Vehicle Description
1965 Mercury Parklane Convertible
"Mercury's most elegant. All four Park Lane,(sic), models enter
1965 in a grand manner, now in the Lincoln Continental tradition of
outstanding ride, comfort, convenience and styling. Classic lines
and functional beauty are further enhanced by Park Lane trim and
identification. From any view, the Park Lane is sure to be just as
much an eye catcher parked in your driveway as it would be at a
distinguished resort." From the 1965 Mercury brochure.
For consignment, a1965 Mercury Park Lane with a title verified
114,832 actual miles. Owned by the same family since 1965 after it
served as an executive demo car, this Mercury remains in mostly
original condition, never driven in winter, and fitted with disc
brakes when it made the move from relatively flat Illinois to
somewhat hilly Pennsylvania.
Exterior
There's definitely some family resemblance in the face of the car
which gives off Lincoln vibes with its decidedly square proportions
and upright grille flanked by four circular headlights. The fenders
are capped in the front with marker lights, a design we would see
in later Cadillacs, while the rear tail lights present as handsome
two part silo shaped lenses that mirror each other and act as
bookends to the straight bumper and decklid ribbed trim at the end
of a long trunk. Straight lines define the profile here, the
highlight of which is the fantastic straked ornamentation on the
front fender, giving the brick shaped car some artistic visual
motion. 15-inch wheels are covered and wear 205/75R15 tires with a
late 2023 date code. The single stage Carnival Red paint is
generally weathered and faded and imperfections include some rust
by the rocker panel trim, bubbling there and at wheel openings, and
we note some discoloration to the white canvas top which also has a
tear, and some rust bubbles at the base of the top.
Interior
Mercury touted the wood toned inset, rich moldings, and distinctive
Park Lane crest on the door panels. It's all here, a bit aged, but
fully intact. It's not hard to imagine the white vinyl split bench
seats as new and what a feast for the eyes they were. Today, some
discoloration and compression demonstrate their age, front and
back, and the sidewalls in back would also benefit from a deep
cleaning. The red steering wheel has gold accents and patina on the
horn ring and leaves clear viewing through its wide opening to the
ribbed aluminum face of the instrument cluster ahead. A simple
array of round gauges greets the driver and an integrated AM/FM
radio is to the right along with the fan levers. Labeled indicator
lights live in a small panel under the dash while further down, red
carpet on the open floor shows some a touch of age and use but is
presentable as is. There are red mats lining the large trunk which
also houses a spare, in relatively clean condition.
Drivetrain
If you're going to push a square car through the wind, you'll need
some power and under the hood we find a 390ci V8 is driver
condition, rated at 300 horsepower. A 4-barrel carburetor feeds the
fuel and a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission routes
power to the Ford 9" rear with 3.00 gears. Power disc brakes
replace the drums front and back for confident stopping and the
booster under the hood looks newer compared to the rest of the
components. Electronic ignition has been added for assured
starts.
Undercarriage
Driver quality here with definite patina in the form of surface
rust, peeling paint on the frame, residual oil on the pans, and
some grime build up on the knuckles and on the rear differential.
Nothing is out of place, just aged and showing it. Dual exhaust
runs through stock style mufflers before terminating in the back
before getting to the bumper. Suspension consists of coil springs
in front and a 3 link with coil springs in back.
Drive-Ability
The newer ignition results in a quick starter, and we roll this big
cruiser out onto the test loop where the 390, its4-barrel, and free
breathing exhaust provide good power for some straight line
runs.It's soft ride and wide stance is indeed Lincoln like and
turn-ins result in some expected roll but not enough to rip you
from the soft bench seat. We note some exhaust leak noise and some
non functioning items to include the passenger's power windows and
the power wing windows. All other operational items on board
function as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
Great bones here, but even if you have no plans to restore it, it's
a grand car as is and can be driven and enjoyed with some abandon.
The '65 brochure is replete with images of the Mercury line in
exclusively luxurious settings. Country clubs, the marina, a ski
resort, even a jazz festival. The message? These cars were amongst
the finest things in life and to be enjoyed in a relaxed and
upscale environment. This Continental cousin delivers!
5W65Z529493
5-1965
W-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
65-Parklane Convertible
Z-390ci 4bbl V8
592493-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 76F-Parklane Convertible
COLOR J-Carnival Red
TRIM E5-Pearl White & Red Vinyl
DATE 07A-January 7th
DSO 84-Home Office Reserve
AXLE 1-Ford 9" 3.00 Conventional
TRANS 4-Cruise O Matic
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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