Talk about wow factor! I have been on a station wagon sojourn of sorts lately and this 1957 Mercury Colony Park may be the best of the best. It’s not just its spectacular condition that is so remarkable, but it’s the over-the-top fifties styling combined with the four-door hardtop body style that makes such a commanding presence. This nine-passenger beauty is located in Oakland, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,200 with eighteen bids tendered so far.
Introduced in ’57, the Colony Park had two other siblings including the Voyager and the Commuter. The common factor among all three is the hardtop greenhouse design. Even the Commuter’s two-door body style was so adorned. Colony Park’s total estimated production for ’57 was a bit over 7,000 copies.
As the seller states, this one’s a “real looker”. It presents perfectly though there is mention of a small driver’s side dent in the fender. Yeah, it’s there but barely. It’s not stated if the Tuxedo Black finish is original but it is deep and rich. The faux-wood trim, stainless moldings, and chrome bits are equally splendid. One new feature for Mercury wagons in ’57 was a retractable rear window as opposed to having the more traditional lift-up variety. The sole departure from stock are the chromed wheels replete with moon hubcaps – they’re a subjective matter of preference I suppose. If you want to see more, check out this walkaround video.
The color-coordinated interior is as equally smart as the exterior. This is a nine-seater and from what can be seen nothing is out of order. All three seats, and the headliner, appear as perfect and I don’t see the front seat reflecting 82K miles of use. While the oh-so-fifties dash and instrument panel aren’t perfect, they’re not far from it – the dash padding actually looks new. Of note is the original radio and the push button actuated automatic transmission selector, left of the steering wheel.
Under the reverse opening hood is a 255 gross HP, 312 CI V8 engine tethered to a Merc-O-Matic automatic transmission. The seller says that it’s a cruiser and it “fires up and runs“. It shows as being basically original with a replacement water pump and voltage regulator. Nothing seems out of place though I question the two-tone yellow and green paint job. Perhaps one of our Mercury aficionados can shed some light on that authenticity. This video shows the Merc being put through some paces.
As stated at the outset, this is one of the finest station wagons that I have reviewed, it really needs nothing. And at no reserve, someone is going to end up with a spectacular slice of ’50s American suburban motoring, wouldn’t you agree?
I think that a car this original looking should have original hub caps. I like baby moons, but not on this car.
Goodness thats drop dead gorgeous, the fact that it doesnt have a post is even better. Good luck and happy motoring,
Cheers
GPC
I’d pull those caps off and plant ’58 Edsel hubcaps on there. One of the best of the era and they look good on everything. This is a very tempting car…
Beats any and all 57 Chevy’s.
Well, not mine, at least to me. 57 Chevies are in a place of their own. This is a remarkable car though and I can see how you would have that opinion.
I’ll take the Hornet, pass in the tarted up Ford.
Serious party boat!
Had one 5 years ago, lost $2,000, when I sold it, it’s a great looking 50’s car but no resale value, you will pay more when you get it and a lot less when you sell it, GOOD LUCK
This car needs professionally restored. It has not been. Survivor is not even the word for this car. It has been corrupted to a large degree. Too much is not original. I would not be interested. This is so far from the showroom it’s needs a total restoration back to what Mercury intended. Museum quality and this car are two different things.
This has all the earmarks of long/wet storage. Most of the diecast has significant pitting, rust holes underneath (rockers, lower rear qtr.).
I still haven’t figured how the rear bumper got the upward dent on the driver side or how the front of the left rocker does not line up with the fender.
The alignment of the body on the driver side (doors-to-body, front of rocker panel) looks hincky. Aligning all those panels is a pain on ’57-’60 Mercs because you actually have to shim the body-to-frame mounts to get them right. When Ford removed the B pillar on this era Merc 4-doors for the hardtop look, they did not provide adequate strength to compensate, shop manual has the long drawn-out procedure.
The chassis shots seem to show the old tires. At least they could have cleaned up the tire machine marks on the new ones before they put them on the car.
I love ’57 Mercs, especially wagons, but this one not so much.
you did not post my previous coment, sorry I am though, I followed your rules also, bye bye
Your comment ended up in the spam filter but I have no idea why. Released now.
JO
I like this car a lot but that windshield wiper switch knob would have to go. I can understand the right one being hard to locate but surely they could found something that doesn’t look so out of place.
It has an electric wiper conversion installed, that’s why the wiper park positioning is also off. Original wiper knob does not work with modern electric switch. Better to deal with the wrong knob than trying to drive in the rain with un-boosted vacuum wipers.
A message to all the nitpickers…what a beautiful car!
sharp car except for 1 of the ugliest dashboards of that era….imho
Definitely a cool car, but the wheel/tire combo doesn’t work. The wide whites with the chrome wheels makes it appear as if the car has giant-sized whitewalls. Original wheel covers, small dog dish type caps on black wheels, or even some original Torque Thrust type wheels would all work. Too bad they didn’t make a Turnpike Cruiser wagon, that would be awesome, especially with those Jetson’s style air vents at the top corners of the roof. Awesome car!!!
I agree i sold my 58 turnpike two years ago great car had ledd than 70.000 miles
Wow a Massachusetts car in California what a reversal
Look at the patch work on the floors. A pig with lipstick on it. Buyer beware…..
Hopefully, the seller reads all the negative comments about his car, and will drop his price in half. Then, I’ll step in. Thanks!
Anyone else notice the manual steering and brakes on a CP?
…all the negative comments, and this baby is already pushing $30,000…
I restored a 1958 Edsel wagon a few years back, this Merc needs a ton more work and lots of money, the bid is already over $26 K, which is more than the car is worth restored, and this is not restored…..best of luck, you’re going to need it