Station wagons have always been a uniquely American vehicle. However, the arrival of Chrysler’s minivan in 1984 was their dinosaur staring up at the comet moment. That doesn’t mean that we still cannot enjoy a nice wagon today. Suppose you are in search of the most perfect eighties Mercury station wagon in existence. In that case, you may want to contact the owner of this 1984 Mercury Colony Park station wagon for sale on Craigslist in Imperial Beach, California. With just 26,555 miles on the odometer and kept in pristine condition, is this Mercury worth the $17,500 asking price? Thanks to Dennis H. for this aircraft carrier-sized find!
The news is filled with headlines talking about the birthrate in the United States. It seems that a lot of folks just aren’t having kids, or they are having fewer of them. Regardless of the societal implications, the automobile industry pays attention to such news intently. Their focus is on making money down the road, so news like this figures heavily in their product planning. It makes you wonder if the lack of cars carrying more than six passengers on new car lots today is because product planners did their homework 5-6 years ago.
Did the “Big Three” know that station wagons were on their way out by the time this beautiful Mercury was built in 1984? Chrysler took a big chance on the development of the minivan. Despite nothing on the market being just like it, the minivan craze took off once people could see how handy they were compared to a conventional station wagon. It wasn’t long before the wagon went the way of the brontosaurus. Now, minivans seem to be fading from the picture, but collectors are snapping up good station wagons for mainly nostalgic reasons.
There isn’t one of us over a certain age who didn’t ride in the back of one of these land barges. Many families had multiple kids after the war (this is where “okay boomer!” originated) and needed something to haul their soccer team-sized brood in. Station wagons sold well in those times, and some could hold up to 10 passengers. Do the math on that. Most interesting is how seating was handled at the rear. You either had parallel seats in what would normally be the trunk well of a sedan, or you had the seat facing rearward. Despite the fact that rear-facing passengers could see the car coming before mom’s station wagon got rear-ended, think of how entertaining it had to be for the kids back there. Being able to look into the eyes of drivers as you tormented them or shot them rude gestures must have been quite the adventure.
Other than a plethora of pictures, the seller doesn’t tell us much about this Mercury except for the mileage and that it is in “mint condition” and is a “time capsule.” If the pictures are true, then I would agree that the car is in mint condition. It would be wonderful to hear the back story on this car in hopes that it was interesting. I guess that the car was found in a garage, sold for a song, cleaned up, and any mechanical issues were handled before the sale. Just once I would love to hear some fantastic, verifiable story about a low-mileage car.
As for the time capsule part, I dare anyone from this generation not to get nostalgic looking at these pictures. Cars like this were integral to life back in the seventies and eighties. Neighborhoods were full of them, and legions of them were seen daily traveling in a circuit that included a school, a grocery store, and maybe a mall then back home again. As for me? My parents first car purchased together after they got married and I was on the way was a big block Camaro that overheated at a harsh word. My father was the one who wanted a station wagon. Go figure. I did ride back and forth to school with the neighbor kids in a monstrous Ford wagon for a year or so. I don’t think we ever put on seat belts either. While not quite the same, this wagon does dredge up old memories.
Did your parents have a station wagon? Did you buy one when life got serious, and kids were in the picture? Please share your memories in the comments.
Wowzers! The original owners went all in on the options. Vent windows, cornering lamps, leather seating, etc.
My humble opinion is it’s worth every nickel. What else could you buy at that price in such awesome condition.
Tim D.
Totally agree….absolutely top of the line, well optioned. Couldn’t find another one at that price!
Had wagons growing up. Now that I am older, I was able to purchase what I think is the pinnacle of domestic wagons, a Cadillac CTS-V wagon. It has been fantastic. Just wish it had a rear facing jump seat! Ahhh the memories!
Less than half the price of a new BOXCAR yet 100 times more pleasure to drive. I’d be delighted with this beautiful wagon.
I’ve owned 2 of these, but Fords. An 87& a 91. Magnificent vehicles! These got me hooked on the Panther chassis! My daily driver is a 30 year old Town Car, still in great condition as it’s a southern car! Someone from one of my Panther groups on FB will snap this up!
Although not a big fan of station wagons, this is a beauty in the upscale Grand Marquis lineup. So superior to glorified trucks masquerading as Luxury vehicles At astronomical prices and using MORE gas. Electrics? Don’t even go there! 😒
My memories include a 1983 GRAND MARQUIS LS Coupe. Beautiful classic formal styling with plush velvet interior. Have since owned (among others) another GRAND MARQUIS, and current low mileage Town Car Signature Limited, which is the last gasp of traditional American Luxury. FMC made an even bigger mistake in dropping these vehicles than introducing the EDSEL at the Wrong Time. SUVS and crossovers are simply glorified trucks masquerading as Luxury vehicles.
I dove a couple Colony Parks, as people would give them away 20 years ago. People laughed at me for driving one. This particular car’s asking price is ridiculous. The rear quarter mouldings are screwed in, thus damaged; the passenger side dash panel wood tone is pre-’83 as it’s wood tune doesn’t match. The tailgate has had sloppy bodywork done to it. These are ridiculously overpriced. The seller of this is asking it’s weight in gold; seeking a buyer who is sentimental.
It’s worth every cent! You wouldn’t find a nicer example.The new owner will be very happy.
Like you, I also wonder at the backstory of ultra low mileage cars.
