Normally when we think of a Park Lane from this era we automatically think of it having a breezeway – operable back window. This 1965 Mercury Park Lane Marauder is an exception. This great looking car is listed on Hemmings in historic Quincy, Massachusetts with what seems like a great asking price of $5,850 or best offer. For the record, that’s $2,750 under Hagerty’s #3 good condition value.
I have said it often and most likely too often that the 1965 Mercury grille is my favorite. Those piercing, plain round headlights are fantastic. This car looks like it’s really in nice condition, I don’t see rust anywhere and the seller doesn’t mention rust, they just say that it’s in excellent condition and it’s a “Complete Solid Southern Original Classic GA/AL” which I’m assuming is Georgia and Alabama. It sure looks great.
Here’s where the breezeway rear opening window isn’t. When a customer ordered the Marauder package on the Park Lane in this era they got a fastback rear window, or more of a fastback than what we would know as the breezeway roof shape. It’s a tough one, I love the Marauder package but I would also love a Breezeway. Which would you choose?
I really wish that I could see this car in person, it looks super solid. The seller says that it’s “90% Restored” and I’m not sure what that means other than it’s 90% restored. With no mention of bodywork I can only think that it’s everything else? Maintenance items? Who knows, a quick phone call would probably clear it up. Other than an oddly-teal-looking dash top I don’t see anything of concern here, which is like looking at the ocean and saying, “Yeah, it looks good from here.” With any old car we all know that once you start digging into things it’s a never-ending process. The back seat looks great and it probably would be a fun road trip car having four doors.
Boom! That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout! This is Mercury’s 330-hp 390 cubic-inch V8. Man, what an engine, and AC! This car has “New Fuel lines/Fuel/Oil/Air Filter, New 12V Batter/Tray/Cables, New 15″ WSW Radials” and more. Hagerty is at $8,600 for a #3 good condition 1965 Mercury Park Lane “fastback” with a 390 V8 and 4-barrel carb. This could be a great buy right here, what do you think?
I don’t think the Breezeway is needed on an A/C car. Wonder how many active kids crawled out on the trunk lid at speed?
At only $1.50/lb, this is a great deal.
Hey, I’m pretty sure that car is sitting in my driveway. My father in-law bought it 2 yrs ago and drove it to Colorado. He recently passed, but I’m almost positive it’s the same one 😂
Took my drivers test in 1968 in one like this….this one is nicely preserved.
There is one of these sitting near Headland Alabama on Henry county 97that has Fender Skirts still on it
I could check it out for you; I live about 45 minutes down the road from Quincy.
It appears to be a real nice example at a great price. What a cruiser this would be.
That’s a super nice offer, Capt.
While I prefer the more formal look of the ‘69-70 Marauder, one of these would be more than welcome in my 25 car garage. If I ever win the lottery, that is…
Mercury really knew how to do cars right. I always preferred the Mercurys to the Ford’s. They had a classy Lincoln look that would keep me coming back to the Lincoln Mercury Dealer for new cars. First car was a 1972 Mercury Montego MX two door hard top. Most beautiful front end of a car ever. Next had a 77 Mercury Cougar XR-7. Still a beautiful car 41 years later. My mom currently drives a 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier V-6. Like the grill better than the Escape. Mercury always had great names for cars too. Montego, Comet, Capri, Cougar and let’s not forget Monterey. Who doesn’t want to ride in a Monterey. Mercury did kind of start to screw things up when they started having weak names like Tracer, Lynx, and the worst of all Sable. God awful names, and Ford lost their way on how to market the Mercury brand. It just became a Ford with a different name. Nothing to elevate it like Mercury had done in the past. Very sad.
Same here, My grandma came home with a brand new 1965 4 dr Mercury Marauder 4dr in sept 1965. burgundy with white seats. We had this car for over 20 years. always a nice ride. I took my drivers test at age 16 in this car. I want to buy one, I missed out on a chance for a red one mostly 95% original. only 76k miles. Well if it’s meant for me to have one, I will get one again. Mercury stopped making the Luxury cars in 2010.
