotees willing to dig through its storied past and building something worthy of praise once more.

So it was with the Craftsman Comet R, a customized 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente built by Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle Works for the purpose of road racing. Born as a marketing vessel for Craftsman Tools in an effort to reconnect the Sears brand with backyard mechanics, the Craftsman Comet R has made its way across the show circuit, and is now ready for the next fork in the road.

Originally conceived as a “rockabilly” hot rod, a lack of time turned it into a Pro-Touring project that’s retro in all the right places. Power comes from a Roush-tuned 427R V8 topped by a Hilbourn electronic fuel injection setup with old school-style velocity stacks, and a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual sends power to a Moser 9-inch rear end.

This classic Mercury rolls on a RideTech four-link and coilover suspension with a Mustang II-style independent front suspension. The interior remains appropriate to the time, with a machined Craftsman badge sitting front and center on the dashboard. ProCar seats add extra comfort without removing one from the classic feeling, and a trunk full of Craftsman tools sweetened the deal to take bidding to the $100,000 mark at the Barrett-Jackson event in Reno last week. The proceeds benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Money well spent on a car that we hope sees plenty of track time, just as the builders intended.