Most likely housewife or someone that’s retired, this was the case where I grew up. My mom had a couple of cars that she hardly drove, everything she needed was within a 5 mile radius. My dad didn’t put many miles on his car either, for 25 years the company he worked for designed and manufactured telephone switching equipment in one facility with over 7,000 employees. There were two or three similar sized companies within about 5 miles. There were lots of these low mileage cars everywhere. These companies started moving their manufacturing out of the area in the 1980’s, their engineering/design in the 1990’s and were replaced by the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple, Adobe and others starting in the 2000’s. Some of those cars are still there, but the longtime owners are dying off, as they do, the contents of their garages are hitting the markets.
Steve R
Just out of curiosity, was your father’s employer the old Western Electric on Cermak and Cicero in Chicago?
My Dad wanted a wagon type vehicle but on a truck chassis, so he factory ordered a new 1973 Chevy Suburban…..Lime green with woodgrain.
The 2nd row of seats folded down and he could haul 4×8 sheets of plywood or wood paneling.
The only issue with it was that the body rusted apart in 5 years.
Wagons have always been a step ahead of the rest of the offered fleet. My first was a 1937 Ford woodie second being a 1956 Ford 2 door wagon and now it’s a 1996 Buick Century woodie,the best of them all being the 1956 Ford by far easy to work on better made better looking just a perfect car. I just rented a 2024 GMC Terrain the worest piece of junk I ever drove, at least 10 blind spots rode like buck board,shouldn’t even be allowed on the road as matter of fact any mouse trap with that many buttons and a TV screen in the middle of the dash to distract your attention should be outlawed!! Now you know how I feel about wagons verses SUVs.
Does anyone know if this car has the variable venturi carb? If so, I only will say “AVOID !!!!!!!!!” I had early 1983 Marquis. The most beautiful car ! I bought is from the original owner in 1994 with only 13K on the clock. The reason? That carb never allowed to car to run. After 2 tormenting years with 4 different Mercury mechanics and a ton of $$$$, I had a holley carb installed and it ran like a clock. Miss it but it was NOT worth the headache.
If not, it definitely is worth the $$$$$. Gorgeous car.
Dad always had a station wagon in the driveway. There were five kids in our family. He insisted on a Ford product, as I recall, he said they looked “more formal” than any gm wagon. I remember a red 1971 Ford country squire with the vinyl/wood sides, and later on a 1977 Mercury colony park in a brown bronze color. I also remember using the words from the idiot lights on a paper in elementary school and having to convince my teacher that “alt” is in fact a word. It was lit up right in the dash with the words oil and temp.
The price seems a little steep but probably a bargain if you consider the cost of new car that nobody will look twice at. I’m a big fan of wagons but I preferred the mid-size models like the Taurus and Sable wagons. I currently own a 2007 Dodge Magnum SXT and it’s a nice roomy wagon with decent power and looks pretty sharp. I’ll probably keep it until they plant me. This Mercury would make for a nice daily driver that will make for the perfect road trip car.
Before I got married I never had a car with bucket seats.I had 2 with before the kids came.After that I had I had 2 full size Country Squires and a Merc Marquis. I worked constriction and with the back seat folded down you could fit a 4X8 sheet of plywood flat with the tail gate closed. When we went on trips or really anywhere with the kids we would put down the back seat lay out a 2″ pad, add 2 or 3 blankets and 4 to 6 pillows, a few toys and books and we had a play and nap area for the kids. These cars were easy to drive and very quiet and comfortable to ride in.
Brings up memories of my Yellow 79 Colony Park wagon. . Great family car enjoyed this Lincoln of wagons in that day. I passed it on to one of our daughters when she was a college Senior
We had an ’82 Colony Park we drove until mid 1990’s till it reached 200k and sold it to brother in-law. The kids loved it, could haul a ton of stuff, and it was like riding on a cloud cruising the highway. The old girl has been sitting now for many years on the families 10 acres. The only thing I did was put a timing gears and chain at 110k and rebuild the VV carb once.
My mom had one. We drove it til it fell apart. Took on countless trips to the beaches and mountains of North Carolina, not the mention how many church youth group trip were it was loaded down with children. She still talks about how that was the best car she ever owned.
Simply amazing the way readers (and the OP) come up with plausible background stories when none are provided by the seller. That is exactly what the seller is hoping for, by the way, a potential buyer with a vivid imagination to fill in the gaping holes in the vehicle description.
It will take a lot more than a bucket of tire shine to convince me this car is a low mileage find. Take a look at the interior shots, particularly the door panels, and try to explain the level of wear you see if the car has fewer than 700 miles per year on it. Ridiculous.
@Larry… very professional wording to say, I don’t believe some of these low mileage claims….neither do i.
I wanted to give you 100 likes, but it wouldn’t allow me to do so.
Just a few days ago, there was another Mercury listed (Granada look alike) that was listed as seven thousand actual miles? The first digit of the odometer was sitting up so high it was barely visible looking at the blurry picture provided.
Ford odometers in these model years had numbers that were mechanically locked together. They stayed locked together regardless of age. Tampering with an ice pick causes some of the inconsistencies that we see.
Ford’s numbers weren’t quite as symmetrical as GM’s, but they didn’t move much.
When I see an odometer that looks like a jack-o-lantern’s teeth, I just SMH and laugh.
Last time that I checked, it was illegal to do this sort of thing.
Just my oponion!
For some reason (high survival rate?) Colony Parks show up as the main kid character’s mom’s car in so many contemporary but ’80s-set shows where it feels like something smaller and FWD, or at least a Ford Division or GM wagon would fit better.
The front drivers side seat pretty much tells the story looks super clean.
This or a new Nissan Versa 5 speed manual for the same money? You decide.
As one who worked for over 35 years in an American manufacturing company, what do you think I’d drive?