Look what Matt Williams found us this time! It’s big and red and comes with a cherry on top, or a gumball machine as some would say. And then there’s the patina, plus it’s smaller than a fire engine. Perhaps the best part is it’s a nice running car from the 1960s and reasonably priced at only $3,995. Thanks, Matt! Oops, it must have been a great deal, it’s already gone! It was listed on eBay in Ardmore, Oklahoma and described as a blast to drive.
Check out these seats. The chief lives in luxury. It looks to be in usable shape as is.
The interior is really nice. The dash pad is badly cracked but the CB radio is included. There’s no word on whether it works. I wonder what the chief’s handle was.
There’s a 410 V8 in there somewhere. It’s messy under the hood, but it looks like it’s all there. If the AC works, you’ll be ready to drive.
We joke about cars looking painted with a brush, but this time there’s no doubt. I wonder if it was house paint.
This end certainly looks shiny red. This car has everything. Even the back glass rolls down, perhaps to let the smoke roll through. The new owner is going to have fun with his fire red ride. It would be interesting to know what the buyer has planned for it. Some love the patina, but fresh paint would also be nice.
Sounds like it was “patina’d” to look like an ex-fire car.
WHY? I think it’d be cooler without the added stuff.
I’d love to have something like this done up as a “relic” highway patrol car—maybe a ‘67 Ford Custom 4-door. If it’s a decent driver with a passable interior, why not? It’s still being preserved either way.
Things were removed, too. Park Lane Brougham would have had full wheel covers .
From the ebay listing: “THE LETTING WAS ALL ADDED TO THE ORINAL PATINA PAINT AND WAS COMPLETELY PREPPED AND CLEAR COATED BUMPER TO BUMPER TO SEAL IN THE LOOK, BUT COULD BE REMOVED, OR CHANGED IF NEED BE.”
So yeah.
Interesting– seller addresses paint “patina” as being new. In many states red lights to the front are emergency vehicles only: the top light and the red lights in the grill are not mentioned as being later add-ons. Original to the car or also part of the matchbook replica treatment?
I had the exact same, right down to the color…but it was a Matchbox diecast. It even had the cherry on top!
Perhaps the Matchbox version was the inspiration for the above example, Blueprint?
Methinks angliagt is correct.
The 410 is a pretty cool engine. Basically a FE 390 with a 428 crank.
My dad had a Parklane with the 410. I managed to break a motor mount in (ahem) “demonstrating performance” one summer night and the air cleaner bolt went through the hood. It did have the power, though.
I broke a motor-mount in a
68 Ford 390-2V trying to squeeze into traffic.
While power-braking for a
stop-light launch, I twisted
the flex-plate, shearing-off
several ring-gear teeth.
Starter-engagement became
a crap-shoot…
It looks like somebody grabbed it. Does anyone know why it would be wearing ’71 license plates? Just curious.
Neat car! I’d preserve it and drive it just the way it is!
My first reaction was the car and especially interior is way too luxurious for a fire car, and sure enough, the lettering was added. They did a good job of making it look realistic.
Never underestimate the fire department!
Our town’s two fire department cars are both
Fire Engine Red hemi Charger R/T s.
Explain that one in 2068!
Now there’s an FE nobody ever mentions, the 410. A 390 with a longer stroke, friend of mine had one years ago, said it made lots of low enough torque but that was it. The 428 used this same longer stroke combined with the bore size of the old 406, better engine all around.
The whole Fire Marshall Bill thing is kinda of interesting, but I couldn’t handle driving around with that big cherry on the roof, that’s just too much.😊
My dad had a 66 2 door with a 410.once a week as a kid we would go out and ” blow the cobs out of it.😂
It was rust colored with white hard top. Neighbor had same exact car..would have been a hoot to race em
I always wondered if fire chiefs could pick the car they wanted. While police usually had the same cars, fire chief’s had all kinds. I’ve never seen a Mercury. Someone got a good deal, probably low mileage and police specs. Where’s the siren? And btw, I’m sure the guy’s handle (code name) was,,,”The Chief”.
Oh, one more thing, I never knew the “breezeway rear window” was made in this non-reverse slant setup. Apparently, it only went down 2 inches.
Lovely looking 67 Mercury.
There’s a ‘68 Park Lane fastback with a 428 not far from where I live. If I had the money and a place to work on it it would be mine.
https://www.affordableclassicsandrv.com/inventory/view/9627952/1968-MERCURY-PARKLANE-FASTBACK-90%2C000-ORIGINAL-MILES-PAHRUMP-NV
Thursday, 4:30 PM sold. Was a beautiful car back then.
Perfect for Fire Commissioner Steve McGarrett….