In the 1960s, Park Lane was the upper series of full-size Mercury automobiles, positioned above the more pedestrian Monterey. The seller’s 1964 edition could be rare for two reasons: first, it’s a convertible of which less than 2,000 copies were built, and second, the car is said to have traveled only 12,000 miles. Having been a barn or garage find, this car is going to need some mechanical TLC, but it might clean up okay. Located in Plain City, Ohio, this Merc is available here on Craigslist for $15,000 OBO. Gotta hand it to T.J. for another great tip!
After a 4-year absence, the Park Lane moniker returned in 1964, coinciding with Mercury’s 25th anniversary. That may explain the XXV inscription in the center of the steering wheel of the seller’s machine. Barn Finds readers may remember the two and four-door hardtop versions, which used the “breezeway” rear glass, which didn’t apply to convertible models. The standard engine should have been a 410 cubic inch V8 (though the seller says it’s a 390), and we assume that’s what’s in this automobile.
Out of 1,967 built, how many of these Park Lane drop-tops could still be around anywhere? 100 copies, maybe 200? From the looks of things, the seller found this automobile having been stored away for many years, and it may have last been on the road in 1981. For the 17 years prior, we’re led to believe that its owner or owners only put 12,400 miles on the odometer. It’s a well-equipped car, including bucket seats and a console. The interior looks reasonably good, from what we can tell.
The seller says the car is in excellent condition overall, but a good bath would be needed to verify this. The body and paint may be okay, but the convertible top has a tear and should probably be replaced. Once cleaned up and made to run again, this might be one impressive package for weekend outings. I’d try to keep it as original as possible.
I really like this, and Russ’s scenario of a thorough detail, (after the mechanicals are sorted of course), and you’ll have a unique cruiser!
IF I had money 🎵 tell ya what I’d do 🎶 I go out and buy 🎵this Mercury too🎶! Crazy for Mercury! 🎵. Some of my most memorable cars have been Mercurys and Lincolns. The 64 Mercury 2 door was available with fast back roof. I have a die cast model with it. Ironically parents friends bought a 60 Mont Clair when DeSoto was dropped, now unfortunately Mercury is gone.
I love big honkin Mercurys. Maybe because my mom and dad brought me home from the hospital in a 1951 Merc when I was 3 days old. Loved them ever since. So, I have some issues to clear up about the write up. Russ, it sounded like you were implying that every big 1964 Mercury had a breezeway rear window if it wasn’t a convertible. One could get a 2 door hardtop with what I’ve always called a ‘Fastback’ roofline, similar to the 63, 64 Galaxie 2 door. And I must correct you on the ‘410’, which was only available in the big Mercurys in 1966 and 1967. This car probably has the very common ‘390’. Keep them big Mercurys coming!
I also after birth came home in a mercury it was a 1939 the first year made that was in 1945
C’mon guys, ur bring’n me to tears! The 50 earlier and now this 64 rag-top Mercury. The fast-back styled 2 door 64 and convertible were well styled and throw in a 64 Caliente convert and 2 door hardtop I’m ready to pull out the retirement funds and go shopping. Nice cars, thanks for putting them in BarnFinds.
IF I had money 🎵 tell ya what I’d do 🎶 I go out and buy 🎵this Mercury too🎶! Crazy for Mercury! 🎵. Some of my most memorable cars have been Mercurys and Lincolns. The 64 Mercury 2 door was available with fast back roof. I have a die cast model with it. Ironically parents friends bought a 60 Mont Clair when DeSoto was dropped, now unfortunately Mercury is gone.
Always confirm what Wikipedia says. Per the 1964 Mercury brochure, the Park Lane came standard with a 300HP Super Marauder 390, not a 410.
The 410 was only offered in 1966 and 1967. Essentially is was the 428’s bore with the 390’s stroke.
Sorry Rick, I think you got that backwards. The 410 was a 390 block with a 428 crank. I guess we better go on Wikipedia to make sure.
