The Park Lane was the flagship car in Mercury’s full-size lineup during most of the 1960s. This 1966 Park Lane convertible is a running project, with a unique engine/transmission combination. It has a 428 V8 and a 4-speed which would have been the drivetrain choice offered in the S-55, Mercury’s big car performance model. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this muscle car restoration opportunity is available here on eBay where limited bidding stands at only $1,575 with an unmet reserve. Thanks, Larry D, for finding this cool old drop-top for us!

To outdo Chevrolet’s Nomad sport wagon, Ford rolled out a similar one-year wagon called the Parklane in 1956. But it was just a dressed-up version of an existing wagon and missed its target market, so it quickly disappeared. Then Mercury took a crack at using the name as part of their full-size passenger car line, first in 1958-60 and finally 1964-68. The ’68 Park Lane gained a bit of notoriety being the auto that Jack Lord drove in the first Hawaii Five-O series in the late 1960s.

For 1965, the chassis of the full-size Mercury’s were redesigned, and the Park Lane was given a much more slab-sided appearance. That’s what you see in the seller’s 1966 edition, which was little changed after just one year. Out of 38,800 Park Lanes built in ’66, just 2,546 were convertibles like the seller’s car, finished originally in Emberglo paint. First powered by a 410 V8 with an automatic transmission, this car now carries a professionally rebuilt 428 with a 4-speed, the same combination found in the S-55 that year, Mercury’s performance car. Only 669 of those were built as drop-tops.

Perhaps this motor is a real deal “Super Marauder” 428 that was rated at 345 hp from the factory. Which would suggest that the reason for the transplant was to build an S-55 clone or tribute car. It has bucket seats and a console, which would have been part of the S-55 mystique. We’re told the Mercury runs but should be trailered to its next home. The stated mileage is around 5,000, which is more likely 105,000. The body seems decent, but not rust-free, with some visible in at least one rear quarter panel and the piece between the top and trunk lid.

The interior doesn’t look bad, but the upholstery is tired and will need to be redone. As will the canvas top, and part of the console is missing. But the car comes with a ton of parts, including an aftermarket air conditioner which no doubt used to hang under the dashboard of this car. Once restored, as simply a Park Lane or a quasi-S-55, this Park Lane would be seldom seen these days in collector car circles. Unless you went to a Mercury-centric event.