1968 Mercury Colony Park

Wagon

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

8Z76X566514

Gasoline

HELLO, UP FOR BIDS IS THIS 1968 MERCURY COLONY PARK 8 OR 10 PASSENGER WAGON. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT I NEED THE MONEY TO FINISH OTHER PROJECTS THAT I HAVE, INCLUDING ANOTHER '68 COLONY PARK. History: THIS WAGON IS IN SOLID ALL ORIGINAL CONDITION. THE CAR WAS BUILT MARCH 7, 1968 IN ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, SHIPPED TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND A STOCK ORDER TO WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AT TINSLEY MERCURY IN ASHLAND, VA ON JULY 3, 1968 BY ROBERT G. CARLTON JR. AND HIS WIFE DORIS W. CARLTON. AFTER HIS PASSING, DORIS DROVE THE CAR UP UNTIL HER PASSING IN 1997. BEFORE HER PASSING, HER DEPTH PERCEPTION GOT A LITTLE OFF, AND IN RESULT SHE SCRAPED SOME THINGS AND DENTED UP THE FRONT PASSENGERS FENDER, LOST THE TRIM OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, AND SLIGHTLY DENTED BOTH PASSENGERS SIDE AND DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANELS. FROM 1997 UNTIL MID 2011, THE CAR SAT UNDER A CARPORT STILL IN ASHLAND UNTOUCHED AS THE FAMILY DID NOT NEED IT, AND THE SUN FADED THE WOOD GRAIN, BUT THE INTERIOR WAS VERY WELL PRESERVED. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2011 AND GOT IT RUNNING, AND PUT ALL NEW BRAKES ON IT. TURNED THE ROTORS AND DRUMS, NEW MASTER CYLINDER, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, FRONT CALIPERS, FRONT PADS, REAR SHOES, AND ALL FRONT AND REAR HARDWARE. I AM THE ONLY PERSON TO DRIVE THE CAR OUTSIDE THE CARLTON FAMILY. I HAVE THE CLEAR VA TITLE FROM THE DAUGHTER OF MRS. CARLTON, PROVING IT WAS STILL OWNED BY THE ORIGINAL FAMILY OWNERS. I HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED THE CAR TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD. Interior: THE HEADLINER IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH NO RIPS OR TEARS, THE DASH PAD IS PERFECT WITH NO CRACKS, THE REAR 3RD ROW SEATS WERE FOLDED INTO THE FLOOR SO THEY ARE LIKE NEW, AND EVEN STILL HAVE THE SEAT BELTS TUCKED UNDER THEM IN THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC WRAPPING FROM THE FACTORY. THE SECOND ROW SEAT WAS COVERED IN CLEAR VINYL COVERING UNTIL LATE 2011 DUE TO THE CLEAR VINYL BEING PRETTY BADLY YELLOWED, TO UNVEIL A PRETTY MUCH N.O.S. BACK SEAT WITH NO WEAR, DISCOLORATION, STAINS, NOTHING. PRETTY MUCH PERFECT. THE ONLY BAD PART ABOUT THE INTERIOR IS THAT THE FRONT DOME LIGHT LENS IS DETERIORATED AND THE FRONT BENCH SEAT HAS A RIP ALONG THE SEAM WHERE THE VINYL AND BREATHABLE BASKET WEAVE MEET. ALSO FOR WHATEVER REASON THE DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR IS MISSING. