Unassuming Sleeper: 1968 Mercury Park Lane Brougham Packs Rare Q-Code 428 Setup
Introduced for the 1958 model year, the Mercury Park Lane was the company's flagship model until it was discontinued in 1960. The nameplate returned in 1964 to top a full-size range that also included the Monterey and the Montclair. The revival was also short-lived, as the name was dropped for good after the 1968 model year.
Nowhere near as iconic as the Cougar and Grand Marquis, the Park Lane is one of those Mercury models very few people remember. And while I understand why it's not considered a noteworthy classic, at least one iteration of the Park Lane deserves some recognition. I'm talking about the Park Lane Brougham.
Introduced in 1967, the Brougham topped the Park Lane line with a mix of even more luxury and performance. Available as a four-door sedan or four-door hardtop, the Brougham featured Mercury's "Twin Comfort Lounge." These were 50-50 split bench seats that came with deep foam padding, unique thick cloth upholstery with matching door panels, and bespoke ornamentation.
Customers had two V8 engines to choose from, starting with a 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE-series rated at 315 horsepower and 427 pound-feet (579 Nm) of torque. The other mill was the larger 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Q-code V8, which delivered 345 horses and a whopping 462 pound-feet (626 Nm) of twist.
This engine enabled the Park Lane Brougham to charge from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in less than nine seconds, an outstanding figure for a four-door tipping the scales at more than 4,200 pounds (1,905 kg). More than 50 years later, the 428-powered Park Lane Brougham is not just a sleeper but also a rare classic. That's because only around 15% of 1968 production was equipped with the said powerplant.
A precise number is not available because Mercury didn't keep records, but we know the company made about 4,000 hardtops, which means only 600 units rolled off the assembly line with the 428-cubic-inch V8. The black example you see here is one of those rigs.
Most likely an older restoration, this Brougham soldiered on for more than five decades with most of its factory features still intact. The list includes not only the drivetrain but also the Nugget Gold interior, a gorgeous color for an all-black four-door. Needless to say, this Park Lane is somewhat of an unassuming sleeper.
And according to the new owner, the 428 is not the only rare feature inside this Mercury. The sedan was also equipped with the trailer tow package, which added the super-rare heavy-duty C6 transmission.
Granted, it's not an overly valuable classic (four-door Park Lanes rarely exceed the $30,000 mark at public auctions), but it's one of those vintage Mercury automobiles you're not going to see very often. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.
Nowhere near as iconic as the Cougar and Grand Marquis, the Park Lane is one of those Mercury models very few people remember. And while I understand why it's not considered a noteworthy classic, at least one iteration of the Park Lane deserves some recognition. I'm talking about the Park Lane Brougham.
Introduced in 1967, the Brougham topped the Park Lane line with a mix of even more luxury and performance. Available as a four-door sedan or four-door hardtop, the Brougham featured Mercury's "Twin Comfort Lounge." These were 50-50 split bench seats that came with deep foam padding, unique thick cloth upholstery with matching door panels, and bespoke ornamentation.
Customers had two V8 engines to choose from, starting with a 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE-series rated at 315 horsepower and 427 pound-feet (579 Nm) of torque. The other mill was the larger 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Q-code V8, which delivered 345 horses and a whopping 462 pound-feet (626 Nm) of twist.
This engine enabled the Park Lane Brougham to charge from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in less than nine seconds, an outstanding figure for a four-door tipping the scales at more than 4,200 pounds (1,905 kg). More than 50 years later, the 428-powered Park Lane Brougham is not just a sleeper but also a rare classic. That's because only around 15% of 1968 production was equipped with the said powerplant.
A precise number is not available because Mercury didn't keep records, but we know the company made about 4,000 hardtops, which means only 600 units rolled off the assembly line with the 428-cubic-inch V8. The black example you see here is one of those rigs.
Most likely an older restoration, this Brougham soldiered on for more than five decades with most of its factory features still intact. The list includes not only the drivetrain but also the Nugget Gold interior, a gorgeous color for an all-black four-door. Needless to say, this Park Lane is somewhat of an unassuming sleeper.
And according to the new owner, the 428 is not the only rare feature inside this Mercury. The sedan was also equipped with the trailer tow package, which added the super-rare heavy-duty C6 transmission.
Granted, it's not an overly valuable classic (four-door Park Lanes rarely exceed the $30,000 mark at public auctions), but it's one of those vintage Mercury automobiles you're not going to see very often. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.