1968 Mercury Colony Park wagon

Not mine, but this barn find looks like a variation on Reagan's joke, "There must be a Mercury wagon in here somewhere!"

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3749938246.html

 

I could be wrong, but, to my eye....I'm betting there's a real nice wagon under there.

 

And don't forget that it ran when it was parked... BACK IN 1981!!!

 

be good if someone blu the dust off with a little air , and im inclined to belive silverfox is right on the money

 

32 years may be a long time but at least it wasn't under a tree or sinking into someone's waterlogged back forty.

Engines and transmissions and brake/fuel lines can be replaced. Metalwork on frames or rockers or roofs or pillars is just asking for trouble in my opinion.

 

those Colony Parks

(1) whoever posted this for sale seems a little vague on automotive history, listing front disk brakes like it was something special. Again, the "ran when parked" thing. After 31 years, you might be able to start it up without rebuilding the engine first, but that wouldn't be advisable. And, as occupant pointed out, other things would need attention too. I was think along the lines of everything rubber and/or plastic an the car. The front end bushings must be on the verge of instant disintegration by now. (2) my first car was a 1968 Colony Park. In Mercury Iceberg Blue, with blue interior. Named it both Thunder and Dragon Wagon. Thunder, because the exhaust and muffler were parts I hadn't fixed yet. And, Dragon Wagon, because, after nine months of inactivity, it was real good at belching grey smoke... Once again, "if only I'd've won the Lottery allready", I'd be on this. Half a day's drive to Oakland, from where I am. $2,500 seems a little steep, though. Maybe if they washed it off and vacuumed it out themselves, then---

 

You do not need to rebuild an engine that has sat for 30+ years. Just take a few hours and do the needed things to revive a dormant beast; like pull the plugs, squirt a mixture of trans fluid and acetone (50/50, better and cheaper than Marvel Mystery), replace all of the filters, drain any remaining fuel, change the oil and coolant, new hoses and belts, install battery, hook things back up and fire it up. You'll likely find the carb and fuel pump may need work, but not always. Once that is done, pull the drums and repack bearings, renew the brake cylinders and shoes, and reassemble. Not a huge deal. Oldest vehicle I revived this way was a 1947 Chevy that had sat from 1960 until 2008 in a single-car garage. Took a day of work. The old plugs, wires, cap and rotor were in great shape, too!

 

those TV shows

Saw on one of those TV shows---Hot Rod TV or something, that flash-over rust can start in the first 24 hours of a car sitting there. And the longer it sits, the worse it gets. They said, sometimes the pistons get rusted to the insides of the cylinders and could cause great damage when starting the engine. They also talked about using the method you just described, saying, if serious damage doesn't occur in attempting the start up, then it shouldn't be too bad a thing. They also warned about pushing engines in this state too hard, as gaskets have a tendency to age badly,compared to metal.

 

It looks complete, and the only thing I can see off hand that needs attention for appearance is the right turn signal lens. Everything else seems present, accounted for and in decent nick. Revive the old girl the right way, and you could well end up with a terrific wagon for little investment. At worst, you rebuild the engine and carb, and away you go!

 

68 Colony Park

This car was on Ebag awhile back. Not sure if it sold or it's the same guy.
BUT, I mean come on, you can't spend a few dollars in quarters and take
it to the local car wash and spray it down? What's he hiding?
I'm just sayin'.........

 

I doubt if he is hiding anything. The dirt proves pretty much that it was in storage somewhere and has not been run in a long time. If he had washed it and prettied it up for pictures, you'd be doubting his "barn-fresh" claim. So, as a seller, he gets gripes both ways. You can tell in a pic if someone is "faking" a claim of "hey, look what I found in a barn!"...

 

I think the dirt is proof that it was a barn find.
If he washes it, then he needs more explanation about the condition of things that he probably doesn't know.

 

Before wash and after wash pics would probably get him a sale better than what is there now.