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WORK. THE ELECTRIC CLOCK WORKS PERIODICALLY, THE FUEL GAUGE WORKS, DASH LIGHTS WORK, ORIGINAL A/M RADIO WORKS, MAP LIGHT ABOVE THE RADIO WORKS, HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR WORKS, HEAT WORKS, GLOVE BOX LIGHT WORKS, BUT A/C NEEDS A BELT AND THE COMPRESSOR CHARGED. ALL SEAT BELTS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE BELTS RETRACT FINE AS THEY SHOULD. CARPET IS ORIGINAL, SLIGHTLY FADED, BUT IN OVERALL NICE CONDITION. THE FLOORS OF THE CAR ARE ALL SOLID, NO ROT ANYWHERE, EVEN IN THE THIRD ROW, ONLY LIGHT SURFACE RUST IN THE THIRD ROW. THE THIRD ROW RUBBER MAT IS IN GREAT SHAPE, NOT BRITTLE AND VERY PLIABLE. THE SPARE TIRE WELL HAS ROT AS PICTURED IN THE BOTTOM OF IT BUT CAN BE EASILY FIXED. THE METAL COVER PANEL ON THE TAILGATE HAS RUST AT THE BOTTOM AND WOULD EITHER NEED TO BE FIXED BY WELDING OR REPLACED. Exterior: THE EXTERIOR HAS ITS ORIGINAL FACTORY COAT OF LIME GREEN METALLIC PAINT AND FADED VINYL WOOD GRAIN. THE HOOD HAS SOME SCRATCHES WHERE SOMETHING WAS SAT ON THE HOOD PROBABLY WHILE IN STORAGE. THE BODY IS VERY SOLID WITH RUST ONLY IN THE DOGLEGS IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEELS AND RUST ON THE QUARTER PANEL IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE REAR WHEELS AND TAILGATE. THE ROCKER PANELS ARE ALL COMPLETELY SOLID, NOT EVEN SURFACE RUST. THE ONLY REAL ISSUE IS THE BODY DAMAGE FROM WHERE THE CAR WAS RUBBED ON THINGS BY MRS. CARLTON. THE FRONT PASSENGERS TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY WILL NEED REPLACING AS WELL ALONG WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LENS. THE TAILGATE IS THE WORST PART OF THE CAR AS IT HAS RUST IN THE BOTTOM OF IT THAT CAN BE FIXED BUT I WOULD SUGGEST FINDING A NICER DUAL SWING TAILGATE FROM A 66-68 FORD OR MERCURY WAGON. THE WINDSHIELD HAS ONE VERTICAL CRACK HALFWAY DOWN THE MIDDLE OF IT, BUT ALL OTHER WINDOWS ARE IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION, ORIGINAL FACTORY GLASS. THE STAINLESS AROUND THE WINDOWS IS IN VERY NICE CONDITION, WHILE SOME NEEDS REPLACING WHERE MISSING. THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS AS WELL AS MIRROR ARE PRESENTABLE BUT PROBABLY SHOULD BE RECHROMED IF YOU WOULD WANT A SHOW CAR. THE ROOF RACK IS IN VERY NICE CONDITION, WITH LIGHT PITTING ON NON STAINLESS PARTS. THE CAR UNFORTUNATELY DOES NOT COME WITH HUBCAPS, BUT INCLUDED IS THE FACTORY SPARE AND ORIGINAL COMPLETE JACK AND SPARE TIRE STORAGE SECURING TOOLS. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS, INCLUDING BRAKE, LICENSE PLATE, HIGH BEAM, AND BACK-UP LIGHTS, WORK. ACCESSORIES:(POWER ACCESSORIES WORK UNLESS NOTED) -POWER STEERING -A/M RADIO W/ ORIGINAL ANTENNA -ELECTRIC CLOCK (WORKS INTERMITTENTLY) -GLOVEBOX LIGHT -POWER BRAKES -HORN (DOES NOT CURRENTLY WORK) -TINTED GLASS (REQUIRED WITH FACTORY A/C) -ROOF RACK -TILT STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN -INTERMITTENT WIPERS W/WASHER (WASHER TANK IS IN NICE SHAPE, NO CRACKS, DO NOT KNOW IF WASHER PUMP WORKS OR LINE IS CLOGGED) -HEAT AND FACTORY IN DASH AIR CONDITIONING (ALL BLOWERS, ETC WORK AS THEY SHOULD, A/C NEEDS CHARGING) -POWER REAR WINDOW (DISCONNECTED, MOTOR WORKS W/KEY BUT NOT FROM DASH, WINDOW REGULATOR GEARS NEED REPLACED) ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN