The Park Lane joined the Mercury lineup in 1958 as a top-tier model, offering a comparable amount of luxury as the Ford Thunderbird. The car was available with two or four doors, with this 1960 Park Lane here on Facebook Marketplace being a more desirable two-door model. This one’s said to have been stored inside a garage for more than half a century, so it’s going to need a thorough going-over. However, everything seems solid, and the Mercury is pretty much complete, making the asking price of $10,000 sound like a reasonable starting point. This one’s located in Apple Valley, California, and we’d like to thank reader T.J. for the tip here!
Other than the seller telling us how long the Park Lane has been inactive, we don’t get a whole lot of additional information, such as past ownership details or whether it’s always been a California vehicle. However, it’s plausible that this one may have been here or in a similarly favorable climate for most of the time, as the sheet metal seems to remain solid all the way around. The paint is far from perfect, but underneath the finish appears to be a straight body that likely won’t take too much effort to prep for a respray.
Many cars from this era offered several different choices when it came to engine size, but with the Park Lane, everybody got the same measurement, which was a Ford 430 cubic-inch V8. However, first-year customers had the option of checking the Super Marauder box, which upped horsepower from the base 360 to 400. It was discontinued the following year, with the standard engine down to 345 HP, then another decrease in output to 310 for 1960. The owner doesn’t mention much specifically about the motor, but he does indicate that the fuel system needs to be gone through, along with the brakes, plus checking all fluid levels. With more than 50 years of inactivity, it may require a bit more than that and perhaps some refreshing of the transmission as well.
Most of the inside area looks about as well-preserved as outside, or maybe even a little better overall. If it’s just a driver you’re after, the interior might be close to satisfactory as-is, other than that cracked and warbled dash top. With the condition of the seats combined with the amount of time this one’s been off the road, I’d think there’s a good chance the listed mileage of 49,930 could be actual, and though this 1960 Mercury Park Lane needs some attention, I’m seeing the potential for a worthwhile and rewarding project here. How about you?
Looks like a worthwhile project. This has to be pretty rare these days, I found 2 sources that state only 2,974 of this model were manufactured for 1960!
Agree w Todd J. Always loved the ParkLane model. Thanks for the article Stephens.
The ad reads that it isn’t running. If there is anything seriously wrong with the engine or transmission the risk is all on the potential buyer, which isn’t reflected in the asking price. I’d also expect the seller to have the title in his name since the last inspection tag is from Utah and the car is now in California, that’s a potential headache the seller needs to deal with. I have a hunch this is one of those cars on Facebook Marketplace that will eventually show the listing is months old.
Steve R
Beautiful car, good luck finding parts if/when needed.
Some Merc engine parts are very difficult to find. Hopefully this car has the more common 368, not the 430. Can’t really tell from the ad as the air cleaner isn’t stock.
It’s the 430 version of the MEL engine family. An easy way to ID these engines from a glance is the fuel pump up high, front and center, on the engine.
Starting in 58 these engines were made in four sizes, 383, 410, 430 and 462. MEL stands for Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln and were available only in these cars, with one exception being the square bird version of the T-Birds receiving the 430 beginning in 58.
The MEL engines were engineered similar to the Chevy W 348, 409 and the Z-11 427 with the combustion chamber not in the head, but machined into the cylinder.
57 was the last year of the 368. The 430 was the only engine available in the 60 Parklane.
The 368 would have two studs through each valve cover ’cause it was a Y-block engine, not an MEL.
I love it! If I only had a barn big enough to park it in. But I think priced a little high. Not a popular year for a Merc. I would be in at $5000. And I hope one would never need to find another rear glass for this puppy.
“warbled dash top” A new descriptive for a damaged dash, no?! :-)
Another rare one. $10,000. If the engine isn’t seized? It could be a bargain, considering the MOPAR guys are asking more for rotted out carcasses of what used to be Dodge Chargers.
One of the RARE Park Lane two doors belonged to friends of my parents. In white over blue it mirrored the colors of their previous DeSoto Fireflite and was constantly bringing attention. This one year design was IMO exquisite. The main problem was the huge rear windshield causing interior temperatures to rise in the back seat. Air Conditioning served the front seat well. American engineering provided a sort of venetian blind. I’ve never seen another. This Park Lane is a Bon Marche, even at the buy now price. Someone is going to be VERY fortunate. BUT, PLEASE give it the TLC befitting a Classic.
I remember these. My 4th grade teacher had a light blue one, the cantankerous hag (the teacher, not the car).
If Hawaii Five O came out this year, I wonder if McGarrett would have chosen this for his ride?
These looked customized right from the factory. What a cool car!