I had a 67 merc Monterey with a 4 speed and a convertible
and it was a 410
Beautiful Mercury, but I’ve never heard of one with bucket seats and console that wasn’t a Marauder, which was the equivalent of a Galaxie 500XL. Maybe I’ll learn something new, after playing with cars for the past 50 years, anybody care to enlighten me?
A Marauder was the fastback 2 or 4 dr ht vs. the Breezeway models. So, no, you couldn’t have a Marauder convertible. Marauder was NOT an equivalent model to the Galaxie XL
Galaxie 500XL = bucket seats, console, floor shift, snazzier interior trim.
Marauder = bucket seats, console, floor shift, snazzier interior trim.
Except for the lack of a convertible for the Mercury, I’d say the two were pretty much equivalent counterparts
Park Lane was the top of the heap and buckets were available.
When is the last time you saw a (first generation) Marauder? How about a Marauder convertible? Not sure I have ever seen one. And I suspect Russ’s numbers are ballpark correct, probably only 100-200 of them still exist, in any form. Makes this a very cool find. Looks like it has potential.
If you’re replying to me, guess I’m not really sure what you’re getting at
Not a Marauder. You could get the bucket seats in a Park Lane by ordering the Sports Package option (buckets, console, floor shift) per the brochure. Which makes this rare car even rarer.
Yep….and that AM/FM was a rare option that year…
Is it just me or are there a lot of Barn Finds in Ohio lately? I’m tempted to take a road trip to see this one. Love that dash and the buckets/console.
That dash would have been even better if this had been a factory AC car. 64 Full size Mercury with factory AC got additional black and chrome trim and tip out vents for when AC was utilized. Instead of the painted metal lower panel shown here, dash chrome was much nicer and the stow away AC vents were super cool. I had a 64 Park Lane Marauder, buckets, console shift and AC…Great Car…
410, is with the 390 bore and the stroke of a 428. Both use the 1U crankshaft and both are externally balanced (flexplate/flywheel and harmonic balancer). 390 Cranks are 2U and internally balanced with the crankshaft.
If I were near where this car is located, I would definitely take a look in person because the pictures are lousy and there’s too much stuff around the car. Sweet looking interior but it looks like it’s been sitting awhile; wouldn’t pay more than $10K because of that.
This thing is absolutely gorgeous and rare doesn’t describe it sufficiently. I was also brought home from the hospital in a Merc when I was born. The old man got a new Merc every year, I considered them the “Sporty Lincolns.” We always had a hard top but as a kid I would try and talk the old guy into a rag top but never happened. No matter what the price go up to, it’s worth it and will always increase in value!
wow looks like a lot of our first rides may have been in a mercury
Really takes chutzpah to declare 12K from new. A glance at the brake pedal and other components says over 100K . The seller would look more credible if he admitted he doesn’t know the true mileage.
I’ve read that the 410 engines were one or 2 yrs only 66 and 67 as well. So that means this one is a 390. I sure like the bucket seats and console. I have a 1965 Mercury Montclair with Marauder emblems that came with only a split bench and column shifter, no console. I wish it had all of those options. This convertible 64 with all of those options should be pretty rare indeed. I’m also thinking that odometer may have rolled over once already.
Real Ford lovers know that the 5th vin digit is the engine code. This one’s Z, for a 390 cu. in. engine.
Sweet……
Great find. I’m assuming the seller found it and is reselling it. I wish they would invest a little more time in squaring things away. Happily it is far away from me.
Anybody who pays $$ for a “low miles” collector car with a 5 digit mechanical odometer is a fool….show paperwork or don’t state what you can’t prove ..odometer fraud is a felony if you’re a dealer !!!
that’s one of the problems lot of people don’t know that the older cars only had 5 digits that after 100 k miles it went back to 0 and started all over again
Lot of brake pedal wear & Heater hose changed, etc. probably 112k, on road 20 years. Didn’t these come with a glass rear window? If so, top changed also. Inspect before you buy, could have Bondo on rear quarters, paint look like was done somewhere along the line., trunk lid misaligned a bit.