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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> 1965 Mercury Park Lane Convertible History
Post Info TOPIC: 1965 Mercury Park Lane Convertible History
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1965 Mercury Park Lane Convertible History
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Well the feedback from members has been very positive and requesting more info on the 1965 Mercury so I am relaying the history of the car to all who are interested.

The Mercury Park Lane Convertible was the most expensive model in 1965 and special ordered by a well to do resident of Kapuskasing Ontario through the local Ford Dealer called Uptown Motors.  The Uptown Motors decal is still affixed on the rear bumper! There were only 3006 built and only 922 had the Sport Package Option retailing at $600.00! It had leather bucket seats and a console with tachometer! It was built in Oakville Ontario on May 14th 1965 and delivered to the dealer on May 17th and after a quick prep delivered on May 18th.  With all the documents I got with the car there was a copy of the Ford bill of Lading confirming all of this info.  If anyone knows Kapuskasing they are lucky to get about 3 months of summer so that was all the car was used and stored in a heated building for balance of the year.  It never saw a winter! The same owner had car for 51 years so it has been estimated that it was only driven an average of about 506 miles per year.  In 2016 after first owner was showing signs of dementia it was sold to a person who had tried many times to purchase the car. Documented mileage at that time was 25,800 miles. Unfortunately he only owned the car for two years as he passed away in the fall of 2018.  It was only driven about 530 miles during the two years he owned it. I saw the car advertised on Kijiji and after some conversations with the deceased owner's son who was handling the estate and learning more about 1965 Mercury's on line decided to buy it!  I took delivery of it on April 1st, 2019 and plan on driving this time capsule during the summer just like the original owner.  Since I now own two classic cars I doubt that I will drive the Mercury more than 500 miles.  Current original documented mileage is 26,330.

PS I have found on line Canadian Factory Prices of my car and with all of its options and base price it totaled $5,273.00 which in 1965 was close to a years salary for the average worker if he/she was making $100.00 week.  Member Ted (norontcan) who used to live in Kapuskasing remembers the car and the two previous owners and when time permits perhaps he can add more to the history! 

Bob

1965 mercury.jpg

mercury interior.jpg

mercury gauges.jpg

1965 mercury full side.jpg

mercury grille.jpg

 



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CdnGMfan


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Wow Bob, that is a real beauty! No matter that it isn't a Canadian Pontiac, that is a classy survivor. It is no economy model, that's for sure. I'm surprised they built that car in Oakville as I thought they were just doing the Meteors & Comets there. As a kid we would always pass the Oakville plant (& the Mack truck plant directly across the QEW from them) and would see all the cars & trucks in the holding lot.

Kapuskasing is where GM does its cold weather testing.

 

 



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That's a fine car. Congratulations on acquiring it. 



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Thank you for the detailed story, Bob, and a fine story it is too. It is incredible what these upscale cars sold for in the 60's. I just love the picture of your dash with all of the gauges in operation. Your Park Lane is by far the nicest surviving car of this era I have ever seen. Enjoy.

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long stroke


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Bob, there is no denying that you own one very amazing vintage automobile. Amazing history on that sweet time machine but you overlooked telling us anything about the motor in her. I am going to guess that it is a 352 or 390 four barrel. Good luck with that beauty. 



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Pontiacanada


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Nice car, love the colour combo.



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long stroke wrote:

I am going to guess that it is a 352 or 390 four barrel.

I took a farmer's '65 Rideau out for a test drive at the age of 15. The owner said that the 352 was a "experimental" engine, because everyone knew about 351s and not 352s.blankstare

I swear that Rideau's gearing made it just as responsive and fast in reverse as in drive. Quite the hairy ride backwards!



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'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

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long stroke


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Pontiacanada wrote:
long stroke wrote:

I am going to guess that it is a 352 or 390 four barrel.

I took a farmer's '65 Rideau out for a test drive at the age of 15. The owner said that the 352 was a "experimental" engine, because everyone knew about 351s and not 352s.blankstare

I swear that Rideau's gearing made it just as responsive and fast in reverse as in drive. Quite the hairy ride backwards!

 Darryl, that is hilarious. biggrin



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Whoops yes left out the important part.  That is what happens when you turn eighty!!!!  Yes it has a 390 4 bbl developing 300HP.  That was the standard engine for Park Lane series.  You could also get an optional engine that was a 390 4 bbl that put out 330HP!  In 1966 the Park Lane got an upgrade to a 410 4 BBL engine as the standard that put out 330HP and the optional engine was a 427 4 bbl that put out 345HP.  Yes the horse power race was now in full swing.  Thanks to the member who was able to move this post to a new location.

Bob.



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Pontiacanada wrote:
long stroke wrote:

I am going to guess that it is a 352 or 390 four barrel.

