“This 1978 Marquis combines the high degree of luxury you expect from a Mercury with the practicality and space of a full-sized wagon.” So says a 1978 Mercury Marquis brochure showing its models, including the ultra-luxury Marquis Colony Park wagon. The seller has this one posted here on craigslist in West Islip, New York and they’re asking $15,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
The brochure goes on to add, “The Colony Park Option adds a luxury dimension with its distinctive full-length simulated rosewood applique bodyside paneling.” This is what most of us think of when we think of the top luxury wagon from the 1970s and 80s. I know, it’s just 3M Di-Noc woodgrain stickers, basically, but there’s something cool about it, especially when it’s on a car like a Marquis.
This car looks great in the photos, I mean, condition-wise. I know some folks don’t care for a giant, 19-foot long, 10-mpg fake woodgrain station wagon. The fifth-generation Colony Park was made for model years 1969 through 1978 with a major design change coming in 1973 when 5-mph bumpers were required. This is a nine or even 10-passenger wagon, but you could fit 20 people in there if you tried.
As expected, power features abound inside this behemoth, as does the suicide knob on the steering wheel. I didn’t expect to see one of those here, but a “deluxe steering wheel” is one of the standard features of the Colony Park. I don’t see a flaw inside or out and the seller says this car is in excellent condition with 75,000 miles, it has its original parts, and has been kept in a garage.
Even with 19 photos in the listing, the seller didn’t pop the hood and show us the 460-cu.in. OHV V8. But that’s usually the case with craigslist ads even in the era of everyone having a camera (phone) in their pocket at all times. It has 197 horsepower and 393 lb-ft of torque and it sends power to a three-speed automatic to the rear wheels. There is a lot of room in this thing, even in the rear cargo area with seats that fold into the floor. Any thoughts on this luxury longroof?
I like it. .Excellent condition. Reasonable price. A good buy in my opinion. 👍👍
Only criticism, a “squirrel knob” on the steering wheel? Thought those went out by 1959! Musta been owned by an old dude that enjoyed tossing the kids around in those facing rear seats. Nicely kept road barge and be awesome to take a cruise in it.
Lower it, old school Cragar S/S wheels, and a nice, medium loud dual exhaust. Perfect.
I wish I could buy it. Beautiful car, big block, what’s not to love?
I like it. I don’t want it, but I do like it.
And yes, as I expected, you can buy various versions of the “suicide knob” on ebay, though their preferred title seems to be “spinner knob.”
I’ve heard of them called a necker knob. Probably on a tractor where you might be craning around to get a better view.
I read they were called necker’s knobs because your right arm was free to put around your date on that 50’s bench seat. And no father would let a daughter out with a guy who had one.
Yup Bob, spinner knob sounds almost dignified, guess squirrel knob went out with rolling a pack of cigarettes up in your T shirt sleeve. Kind of old school along with my flathead n 6 volt ford ragtop.
I still roll my cigs in my sleeve on a rare occasion. Used to do it a lot, and I’m only 54!
We used to call those gadgets “Necker Knobs”. For the youngsters out there, I will explain. You rode down the road with your right arm around your girlfriend, who was snuggled next to you on that big bench seat, while steering that barge with the left hand using the Necker Knob, courtesy of the way over-boosted power steering that allowed you to turn the steering wheel with just one (1) finger, LOL! Bucket seats are better? Not always, bunkie!
Great looking Merc. Love the wood tone and the clean interior. Just like a lot of cars from this era. Loaded up but missing cruise and probably tilt which wasn’t as common on Fords anyway.
This car, while very nice, suffers from the malaise that was present in most cars by the late 70s. Due to emissions controls strangling it, this engine could miraculously guzzle gas and even as big as it is, fail to get out of its own way at the same time. “Could pass everything but a gas station”? No, a gas station could pass it..
Love it! Just the same, I’ll take the Uncle Buck edition. That’ll be a hit at the car shows
True. Fortunately, modern microelectronics have a fix for that, LOL! Some port work on the heads, with aftermarket electronic ignition and fuel injection can give you the best of all worlds: more power, better mileage and lower emissions, all at the same! Don’t forget to uncork the exhaust at the same time! A freer breathing intake is not nearly as effective without a low-restriction exhaust to vent the spent gases overboard. Headers and a dual exhaust along with the aforementioned mods to the intake will go a long way towards waking this barge up!
