Mercury Colony Park

Mercury Colony Park
1984 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1957–1991
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Monterey station wagon (1952-1956)
Successor	none

The Mercury Colony Park was the top-of-the-line full-size station wagon offered by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company between 1957 and 1991. Following the demise of Edsel, the Colony Park became the Mercury equivalent of the Ford Country Squire and the station wagon version of the Marquis in 1969. It wore woodgrain paneling on the bodysides and tailgate, a feature also identified with station wagons such as the Chrysler Town & Country and the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser.

1957–1958

First generation
Overview
Model years	1957–1958
Body and chassis
Related	Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Monterey Mercury Voyager Mercury Commuter Edsel Citation Edsel Corsair
Powertrain
Engine	368 cu in (6.0 L) Lincoln Y-Block V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) Marauder V8 430 cu in (7.0 L) Super Marauder V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122.0 in (3,099 mm)[1]
Length	1957: 211.1 in (5,362 mm) 1958: 214.2 in (5,441 mm)
Width	79.1 in (2,009 mm)[1]
Height	58.3 in (1,481 mm)
Curb weight	4,400–4,800 lb (2,000–2,200 kg)

For 1957, Mercury followed Ford in creating a separate model series for its station wagons; the Colony Park served as the top model above the Voyager and the Commuter. Rather than sharing a body and chassis with the 1957 Ford, the Mercury line, including the station wagons, shared their chassis and body with two models from the upcoming Edsel division.

To differentiate itself from lesser Mercury wagons, the Colony Park was fitted with simulated woodgrain siding as standard equipment. Unlike Ford or Edsel wagons, Mercury wagons were all configured in a hardtop (pillarless) bodystyle unique .

Just as on the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, the 368 cu in (6.0 L) Lincoln Y-Block V8 was standard equipment in 1957. In 1958, Mercury introduced 383 and 430 cubic-inch Marauder and Super Marauder V8s as options. Inside, an electric clock was also standard.^[1] A padded dash was optional.^[2]

1959–1960

Second generation
Overview
Model years	1959–1960
Body and chassis
Related	Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Monterey Mercury Commuter
Powertrain
Engine	383 cu in (6.3 L) Marauder V8 430 cu in (7.0 L) Super Marauder V8
Transmission	3-speed Merc-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	126.0 in (3,200 mm)
Length	1959: 218.2 in (5,542 mm) 1960: 219.2 in (5,568 mm)
Width	1959: 80.7 in (2,050 mm) 1960: 81.5 in (2,070 mm)
Height	57.8 in (1,468 mm)
Curb weight	4,800–4,900 lb (2,200–2,200 kg)

Along with the rest of the Mercury product line, the station wagons were updated for the 1959 model year; the mid-price Voyager was discontinued, trimming the station wagon line down to the Colony Park and the base-model Commuter.

With the demise of the premium-model Edsels, the Mercury division now had a body and chassis to itself. The 1959 redesign gave the Colony Park a 4-inch wheelbase stretch, to 126 inches. With a curb weight of nearly 5000 pounds, Mercury specified the 315-hp 430 cubic-inch MEL engine shared with Lincoln and the Ford Thunderbird.

Mercury station wagons of this vintage had the longest wheelbase, the widest bodies and the most cargo space of any station wagon ever built by this make.

1959 Mercury Colony Park frame off restoration and info.

1961–1964

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1961–1964
Body and chassis
Related	Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Monterey Mercury Meteor Mercury Commuter Ford Galaxie Ford Fairlane Ford 300 Ford Custom Ford Country Squire
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.0 in (3,048 mm)

The 1961-64 Mercury station wagons were the first since 1956 to share a body and chassis with Ford. This move was made because of declining Mercury sales from 1957 to 1960, and despite the obvious Ford origins of this generation of Mercurys, buyers began to return to the make. Indeed, the Mercury division's best sales years came during the early years when the cars were seen as little more than "gussied-up Fords."

1965–1968

Fourth generation
Overview
Production	1965–1968
Body and chassis
Related	Mercury Commuter Ford LTD Ford Country Squire Ford Galaxie Mercury Marquis Mercury Monterey
Powertrain
Engine	390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 410 cu in (6.7 L) Marauder V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	119.0 in (3,023 mm)

In 1965, Colony Park was promoted to "the Lincoln Continental of station wagons", when it was given the Lincoln Continental's suspension package (along with its cushy, floaterboat ride). It continued to enjoy this distinction through its final year.

The 1966 Colony Park was fitted with Ford's two-way "Magic Doorgate", which was designed to fold down like a conventional tailgate and also swing sideways like a door. Ford's dual-facing rear seats became available on the 1967 Colony Park. Mercury also introduced a feature where windflow was directed across the rear window through channels integrated and covered with the "D" pillar. This also allowed fresh air to enter into the rear of the vehicle if the rear window was retracted into the tailgate.