I took a farmer's '65 Rideau out for a test drive at the age of 15. The owner said that the 352 was a "experimental" engine, because everyone knew about 351s and not 352s.blankstare

I swear that Rideau's gearing made it just as responsive and fast in reverse as in drive. Quite the hairy ride backwards!

 LOL... reminds me of a time years ago when I went to look at a Dart convertible that was supposed to be a '340' car.  I met the guy with the car, who took me through miles and miles of back country roads to see it - I couldn't retrace the route now if my life depended on it.  Turned out to be a 273 car that was sitting outside without a top and had already started returning to the earth.

After looking at the Dart and being disappointed he showed me his brother's car, a '68 Plymouth Fury with 383 Commando (what they called the high performance version of the 383) badges on it.  Of course he proceeded to tell me that "Commando" meant that it was a special factory experimental engine that somehow his brother got his hands on.  I didn't dare correct him as I thought that if he made me walk back (or worse), I would never find my way out of there.... biggrin



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Bob, that is a beautiful car.  Congratulations, and thanks for sharing with us.

I've had a couple of 'close encounters' with similar cars in the past.  The first one was a '66 Mercury S55 HT that the bank was taking bids on.  I looked it over, it was white with a similar bucket/console interior in red, and had 428 emblems on the fenders.  It was a very attractive car in that configuration and looked to be in decent shape, but the bid I put in was too low as I was a student with limited funds, and had another 'collector' car at the time.  I never did see the car after that.

The other one was a '66 Meteor 2dr HT that was for sale.  It was interesting in that it had the Mercury body with Ford interior bits.  I thought it over, but eventually passed on it.  I did regret not purchasing it later as it was an attractive car and had that Canadian uniqueness that I'm always drawn to.  Years later I saw it advertised as a parts car as the frame was rotted through.  Considered purchasing it again to fix, but finally decided against it as after years of fighting rust, I felt that I did not want to get into frame repairs/replacement.  The rest of the car was not mint either, so maybe the owner's decision to part it out was the right one.

Enjoy some 'fun in the sun' with your beautiful 'new' car this summer!!! smile



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Thats a great looking car Bob and a true time capsule.All the best with your new ride!! Very cool car and your a lucky guy to get it!!

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Such a nice car. And locally built makes it even the more interesting. Must be a dream to run it in the summer with the top down.

I fellow I knew of back in high school showed up one day driving an immaculate maroon on white 66 Marauder ragtop, with the 410 in it. Beautiful! Said that his father had won it in a card game!

And just like that it was gone. But ever since I've always had a soft spot for them. The scene of him pulling up front of the school top down with 5 people in it left a big impression on me, and anyone else that saw it.



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When I was about 16 we acquired the only decent car we had as a family when I was young. Our neighbours across the street had temporarily located from Ontario while the man was working on an industrial plant project. They brought their mint silver on red and white 65 Meteor Montcalm 2 dr ht with them and because they had a newer Olds plus he had a new 73 Impala company car, they decided to sell the Meteor. It had bucket seats and console, and we were lucky enough to acquire it in the summer of 1973.  The 352 was smoking a bit so my dad re-ringed it in our driveway in January 1974 (it wasn't too cold that year).   A few days later he was driving my brothers and sisters to school in a snowfall and he was slammed into head on by a new Luxury Lemans. Everything on the drivers side got pushed back into the cowl and the car was written off. No one was hurt but it was a sad day for me as it meant we had lost the best car we had ever owned, before I even had my drivers license. Since then I always keep my eyes open for 63-66 Mercs in nice condition.



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58 poncho fan


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Well just in case some members missed this post I have bumped it up. Bob.

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long stroke


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Yes Bob she sure is a beauty. I am looking forward to checking her out at a show this summer. Cheers.



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Bob, any photos of that 390 in your 65.



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OK here are some pix of the engine compartment!  It still has a lot of 54 years worth of grime but some areas cleaned up nicely and when weather if ever gets warmer will be detailing the whole area.  All the chromed parts were in the factory engine dress up kit which back in 1965 retailed for $15.00.  Glad the original owner ordered it as it really adds to the engine!  Bob.IMG_1574.JPGIMG_1576.JPGIMG_1579.JPGIMG_1580.JPG



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Wow! I had never heard of the chrome dress up option. Love the air cleaner!

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Pontiacanada


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Canadian Poncho wrote:

Wow! I had never heard of the chrome dress up option. Love the air cleaner!

 x2 ... cool option!



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

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Bob, she is looking sweet and that chrome looks like fresh chrome. 



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As soon as weather permits, please give us a topless shot.



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Excellent idea.

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For comparison here's a 65 Mercury Parklane on kijiji
www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-collection/gatineau/1957-pontiac-laurentien/1435206855

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norontcan wrote:

For comparison here's a 65 Mercury Parklane on kijiji
www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-collection/gatineau/1957-pontiac-laurentien/1435206855

Linky not good.

... but here's one: 

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/ottawa/1965-mercury-parklane/1435206564

 



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

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