What a cool Merc. Of course it would be cooler if it was a Breezeway. Buddy of mine had a ’65 Breezeway 4 door with a four spreed, but was not a Marauder.
That’s what I love about old cars. Huge car with 4 doors and a four speed. You can’t get these kinds of cars anymore.
Nice cars. Mercury always had that special zing over a Ford, as intended, until the end, of course ( I’ll be in the cold ground before I recognize a Sable as a Mercury) The Breezeway window was indeed a trademark for these cars, even though, when opened by itself, it let in a lot of engine exhaust, like a station wagon. I recently learned, Mercury in ’67 changed the Breezeway to a window like this, and only opened 2 inches. Also, when I think “Marauder”, this is not what I think of. Marauder’s were nasty people, like a S55, 427 “Super Marauder”, not some family 4 door, although I believe you could get a Marauder in any configuration. Mercury’s were great cars.
I remember growing up, Dad had a ’66 Park Lane Breezeway and I thought that rear window was the coolest thing ever…it’s still on my list of cool all these years later. The tin worm got the better of it unfortunately and he had to scrap it in ’79, but always regretted not keeping the 390 out of it. I’d love to own one.
I bought a 1966 Mercury Montclair non- Breezeway 4 door hardtop around 2 years ago. 390/2V, 3 speed manual trans, PDB and P/S. Currently building a 428SCJ and 4 speed to go in it. Can anyone say ‘Sleeper’!
I learned to drive on my parent’s 1966 Mercury Montclair 4 door sedan. That car, in Palisades Turquoise was my first automotive love. The interior was the same aqua as the dash cap on the featured model.
This Park Lane is a four door hardtop. Not a fastback. The two door hardtop had a nice raked backlight, but it wasn’t a fastback either.
It’s a beautiful car over 50 years later.
Surprised to think the rear fenders are rust free. Our 66 started rusting four years after my parents bought it new.
My Dad gave me a ’65 Merc Monterey in ’68 with the Breezeway window. 390 with the same color combo as this. White leather interior. What I thought was great about the Breezeway window was that my buddies could smoke in the car and all the fumes were sucked out the back. To my recollection, the window didn’t go all the way down to the deck level ? In my Sr. year I sold it for a ‘ 66 GTO going a bit more sporty, but I’ll tell ya what, nuthin’ rode like that Merc. 80 miles an hour on the freeway and the thing just floated. As I recall, my dash was the same as the exterior color. The Merc might not have been as popular with the guy’s, but man, what a great ” date ” car. Plenty of room for maneuvering!
Hi Neil, did you click on the “Breezeway” link in the 3rd paragraph? It shows a Breezeway model with the window all the way down to the deck. I don’t know if they were all like that.
Hey Scotty,
I could very well be wrong. It seemed I got the maximum ” vetnage ” of noxious fumes by having it cracked just a bit.
My first vehicle I bought out of high school was a 1964 Mercury parklane with a breezeway window. 390 / 4 barrel , bucket seats. Boy I wish I had the vehicle now.
All of my ’63s had the breezeaway window and they all went down all the way.
I think you are stealing this car at this price, barring anything completely unforeseen mechanically.
If I were closer, i’d scoop it up just because.
I’d be surprised if it wasn’t gone by Saturday.
My 65 with 72k miles. I bought it new.
George that it absolutely a stunning car.
Thanks Ray, We have been together for 53 yrs.
Fantastic car, George, thanks for sharing that beauty! (excellent mustache, too!)
Thanks Scotty, I have had that fu-man-chew almost as long as i have owned the Marauder
My 65 Marauder Engine
The seller refers to a CL ad which has been online for over three weeks. Just FYI.
I had a 66 Mercury Park Lane back in 1970. It had the sloped window at the rear, a 410 CI engine and was the color of the teal dash in the car shown here. So I would guess that that might have been this car’s original color. My father in that same era had a 65 Mercury with the breezeway window in the back. He referred to it as the Turnpike model. I think that model was the only one with the breezeway window. In 1973 I traded the Park Lane for a new 73 Mercury Monteray Custom.