On third-generation Colony Parks, the standard engine was a 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 with 270 horsepower (200 kW). From 1966 to 1967, the 410 cu in (6.7 L) FE "Marauder" V8 with 330 horsepower (250 kW) was an option.^[3]

1966 Colony Park

1966 2-way tailgate with side-swing door handle

1969–1978

Fifth generation
1974 Mercury Marquis Colony Park
Overview
Production	1969–1978
Body and chassis
Related	Ford LTD Ford Country Squire Ford Galaxie Mercury Marquis
Powertrain
Engine	351 cu in (5.8 L) Windsor V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) Cleveland V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) 385 V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	121.0 in (3,073 mm)

When the full-size Mercury wagons were restyled for 1969, they were no longer a separate series, and the Colony Park became a member of the Marquis series. In contrast to the Marquis sedan, the Colony Park was based on the same 121-inch wheelbase as the Ford LTD. Also in 1969, the Magic Doorgate was reworked to that it could swing sideways without having to roll the window down.

Although narrower than the 1959–1960 generation, this generation of the Colony Park was the longest and heaviest of any before or after. Because of the car's sheer heft, Mercury equipped this generation with a 400-cubic-inch (6.6 liter) V-8 as standard, with the Lima series 429-cubic-inch and 460-cubic-inch (7.5 liter) optional. For the final model year of this generation, 1978, the 351-cubic-inch V-8 became standard except in California and 'High Altitude' areas where the 400 was required, although the 400-2V and 460 remained available as options (except that the 460 was not available in California after Model Year 1976 in any FoMoCo car line), although it was less than desirable. Most surviving examples carry either of the two larger engines, as they were far more popular—not to mention more capable of powering such a heavy vehicle.

Approximately 7,850,000 full-size Fords and Mercurys were sold over 1969-78.^[4][5] This makes it the second best selling Ford automobile platform after the Ford Model T.

1972 Colony Park

1976 Colony Park

1979–1991

Sixth generation
Overview
Production	1979–1991
Assembly	Hazelwood, Missouri (St. Louis Assembly) Talbotville, Ontario, (St. Thomas Assembly)
Body and chassis
Platform	Ford Panther platform
Related	Ford LTD Ford Country Squire Ford LTD Crown Victoria Mercury Grand Marquis Mercury Marquis
Powertrain
Engine	302 cu in (4.9 L) 5.0 Windsor V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) Windsor V8
Transmission	3-speed FMX automatic 4-speed AOD automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114.3 in (2,903 mm)
Length	219 in (5,563 mm)
Width	79.3 in (2,014 mm)[6]
Height	56.5 in (1,435 mm)[6]
Curb weight	4,032 lb (1,829 kg) [6]

For 1979, Mercury joined its Detroit rivals in downsizing its largest models. In comparison to its 1978 predecessor, the 1979 model lost slightly over 1,000 lbs in weight, 11 inches in length, 6.6 inches in wheelbase, and 0.4 inches in width;^[7] interestingly, the Colony Park was now taller (by 0.1 inches). With the downsizing, the former 400- and 460-cubic-inch engines were discontinued, and the 351-cubic-inch Windsor V8 became the largest available in the Colony Park. All Colony Parks were equipped with standard 8-passenger seating and exterior woodgrain siding.

The 351 would be dropped after 1982, as most customers deemed the 302 Windsor engine sufficiently powerful. To further enhance fuel economy, the 4-speed AOD overdrive transmission was paired with both engines starting in 1981. While the carbureted 351 would return in 1986, it would remain a rarely ordered option. From 1984 on, the Grand Marquis wagon was discontinued, leaving only the Colony Park in the Mercury lineup.

This generation of Colony Park would see few substantial changes during its 12-year lifespan, garnering only minor grille and trim revisions annually through 1987. In 1988, the entire front grille headlamp assembly (shared with the Grand Marquis) was redesigned for a more modern and aerodynamic appearance, and then in 1990, the instrument panel was revamped to allow the addition of a driver's side airbag.

1979–1987 Mercury Colony Park front  1984 Mercury Colony Park rear

Discontinuation

When the Grand Marquis was redesigned with aero-styling for 1992, the Colony Park station wagon was dropped from Mercury's lineup. By that time, full-size station wagons were no longer popular due to the increasing popularity of minivans and SUVs. The last full-size station wagons, the Chevrolet Caprice, the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and the Buick Roadmaster Estate ended production in 1996. In 2005, DaimlerChrysler briefly reintroduced the Dodge Magnum name on a full-size wagon, based on the LX platform Chrysler 300, but it was dropped in 2008.

References

• "Standard Catalog of Ford" 1903–1998 by Krause Publications ISBN 0-87341-636-8

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercury Colony Park.

• Grandmarq.net Forum dedicated to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury Panther Chassis