Low-mileage, top-of-the-line rare Mercury convertible

1965 Mercury Park Lane

Vehicle Details

This is a drop-dead gorgeous car that drives beautifully as well. There aren’t many like it still around. I bought it on eBay 16 months ago with the intention of driving it in club meets and taking it to local shows. However, the car was badly misrepresented in the ad and I had no idea what I was getting into. I’ve devoted the last 16 months to getting the car in safe and showable condition, but while near the finish line, I’ve run out of resources and patience. Here is a summary of what I’ve had done to the car. There are receipts to document everything. The most serious problem was corrosion on the frame where it was in danger of collapse and required removal and replacement 2x thicker than the factory frame. The exhaust system was also rusted and required all new custom piping and exhaust mufflers and repairing/replacing the exhaust mount points because of rust. New brake master cylinder; brake booster; front wheel bearings, seals and related components; replaced blown rear light bulbs, soldered new rear wire harness to taillights and backup lights, replaced damaged/missing sockets; performed brake fluid flush including evacuate brake fluid reservoir, refill with fresh fluid and flush all lines; perform synthetic oil change and inspect belts, hoses, etc.; replace alternator assembly, voltage regulator and bad wiring, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel lines, exhaust manifold, starter assembly, starter solenoid, battery, fuel sender unit, wiring harness, new removable radio antenna, parking brake control assembly, remove drain and refill fuel tank, realign rear bumper and left taillight assembly (still not perfect); headlamp switch and wiring harness. Many of the dash lights and gauges did not work, so I obtained a replacement instrument panel on eBay. Rather than replace the problem lights and gauges, they replaced the existing panel, which resulted in a hodgepodge of working and not working gauges and dials, and most important, a different odometer, which replaced the original showing true mileage of about 98,500 miles. This was verified on the Florida Odometer Disclosure Statement showing “actual mileage” of 98,529 on April 14, 2022, and the Florida state title showing “actual miles” of 96,267 on May 8, 2017. The original instrument panel and odometer come with the car. The following work still remains to be done for the car to be perfect, which was my original but unobtainable goal: the radio shorts out and blows the fuse when turned on, but the original, which was working when it was removed, is in the original instrument panel with the car; heater/defroster switches do not work; backup lights work but the right one is missing the lens; despite all the work done to the fuel tank, it tops off at only half full, which is reflected in the gas gauge; the temperature gauge does not work but the auxiliary gauge does work; wipers are inop; horn was working but doesn’t since the instrument panel swap; the tach is missing from the center console; passenger armrest is loose; the light does not work on the shift selector; dash ashtray is stiff; the turn-signal lights work but the little lenses are missing; many of the screws are missing from the instrument panel; mild corrosion on the steering wheel and other chrome parts; oil-pressure gauge inop; the rear-fender emblems are in only fair condition and should be replaced; there are small paint bubbles along the bottom of the trunk and on a small part of the edge of the hood; the windows and top are ill-fitting and the car will leak if driven in the rain or through a car wash. While this is a lot of flaws, be glad to know about them now instead of later, and what’s more, there’s still lots to like about this Mercury. It shows very well (from 12 feet or so) and is plenty quick. The chrome ranges from good to fair and the paint is mostly excellent but has some scratches and touched-up areas. The tires are good and the fancy factory wire wheel covers are recent replacements. The top and rear window are in decent shape and work fine. I’ve had the top down for the last year and the power windows have been in the down position all that time, so one of them is a little sticky. The interior is one of the real pluses of this car. The attractive buckskin upholstery is very good and the car has the Sport Package that includes bucket seats, a center console with floor shifter and storage compartment. The chrome around the bucket seats is dull in places. As for fluid leaks, I’m unaware of any. The car I had before this one leaked badly so there’s an accumulation of old oil but I’m not seeing anything fresh or when parked elsewhere. The power steering can be a little sticky at slow speeds but otherwise this Merc is a pleasure to drive and a joy to show. Car is sold as is, where is, with no warranty. Please feel free to ask questions.

• Make: Mercury
• Model: Park Lane
• Type: Convertible
• Doors: 2
• Year: 1965
• Mileage: 98700
• VIN: 5W65Z538291
• Color: Burgundy
• Engine size: 390 V8
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Automatic
• Interior color: Buckskin
• Drive side: Left-Hand Drive
• Vehicle Title: Clean
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