1965 Mercury Parklane Marauder Hardtop
This 1965 Mercury Parklane Marauder allows you to enjoy a trip back in time, as you travel down the forever winding PCH, (Pacific Coast Highway). Presenting nearly as it was assembled, this survivor Mercury is ready to be enjoyed all the while treating it’s passengers to a glimpse of what things really were like back in good ole 1965. An important item of note is as this is a good working example, but does suffer from invasive rust in the frame, but more on that later. A muscle car in a red tuxedo if you will, showing 43,000 title verified actual miles on the odometer.
Exterior
Red, Red, Cardinal Red that is, in good condition is the paint color for this hardtop Parklane, which presents with some chipping, fading and a few minor rust bubbles down low behind the rear tires. This finish does retain a nice shine and is a color change from the original Jamaican Yellow and Onyx. The brite work and chrome bumpers are all there, correct badging and even the stainless trim rocker spears and wheel lip moldings are present and accounted for. All exterior lighting is in very nice original condition. The slab steel sides, started this year, present well with faux vents leading the way on the front quarters and a Parklane badge bringing up the tail end of the rear quarters. I really dig the groovy mirrored cathedral tail lights with their chrome divider bars mounted at the very end of each rear quarter panel. The cavernous trunk displays with its original Jamaican Yellow finish and there is enough room for this to be considered a good sized New York City apartment. Finishing off the outside are 15-inch steel wheels with standard turbine Mercury covers all wrapped in almost new thin whitewall radial rubber.
Interior
Original black upholstery is seen throughout the passenger compartment, as well as the carpet which is a low cut pile with nearly no fading and some minor soiling A split back bench upfront, and a bench across the rear are all in beautiful crinkle black vinyl with various tuck and roll stitching in vertical and horizontal patterns and finished off with decorative emblems in the backs. In the center of the rear sprawling bench seat is a fold down armrest. The black leatherette wrapped 2 spoke steering wheel fronts the factory gauges in their black and brushed aluminum ribbed housing. A heater and defroster is an option this car has along with an AM radio and a thin band of dark wood applique dresses the bottom of the dash. The door panels, in well padded black vinyl, houses the chrome window cranks and even more cranks for the wing windows as well as a huge applique insert dressed with stainless trim, luxury at its finest! Rounding out the interior is a crack free padded dash topper.
Drivetrain
A lift of the massive hood reveals the original 390 cubic inch V8 gracing the engine bay, and a 4-barrel carburetor is perched on top. The bay shows with some patina on various surfaces but the big V8 shines gloriously in all its orange/red painted splendor among all the supple hoses and wires. Bolted to the back of this mill is a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive which sends power way back to a 3.25 conventional geared Ford 9″ rear axle.
Undercarriage
The basement…or undercarriage, shows patinaed underpinnings, surface rusted dual exhaust and a fairly drip free oil pan and transmission. The frame and flooring present with the factory undercoating and a smattering of surface rust on the usual suspects. We note the frame side rails have been heavily plated covering what is believed to be invasive rust and on the driver’s frame kick up over the axle shows with heavy invasive rust for the frame. The suspension is independent coil spring suspension up front and a 3 link and coil springs on the rear, just the way the engineers designed it. Drum brakes are all around, and this car is now manual steering equipped, but our consignor has all the original power steering parts to include with your purchase.
Drive-Ability
As we hop off the lift, and into this car we are in black interior bliss. Just beautifully done and comfortable. Turn the key and we are lit and ready to pull down on the dainty 60’s design column shifter. This car cruises nicely, turns well and has easy steering, has good acceleration, and was a nice ride in the late summer sun with the windows down. All looking aces for our test drive with all functions well.functioning.
Overall, this car presents nicely, and mechanically is sound, but is in need of some repairs or patchwork on the frame. It is a reliable car with a nifty engine that through the years has stayed very proper and fairly original. Join the collector car crowd with this Mercury and show your neighbors and the world that “Mercury speaks quietly of your good taste”.
5Z67Z573267
5-1965
Z-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
67-Parklane 2 Door Hardtop Fastback
Z-390ci 4bbl V8
573267-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 63F-Parklane Marauder 2 Door Hardtop Fastback
COLOR 8A-Jamaican Yellow & Onyx
TRIM 46-Black Vinyl
DATE 27D-April 27th
DSO 17-Washington
AXLE 4-Ford 9″ 3.25 Conventional
TRANS 2-3 Speed Manual W/Overdrive
Price: $12,900
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