Love the Ford and Merc wagons. Although I like mine ‘out of the crate’.
I also have a soft spot for station wagons, but I prefer the simpler, cleaner nose on the Ford versions to the rather busy, baroque styling of their upscale Mercury sisters. The phony Mercedes grille, with the hood ornament and “busy” front bumper, with all of the folds and creases in it, leaves me cold. Ditto the hideaway headlights with the badges on the headlight doors. I’m not against the doors themselves, just the badges, with their ersatz luxury vibe.
Fred C. Dobbs: “If you’re Federales, where are your badges?”
Gold Hat: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” – “Treasure of Sierra Madre” (1949)
I had this exact color combo 77 colony park with the 460. Great road car, pulled a travel trailer with such ease you didn’t even know it was back there. I had the factory 8 track player and the rear seats that folded into floor and a factory little table with magnetic checkerboard that went with the rear seat assembly. Sold it in 2003. Wonderful cars. Last of the big wagon highway queens before they went small in 1980.
Those steering wheel knows were illegal in Jersey if I remember. Pep Boys sold them as well as J.C.Whitney.
* knobs
“This was back when cars were made outta STEEL!” – Jay Leno. These were the last of a dying breed, with a big-block V8 sitting on a full ladder frame, they could put the cargo capacity of some pickup trucks to shame! The power split bench seats are a plus, as they allow the driver and front seat passenger to adjust the seats independently. Leave it bone stock, or restomod the hell out of it, either way, it’s a winner! I’d do something to fix those awful, power-robbing emission controls, but otherwise, leave it bone stock. However, if you’re of the restomod persuasion, Ford Performance makes a 572 big-block crate motor good for over 600 hp! Just Sayin’.
I had a 78 Grand Marquis Coupe. Fabulous! Last of the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHTS. Favorite memory is being stopped at a light with new SAAB owner looking with disdain at my big boat. When light changed, I left him in my exhaust fumes. A great SAAB 😉 story! Like other vehicles I have owned, It’s HUGE, it guzzles gas, it pollutes the air, and other vehicles separate like the Red 🌊 Sea to get out of the way! I love ❤ it!
Sam Stone: “Harvey, will you be good to yourself and use your car? Will you take a look at this? 6,000 pounds of solid comfort. It takes up space, it pollutes the atmosphere, it scares the birds, f*** ’em. I love it!” “Serial” (1980), starring Martin Mull and Bill Macy as Sam Stone. Bill Macy is best known as Maude’s husband on Maude (1972-78), the Norman Lear spinoff from “All In the Family”. Maude first appeared as Edith’s cousin in two (2) episodes of All In the Family: Season 2, Episode 12, “Cousin Maude’s Visit”; and Season 2, Episode 24, “Maude”.
These have a certain loveliness — but I am NOT fond of either that 8-track or the gas-guzzling. I have sometimes wished that my 1988 Grand Marquis (with 370,000 never-needed-a-rebuild miles) were the Colony Park Wagon version — particularly when I’ve needed to haul something that could not be shoe-horned into the rear seat. But 1986-1989, please: that way, I get 150 h.p., gas shocks, and fuel injection, but don’t have to deal with air-bags or computers which run everything and cost you $2,000+ when they fail. By 1986, they’d mastered pollution-control, so you got smoother running, higher horsepower, and better gas-mileage. I use a car daily — and parking spaces barely fit my ’88, let alone one of these pre-downsize 1970s behemoths. The only objection to my Mercury is…TOO LOW! I have to climb down into it, and climb back up out of it — which is fine when you’re 45 or 50, but rather a chore when you are twice that age! Besides, in the old days, a truck would blind your forward vision; but now, in this car, half and more of the vehicles on the road block my forward view! The side windows of a typical S.U.V. are about at roof-level on my car! Jus’ SAYin’…
Another thing you should notice is that your Mercury (Panther series) has a perimeter frame (just slightly downsized from the ’78 version) meaning the seats are further inboard as well as low making good knees and hips all the more important! 😀
Billyray: thank you for this valuable information! So… as much as I love the Panther cars; OWNING one is directly leading to my increasing disability in getting into and out of it! Any way to get the long-term reliability and economical operation of a Panther, without spending more than a Panther typically costs? (Jes’ WONDERin’)