POWERING THIS WAGON IS ITS ORIGINAL FORD 390 CU.IN. 2V, 2BBL AUTOLITE 2100 CARB POWERED, PERFORMANCE PREMIUM FUEL V8. THE CAR HAD NEW AUTOLITE PLUGS AND WIRES INSTALLED BEFORE BEING PUT IN STORAGE. EXHAUST/MUFFLER APPEARS TO BE NEW BEFORE BEING PUT IN STORAGE. THE ENGINE RUNS STRONG. WHEN I FIRST HAD IT RUNNING IT RAN AT IDLE WITH NO ISSUES, BUT DUE TO THE CARB SITTING FOR 13 YEARS, IT HESITATED WHEN HARD ON THE GAS ON ACCELERATION. SO, I PULLED THE CARB TO FIND IT SURPRISINGLY CLEAN, I PUT A CARB KIT IN IT, AND I BELIEVE I DID NOT ADJUST IT RIGHT AS IT NOW RUNS ROUGH ON IDLE, BUT RUNS STRONG ON ACCELERATION AND DRIVES WITHOUT ISSUES. I KNOW IT IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM BUT I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO CORRECT IT. THE CAR DOES RUN AND DRIVE, AS WELL AS STOP UNDER ITS OWN POWER, BUT UNTIL THE CARB IS STRAIGHTENED OUT I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST CARRYING THE CAR HOME ON TRAILER. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS STRONG AND FLAWLESS. ANYONE IS WELCOME TO COME DRIVE THE CAR BEFORE THE AUCTION ENDS. VEHICLE BUILD INFORMATION: VIN# 8Z76X566514 8-YEAR-1968 Z- BUILT IN ST. LOUIS 76- COLONY PARK WAGON X- 390 CU.IN. V8-2V- PREM. FUEL 1968 MERCURY #566514 (5,674 TOTAL 10 PASSENGER COLONY PARKS BUILT IN '68) (357,233 TOTAL 1968 MERCURY CARS BUILT, MEANING 1.6% OF ALL '68 MERCURYS WERE 10 PASS COLONY PARKS) BODY: 71 A 4 DOOR "10 PASSENGER" COLONY PARK (SPLIT THIRD ROW MEANS 10, ALTHOUGH IT SEATS 8) COLOR: I LIME GREEN METALLIC TRIM: PG MEDIUM & LIGHT IVY GOLD VINYL DATE: 07C BUILT MARCH 07, 1968 DSO: 17 SHIPPED TO WASHINGTON DC DISTRIBUTION CENTER FROM ST. LOUIS BUILD PLANT AXLE: I 2.75:1 RATIO TRANS: U AUTOMATIC XPL OVERALL, I WOULD SAY THIS CAR IS A VERY WELL PRESERVED, UNRESTORED SURVIVOR WITH MINOR RUST. IT NEEDS SOME THINGS HERE AND THERE, BUT OVERALL I BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT TAKE A TOTAL RESTORATION TO HAVE A NICE DRIVER OR POSSIBLY A SHOW WINNER. NOT MANY 44 YEAR OLD CARS ARE AROUND NOW DAYS WITH ALL OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTED AS WELL AS THE CAR INCLUDING ALL ORIGINAL OWNERS MANUALS WITH ORIGINAL OWNERS NAMES, DEALERS NAME, SALESMAN, AND KEY CODES DOCUMENTED INSIDE, AS WELL AS A FEW INSPECTION DOCUMENTS AND REGISTRATION INCLUDED WITH THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THE CAR NEEDS WORK, IT IS REALLY A RARE ONE OWNER FIND THAT YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT FIND ANOTHER SITUATION LIKE THIS AGAIN. THIS CAR IS A MUST FOR STATION WAGON COLLECTORS/ENTHUSIASTS. ANY QUESTIONS? PLEASE ASK. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AS WELL AS SEND MORE PHOTOS OF THE CAR ON REQUEST. BUYER TO PICK UP IN CONCORD NC, OR MAKE ALL TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS. THANKS FOR LOOKING AND PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER ITEMS. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO END THE AUCTION AT ANY TIME DUE TO THE CAR ALSO BEING FOR SALE LOCALLY.