1974 Mercury Colony Park

$9999.

Back again with ugly aftermarket gauges grafted to the top of the dash pad.

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/c...ury+Models-1282436.xhtml?conversationId=47465

 

That was fast! It says "vehicle no longer available." It looks nice in the one photo.

 

The gauges are an interesting addition. At least they are easily visible. The factory IP on these cars is beyond basic in the information it gives, and if you are towing, especially, the added gauges are almost a necessity. Unfortunately, there was no optional gauge package available from the factory, and a combination oil pressure/temperature light is not much good. As for the rest of the car, it is a beauty, and I simply love the colour. That is the colour I would have ordered were I the original purchaser of this one.

 

Listed again on yet another website. Still no change in price.

http://www.oldcaronline.com/1974-Mercury-Station%20Wagon-Payette-Idaho-for-sale-ID616729.htm

 

Always loved the 74 CP

 

There used to be a '74 Colony Park wagon identical to this one (even the same color!!) that set in front of a local old small antique shop (that reminded you of Sanford and Son, lol) back as far back as I can remember as a kid. He also had a lot of old Corvairs (even some wagons). The wagon, as well as the Corvairs set there all through the 1980s and never moved. I remember it even setting there in the early 1980s when I was no more than 7 or 8 years old and if I recall, the car was literally piled full of junk. By the 1990s, it was still setting there, with a for sale sign in the window. I was a teenager and not interested in these cars at the time, so I never checked on it. The old man died, the car vanished and never seen again. My guess is that it was probably robbed of its engine (if it wasn't stuck) and crushed.

By the end there, (in the late 90s before it vanished) the car was setting on 4 flats and very weathered. It appeared to be a very high optioned model, even had cornering lights and a vinyl top. Now the building is a small used car lot... never nothing as interesting as that old Merc wagon has set there since.

*Maybe, just maybe I will stop there one day and ask the guy that owns it now if he knows where the wagon ended up. He is an old friend of my grandfather and my aunt used to date his nephew in the 80s. Would be neat if he took the wagon to his house, stored it away and would sell it to me. Maybe it is worth restoring.... I am dreaming now, right? lol.

 

Its not pretty in my view

 

Yeah, I don't like what's happened to this Mercury CP either!

 

Personally I like this one, and always have. I figure it is about $4,000 too expensive, but it is a beauty.

 

Still for sale over two years later - price is the main problem, I'd say.

http://www.autabuy.com/Vehicles/Details.cfm?VID=921085&Year=1974

 

Sometimes I wonder if some of these people really want to sell them.

 

I suspect the seller has a good deal of money in this car and expects-- or hopes -- to get a significant portion back out of it on the sale. That, as I understand it, rarely happens with cars.

It might have helped if a better job had been done on the refurbishment. The replacement woodgrain is not authentic. The original woodgrain had the black stripes (simulated plank lines), which were only used for two model years in the '70s. The statement that the dash was "recovered" tends to make me a little nervous, and the use of the '73 timing gear puzzles me. I would think that a timing set from '68 - '71 would give more favorable results. There wasn't that hugh a difference in power between the '73 and '74 460s.

Of course, the ad says the price is negotiable, so maybe the seller has just seen too many episodes of Pawn Stars and American Pickers and has priced it for a lot of haggle room.

 

Sad little has changed from Downunder

 

I would be interested in seeing what a CD 8 track player looks like.

 

True enough that exterior replacement wood grain is incorrect. This looks like a better than average 1974 CP at this point, but it is not like a factory original that would command top dollar, such as this.