1-of-2,584: 1968 Mercury Park Lane
In the mid-to-late 1960s, Park Lane was the upper end of the full-size Mercury line-up. And it was available in the same two-door fastback body style as the Ford Galaxie 500. Scarcely 2,600 were built in that configuration in 1968, so the seller’s nice example is something of a rare find today. Located with a dealer in Plymouth, North Carolina, this Mercury comes to us here on eBay where the bidding is unmet at bids of $5,600.
The Park Lane nameplate had two runs at Mercury. First in 1958-60, and again from 1964-68 before being replaced by the Marquis. The second generation could be thought of as Mercury’s version of the Ford LTD, though sold alongside Lincolns rather than Mustangs. A lesser-seen version in 1968 was the Park Lane 2-door hardtop which only saw a production of 2,584 copies. Sources indicate that the engine choices were a 410 or 428 cubic-inch V8, while the seller says this car has a 390 under the hood.
As a dealer is involved in the sale of this vehicle, zero history is offered on the auto, not even the odometer reading. The seller doesn’t even mention whether it runs or not. But the photos show what looks to be a nice survivor. The body and paint present well as do the vinyl top and interior (except maybe the top of the driver’s door panel). The wheel covers are not shown and are either missing or hidden away in the trunk. If the car runs and drives as it should and the reserve isn’t too high, this would be an unusual find to bring to Cars & Coffee.
The Park Lane I remember most is the black Brougham-trimmed version driven by Jack Lord (aka Steve McGarrett) in the 1968-80 TV show Hawaii Five-0. It was a 4-door hardtop but occasionally you would see him racing off somewhere in a formal coupe. Trivia: Did you know that Ford produced a Parklane for one-year only? It was a 1956 2-door station wagon in the vein of the Chevy Nomad. While it sold better, Ford thought they missed the mark and got out of the sport wagon market as quickly as they got it.
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Comments
This Park Lane was available with a 390, delivering 280 hp. 3 speed Merc-O-Matic. 0 to 60 in 9.4 sec. Top speed 119 mph. (2.75 rear axle, opt. 3.25)
What a beautiful boat ! A good detail including paint correction, a set of wheels & tires (though I’m drawing a blank on what wheels would look “right” on it), and I’d chauffeur all my car peeps to Cars & Coffee.
Talk about a car you NEVER see – this is one of those.
Trivia:. The 2dr. was a rental car, used in the “Pilot” episodes
The famous 4dr. Is still alive and well stateside.
Book’em Danno murder one….two counts.
My old man got a new Merc every year way back then, we took the crs to Ely Minnesota for a week or two of fishing. I was a teen ager riding in the back seat all the way with my Irish setter dog. Thia car is absolutely identical to one he had, it might be the one?
It could always be the one. Although we’d only be wildy speculating.
You can hope.
Front end of a Monterey,rear of a Montego MX.Nice fastback.
Gimme a S-55.
I just cant get over the size of these cars back then …what the hell happened today.. all matchbox cars and no personality.. Ill stay in the past…
Cars are still huge today my friend….only now there called SUVs or Ram trucks
Those are not cars today.. In my book they are all trucks..
I like the produce box top floor mats. I need to get a set of those. Seriously , gorgous land yacht. And I agree. No cars any more. Just suvs and trucks.
Love it, very cool car. I remember seeing the occasional one here and there back then. Big old boats that rode like a dream.
Rarely seen. It’s awkward but the lines work somehow. I dig it. Ford rally wheels and redlines and a good detail.
$7,100 as we speak..
You are all right..very beautigul styled. Sadly, those days with beautiful styled cars are gone..So keep them, if you own one or more of these beautiful styled GM’s, Fords, Chryslers etc…
I used to see one of these,in this same color,
in really nice shape.I thought about talking to the
owner,but never did.
Next thing I knew,it was gone.
From info I see, Mercury only offered the 410 FE engine in 66 and 67. Based on that, the popular 390 would make sense. Dad was an L-M dealer and my mom drove a 1968 390 Monterey fastback as a demonstrator. It was fully loaded, except it lacked power brakes. Oopsy on the order form. No option packages in those days. It took a long time to sell. The car was a beast, the doors weighed a ton, and that back glass was nearly impossible to clean on the inside, even for a reasonably agile 13 year old.
I worked at a Ford dealer in 1968 washing cars at age 15. You are correct about those rear windows, they were hard to clean inside even for us young teens. I had to do many.
Love this Blast from the Past! The engine starts but bring a trailer since at least one of the front drum brakes has seized from sitting so long. The car does not have power brakes, so maybe a full front disc brake conversion with a power booster would be the way to stop this beast. Seller told me that his business focuses on Used Commercial Trucks and Construction Equipment in Plymouth, NC and he bought this car as part of another purchase. He lost his enclosed storage and doesn’t have the time or interest to spend money on the car. Seller is asking $12,000 as-is and where-is. Hope the car will find a good home soon—-wish it were mine.
My Monterey had front disc brakes – factory air, too, so maybe this one was optioned differently – long term project to get another of these, but resto-modding a ’64 Montclair breezeway like my dad’s is my next project.