Looks pretty solid. You don't see many of these around. https://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/d/yakima-1960-mercury/6802432301.html
It was the only Mercury equipped with the Multi-Drive automatic as standard. What's the difference between that and the ordinary Cruise-O-Matics?
Yeah it’s a pretty one. I’m actually looking for a Park Lane Convertible to go with the Colony Park, ideally. I’ve had the chance to buy a few along the way. Other cars got in the way.... he he.
Bought this a few years back. One owner Albuquerque car. About 3 days buffing. Hey Moparfomco man. Sure wish I would have know Anthony then. Lol. 66,000 miles. Also had a nice set of the original Cruiser skirts in the trunk. What a pain to put those monsters on.
Extra Drive selections on the gear shift, and multiple drive in the transmission. D1 D2, Kinda like today’s “overdrive”. The standard automatic transmission in ‘60 was still known as the Merc-O-Matic. Were the ‘60’s Ford transmissions known as Cruise-O-Matics? Maybe the Ford guys know.
Then, it's practically a 4-speed automatic? You could add this Park Lane to your collection. The M.E.L.'s already there. It shouldn't take much to swap the pistons for high compression ones and throw the Marauder camshaft and Tri-Power manifold onto it. Those huge heavy-cast blocks were also used for inboard boat power. So, parts should still be reasonably available, for them
Those had a standard 430, so power wasn’t a problem, linked with the Multi drive it’s a very decent road car. Like Moparandfomoco man said, they truly were the next best thing to a Lincoln. Maybe even better in some cases as the Lincolns were a bit heftier than the Merc. Not because I have one, but ‘60 Mercs were truly the last year of MEL as we knew it. The ‘61 went towards a Ford platform and McNamara’s work was done. The Edsel was dead, and MEL just got wrapped into FOMOCO.
Even with only 310 hp, there was still plenty of torque put out for moving that car well. Especially, since it wasn't a good idea to move something with that suspension too quickly. It only weighs 4,000 lbs. Whis is light, for Ford standards. The Lincoln needed the full 400 horses to move it. I would guess that the Lincoln weighed in at 1000 pounds more than the Park Lane. But, that two-barreled carburetor has to go. Maybe, it's just me. But, I think I have an inherent rejective thing about two barrels trying to feed eight cylinders
The thing that really constricts the wagon power in my mind is the single exhaust. I wish there were a “stock” logical way for that second pipe, but there you have it.
The next best thing would be non-stock duals, like on this '66 http://smclassiccars.com/mercury/207422-1966-mercury-park-lane-convertible.html
My feeling is that unless you are going for a 100 score on a concours restoration of a historically significant automobile, such as a Boss 429 or Buick Stage 3, etc. I'm all for improved exhaust. Especially if the vehicle is going to be driven on a regular basis. Most exhaust systems are easily swapped in and out so you could always keep your stock system and reinstall it in case of resale if you feel it would improve the value.