My 65 Marauder 4dr ht. has never been restored.
65 Marauder
Original paint,interior,drive-train,chrome,even have the hubcaps & tires, in the garage
Found more information about Mercury Breezways on “HowThingsWork”. Some of the later versions actually slopped toward the back like the fastback window but only opened a couple of inches. They were only on 4-door models. Earlier models slopped inward and went farther down. The Turnpike Cruiser was around in the 50’s too.
This is a shot of the Marauder before i installed the vinyl flames & mags.
I can return it to this in a heart beat.
George,
I have no idea why a young guy would selcect this car back in the day. I got my Monterey from my Dad. Old Man car to me at that time. Tell you what, I think you were ahead of your time with your selction. Absolutely beautiful car. You obviously loved it from day one, and it ceratinly shows. Of course, I’m an old man myself, now.
Neil, Good ?. I was 21. For 2 weeks i drove by the Mercury,Lincoln dealer. It was in the showroom in the front window. I had a 57 pontiac rust bucket. Once i sat in it it was love at first sight. I had to have that car. 3 days later i drove it home. $3,270. $400 down, $87 a month for 3 yrs. Our 3 sons came home from the hospital in it. 1975,1976,& 1980.
Lucky for me they were all born in the spring & summer. I never ever drove it it the winter. Locked my keys in the trunk in 2004 at a car show, had to take out the back seat to get them & guess what i found? The build sheet! I still drive it about a 1,000 miles a yr.
I always drove “Old Men Cars” as a purposeful choice.
It kept the cops off my back as they were chasing all the kids at school in their Mustangs, Camaros and Ferraris.
I still had plenty of power with my Cadillacs and big Fords, so I was not complaining.
Very Nice. Inside and out.
Thanks Charles. When i tell people the paint,& interior are 53 yrs old they don’t believe me. The drive -train has never been touched.
That is a jewel box, George, very, very nice car.
Gorgeous barge!
Wow George I’ll take it I’m so impressed that you have kept it so nice since new I sure wish I would have kept a few of mine
Thanks Ed, The Marauder has been a great car. Took it on a 1600 mile
round trip last summer for the eclipse in Kentucky last summer. We live in Rochester,NY
George, if I may, what you will find if you leave those stickers on for any length of time, is that the paint around them will fade a little more than the paint underneath, and you will always be able to see where they were for the rest of the cars life.
I never put any kind of stickers on my cars especially on the paint.
I had a 1963.5 MARAUDER in1969. It had a 390, but I did a little work on her to put over 400h.p. Mine was Red with Black vinyl top. Sure do miss her. I called her ” STORMY” because she was fast as a storm. Thanks for listening, Barry
Barry, why do you say it was a 1963.5?
Any of you guys familiar with the mid-60’s Marauder that came stock with tripower (three two barrels) on the 390?
Yes I have a 1965 Parklane Marauder with a 390 tri power. It is very rare because of the sport package which has bucket seats with console, factory tach. drag strip clock that you could time yourself. The inserts on the door panels are brushed alum. along with the panels on the back of the bucket seats. All original except for the old school craigar super sport wheels.
i want to buy your 65.
Yes I sure do.
I want a 1965 Mercury park lane Maurader 4 door I grew up with one and dam I miss this car. We had a maroon color with white seats. I learned to drive in this 18ft long car, took my drivers test in this tank, did a 3 point turn and passed. I drove this car until I got my 62 Tbird.
I love how Hagerty is the expert on a vehicles worth. Maybe they should tell it to the folks at Barrett Jackson before goes to auction. Lol
Any vehicle is priceless in the owners eyes but it’s only worth a value to the person who really wants it. Now please don’t jump all over me however Hagerty imo don’t really know true values on cars. Especially when it comes to Mercury’s.
They use auction results to determine values…
I have a 65 Mercury Montclair Breezeway for the last 50 years bought it as a daily driver when I graduated from high school loved the car with the breezeway rear window, but drive it occasionally now as I want to preserve it.