Enjoy the video about this "new arrival": my 1968 Mercury Marquis with a 390-4V V8. It's the 2-door version of the Park Lane Brougham used on the original Hawaii Five-O series.
It's a beauty, Adam! And it's amazing how much prettier the "whitewall side" is than the other side. The cars back then definitely had whitewalls for a reason.
Nice find Adam! My first car was a ‘69 two door Marquis. Red with black vinyl roof. 429 4v. My father bought it new and handed it down to my sisters and then me. I’m pretty sure I was the first one to race it though… it did extremely well considering the size of that car. Loved the hide-away headlights on that year.
I would have never given a car like this a thought and look at what a stunner it is. Love that speedometer and how the dash has a dome light when you open the door. All cars should've had that... and now we know how you find them, where do you keep them...???
What a beauty! The ‘68 front styling was a huge improvement over the ‘67. Went from looking like an LTD to a Lincoln. Can’t wait for your review once you work out the mechanical issues. 👍👍👍
For me both the 68 Mercury and the 68 Ford had much better front end's compared to the 67's. What I find odd is that the 68 LTD had concealed headlights but the 68 Mercury did not.
This was a treat for me to see. This 1968 Mercury, the blue color, but without the vinyl roof, was my parents first new car. I was 6 years old, and very excited when my dad pulled into our driveway with it. I remember it was raining, and the car sparkled in the almost dark evening. My mom and I got into it, and my dad drove it a few blocks away to show my grandmother. We had a lot of fun in it, the first thing that comes to mind is the drive in theater. I remember the gravel crunching under the tires. Pulling the speaker into the car, and my favorite place to see the movie was with a blanket and pillow on the back shelf. I usually fell asleep. We took many vacations in the Mercury. I remember it seemed to take my dad many hours to pack the car because the trunk seemed to be bigger than our house. I remember a trip home from Kmart one day. My dad announced to us we had a new car again. I was confused until he pointer to the odometer, it had just turned over 100,000 miles and it was back to all zeros. My dad traded the Mercury in on a fully loaded 1974 Country Squire. My mom was pissed because she wanted a Cougar. Guess what he drove in our driveway in 1977? That wagon didn’t last long.
Watching the classic Hawaii Five-O series. Jack Lord used a 67 Marquis Tudor in the pilot movie. Up to season six 1973-1974. Danno's using a black 73-74 Ford Custom 500's thought they were Galaxie 500's. But after rewinding and playing at slow speed. They don't have the Galaxie 500 script on the C pillar. But when they add the side molding it makes a big difference in the way the car looks. Waiting for the episode when Steve gets the 1973 Marquis Brougham and the 68 Parklane gets second duty status. Till season 10 I think and they total in Chase scene.
I remember at 8yrs old in 1968 my dad coming home with this exact demo car from his Lincoln Mercury dealership. Wow!!!! Thanks for showing your beautiful car.
Beautifull car, beautifull colour, nice leather interior. This car is over 50 years old. I don't think anybody will drive one of todays cars in 50 years.
Omg Adam! Like you said, you were less-than-a-day away from losing out on this rare Mercury Marquis. I remember seeing three of these around town back in the day, but I thought they were all Park Lane Brougham coupes - never noticed the name on the lower rear! That dramatic roofline bridges the limousine backlight with a fastback flair. The Marquis added a bit of Continental Mark III design cache to the Mercury full-size lineup. A grateful nation of car lovers thank you for the history you're saving. Ya Done Good, Adam! 👍👍
I can't say I ever seen one of these. What cool styling. Something that really jumped out was how nicely the rear bumper is integrated into the entire rear fascia. It almost looks customized. Beautiful addition Adam and a great color combination too.
I love the look, but doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of having a bumper ? Looks like if you're " bumped " from the rear the taillights would be the first point of impact.
Cruising down the highway late at night. Listening to "The heart of Saturday Night" playing nicely on the radio. Ohhh yes. I can almost reach out and touch the moment...
We had the '68 Mercury Colony Park station wagon with 315hp 390. It was fairly fast (55 in first). Had marginal brakes even with disc brakes up front. Got 10-12 mpg in town and 15-17 mpg on the highway. Was a cruiser with numb steering. But what a comfortable cruiser! And the most unique looking station wagon ever. Wish I still had it.
I first saw a Maroon 1968 Marquis at MacKenzie Mercury in Ottawa, Canada and the memory of that beautiful car has stayed with me ever since. Congratulations on a great find.
Beautiful Merc! Beautiful color also. Mercury had a similar color in the 70s called Midnight Blue Metallic, one of my favorites. I had a 67 Galaxie that had a rusted frame due to thin metal used in those years. Glad this one was well taken care of. Probably garaged its whole life. I'm glad you bought it because I know you will take care of it as it should be.
My father was a spectroscopy scientist at the Ford research lab in Dearborn for 36 years. In 1967 he became eligible for Ford's executive lease program (basically half-price and free insurance & repairs). So he got a new car every year. His first four cars were Mercury models: 1967 - navy blue Monterrey, 1968 - white Montclair 1969 - maroon Marauder 1970 - navy blue Marauder. In 1971, he switched to a gold T-bird. My 18-year-old sister got to drive the T-bird because the insurance included the whole family! Thank you for this video. It brought back some great memories!
