Gor-geous. The second-generation Park Lane was a stunner and this gorgeous, rust-free, dent-free, and ding-free 1966 Mercury Park Lane is the nicest one that I have ever seen, hands down. This thing looks like a jewel box. It’s posted on Craigslist in Parrottsville, Tennessee, about 60 miles east of Knoxville. Hmm… I’ll be in that area in a couple of weeks… The seller is asking $11,200 or best offer for this beauty. Thanks to the indomitable Pat L. for submitting yet another mind-blower!
A few of you may remember that I experimented with owning a 1966 Lincoln Continental Coupe a year ago, give or take a few months. This car reminds me somewhat of that Lincoln other than this Park Lane is most likely really nice in person, it doesn’t just look good in photos like my Lincoln did but it was horribly needy overall. I was so glad to sell it even though I lost $3,000 on it after putting much more than that into it for deferred maintenance items.
Back to this Merc. Believe it or not, this car was a barn find! The seller says that this “car was found in a barn in Eastern Virginia, taken out and cleaned up, and that’s what you see here.” One caveat, they say that it does have recent paint, so it wasn’t really just cleaned up, it has been repainted.
The interior reminds me of my ’66 Lincoln a lot, Ford must have shared interior designers between their divisions. The detailing across the dash looks very similar to what my car had. This car looks like it’s loaded which a Park Lane should be. It “has the original leather interior, automatic with console shift, power windows, and seat, AM FM radio”.
Now that’s a nice looking engine. This is Ford’s 410 cubic-inch Marauder V8 which would have had 330 hp and 444 lb-ft of torque. Yes, that should spin the back tires nicely. “The transmission shifts smoothly, there are no squeaks rattle shimmies or shakes, the car doesn’t smoke knock tick or leak.” Hagerty is as $12,300 for a #2 excellent car and this one may not be far from that. What are your thoughts on this beauty of a Park Lane?
It’s a looker . Surprised it’s not an AC car
AC not that common in mid 60s cars, even medium priced ones.
The 1966 Mercury with bucket seats was the S55 model that came with a 428 engine. As a Lincoln Mercury dealer from 1954-1975 I am familiar with the Mercury. Just saying something is amiss here.
Hey RD. Im currently working on a 1966 S55 with the 428 Super Merauder. Having a hard time findind parts. Any suggestions?
Bucket seats and console were standard on the S55, and optional on Park Lane 2-door hardtops and convertibles.
Bucket seats and console were standard on the S55, optional on Park Lane 2-door hardtops and convertibles.
Seller is asking $11,200, probably means that they will take $10,500 for it. Very nice car!
What the others said…
Wow. Not a Ford fan but…..
This is spectacular !
I would love to own it.
Because Del already called this “spectacular”; please be VERY wary of that paint job. It’s no better than any Earl Scheib going by the white lathered over the hinge jambs. Even the engine compartment wiring seen a white cloud. Looking at *just* that they probably should have let the paint alone – these are very murky waters.
This car cries out for a set of narrow white wall tires! And, I think that I’d mount them on a set of Ford Magnums! :-)
White walls or sport raised white lettering.
Wow .my dad had one he would take us out once a week to ” blow the cobs out “.it had a 410…gotta love the 60’s..120mph no seatbelts and 5years old.😎
Very nice example. The price seems fair given how hard it would be to find another one in the same condition. If you’re in the market for one this should be it.
As Alan Jackson sang, I’m crazy about a Mercy.
Steve Miller Bands cover was better!
David Lindley’s version of Crazy ‘Bout a Mercury is the go-to for me. Steady, driving beat that never quits. It was the first song I played in every new company car I got for 20+ years (new rides twice a year), even though they were mostly Fords or Lincolns.
This Park Lane is a beauty, and well worth the price it is actually as cherry as the pictures make it look.
Is it normal that the rocker panel plate says “Ford”?
Yes. Ford Motor Company product.
Love it. Grew up with these in our family dealership.
A friends dad had one. He was a big man 6’10 400 pounder. The car barely dropped when he got in. And yup he would burn a set of tires off by fall because he could. Nice car but it smelled like A$$ when he sold it.
Nice car, but the reason the leather has held up so well is that it is vinyl. Leather was not available on Mercury line in 1966. I sure wish sellers would stop calling any non-cloth interior leather.
I grew up with and learned to drive in a 66 Mercury Montclair four door sedan.Palisades turquoise with turquoise interior.
Sold at Bonneville Motors in Tooele UT, March of 66. First car I ever waxed. With Turtle Wax. And at 10 it was a massive undertaking.
My first love, automotive wise.
Fantastic ride, quieter than my Aunt’s 70 LTD. Set the template for the type of ride and quiet I wanted in my own car.
Scotty: the similarities with the Lincoln were intentional. After taking Mercury into the “low price field” in 61 Ford started to expand Mercury’s reach up into medium price territory again.
The 65-66s were advertised as being “In The Lincoln Continental Tradition”.
And no, the tail lights weren’t stolen from Pontiac [as I’ve seen claimed] , but from the Continental MK II and 61 Lincoln as well as other Lincoln tricks.
That’s nothing new as the details, especially the rear ends of the 61, 63 and 64 Mercurys used a lot of 58-60 Lincoln styling cues.
Leather was available and only on Park Lane 2 and 4 door hardtops with bench seats according to the brochure. And only in burgundy. Go figure the odd selection.
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1966_Mercury/1966_Mercury_Full_Size_Brochure/1966%20Mercury%20Full%20Size-32-33.html
Beautiful car. Shame about the stupid useless console taking up all that fantastic room. I’ve grown to despise them over the years.
And the seller did the right thing in photographing the car with all the windows rolled down. Hardtops look best that way. It’s a sales opportunity that many miss.
Check the rear fenders for rust. Ours were showing tinworm at 4 years old and I honed my bondo skills on this car. Thanks, Dad for not complaining.
Missing trim on the trunk BTW: Mercury script and medallion above the trunk lock.
Scotty,
Missed the story on your Lincoln Coupe, 1966-7 coupes are among my favorites. Saw this one at the Street Rod Nats in Louisville in 2017. This Merc has the AM/FM radio, tilt column, and the rare safety convenience panel that included power door locks (vacuum), door ajar and low fuel warning lights, four way flasher switch, and seat belt reminder. I loved this dash so much I transplanted it to my ’66Galaxie, but I used the black face/white numeral ’65 gauges.
Love this generation of Park Lanes, absolutely beautiful. Some of the interior reminds me of my 66 Galaxie 500XL convertible I sold early last year. And that engine is a torque monster! My grandparents had one from this year. My grandfather would slowly drive up the freeway on-ramp, then slam that pedal to the floor as we got on the road! We’d both be giggling at the power setting you back in your seat. Loved it! Great memories.
These are one of my favorite Coupes along with Lincolns of the same year/model, someone should jump on this Merc. I have no room.
Nice looking car, but it looks like the front bumper is tweaked pretty good on the passenger side below the turn signal.