Wow this brings back memories. I had a 68 Monterey in ford green. Same car but without the fancy trim in and out. My parents gave it to me for my high graduation. It was their daily car. 390 2 barrel. I promptly put dual exhaust, 8 track player with 4 speakers in it. I added a low rise manifold with 2 AFB 4 barrel cabs. 10” wide chrome rims in the rear. Way too much power when you don’t have posi traction. Plus it sucked the gas down. Even at 40 cent a gallon back then. Best part, bucket seats. Perfect for those drive-in dates :). Got rid of it when the frame finally rusted through.
I love your car videos. I am a Ford fan and own a 2008 Ford Falcon G6E on of the last made in Australia. The color of mine is very close to Wellington Blue. It has the 6cyl Barra engine, very powerful and reliable. I have owned GM (Holden-here) cars and I noticed the front of one of yours in the garage facing out was similar to a 1980,s Holden Kingswood with the single headlights with the squared chrome surrounds. GM, Ford, Toyota and Mitsubisihi all stopped making vehicles here with GMH the last closing in 2017. GM have now fully exited this market. Ford and Toyota still have dealers and sell imported cars. SUV's have become the vehicle of choice for many families now.
Looks like what I saw on classic Hawaii Five-0. Used for the pilot episode but the car was black with a red interior. His car was a Mercury Park Lane Brougham sedan used from 1968-1974 and a 1974 Mercury Marquis Brougham sedan from 1975 until the end of show in 1980.
My Mom got a 1972 Mercury Marquis Brougham in the gold/green color that was pretty nice. She had it from 1974-1986. I started first grade in 1973 and graduated 1985, so it’s the car I grew up in.
Yup, like GM too the model grades were all a bit advanced up a ladder, along with price. If Ford was "beer", and Mercury was "wine", then Lincoln, I guess, would be "Champagne"!! LOL :D!.
My 68 sport fury has doors that shut with a solid thunk…no rattling and no sag in the hinges with 130 k on the clock. GM’s had issues with door bushing wear and subsequent alignment issues
The way you buy your cars its like being the original owner all over again. Really it is better than being the original owner as the quality of your 1965-75 cars really stand out now as they were just a part of the crowd when new. The condition and detail is so great on this car. However what brings it all together is the blue and white outside colors. It just does not get any better than that. Thanks again for bringing us another great and rarely seen car.
Really cool! While the Super Bees, Chevelles, GTO's, etc. get most of the attention, the larger cars of the time could be pretty nice, too. Certain Dodge Polaras and Monacos and Ford LTD's were good looking cars.
I’ll take a nice two-door late 60’s Fury Sport or a nice two door early 70’s Polara any day of the week over a mid-size muscle car from the same era…….!!!!!
My Dad had a 66 Park Lane back in the day with a 410, super fast. I like the comment you made the other day about the quality between Ford and general motors. Ford definitely had the edge in quality assembly while GM was good with engine and chassis engineering. A GM definitely had better handling plus better engine design up till the 70s
GM had great part interchangeability. Ford had very specific models, years, engine sizes to swap out junk yard parts. Chrysler Corp tinny bodies, a lot of wind noise for hardtops but unbeatable power and tough drivetrains. They would take a lickin and keep on ticken, usually a power steering leak, 700 miles per qt of oil but never got worse, 200,000 miles. Olds still my all around fav old cars, and Mopars. 72 TBird built on Mark III chassis, ten sexy taillights across the back, was fav Ford. Black on black. Sexy car.
@@Skunked68 did you ever own a Chrysler? I had a few and I remember the comments on his fury, I had a couple of them and now that 40 years have passed I think we need a remembrance wake up call about Chrysler and what it really was like owning one. Cheap interiors, seats mounted close to the floor with the Chrysler legs out seating position, over assisted power steering that if you breathe the wrong way you'll end up spinning on the roadway, I had a 318 in my cars and every time it rained it would constantly stall out. Had a 1970 dodge Challenger with a 318 and a manual 3 speed, great looking car but it rusted everywhere even the firewall, the handling was horrible and I just don't know how anyone could drive one with a b block engine, especially a 440 or 426, the car couldn't handle it. I think it's funny how nostalgia has grpped everyone now but knowing none of them probably drove a real one ( most are rotted and gone especially with the poor build quality) But yeah they were great looking though, oh well better end this, getting foggy working this midnight shift
@@hynestimothy411 yes. Somehow Mopar got in my blood. I know they rusted and tinny. Always a PS leak, maybe used some oil. Could be hard starting. Had 68 VIP (top of Fury line, like a New Yorker for Plymouth, only ~7,000 made a year for a few years, compared to 300,000+ various other Fury’s). Bought it at 100,000 miles $500 and drove it to 200,000. A wee little rust started lower rear quarters. Interior cloth seats held up very well, was surprised, vinyl top good, towards end some rust bumps could be seen under it at rear. ICE cold AC. Didn’t leak Freon. 383 four barrel, double snorkel, heavier duty drive shaft, quicker 3:23 rear end, four door sled would get second gear rubber at 40 mph. One time going up hill on concrete, it shifted to 2nd and smoking one tire and 3rd still smoking tire up to 70+ mph on speedometer. Then took off. I kept it 15 years. Gas guzzler. 11 at best. Ugh. Tons of good memories with it loaded up with friends. Folks had cheap Fury II 318. Speedometer bounced like mad and doors shook at 70+ mph. But it lasted and lasted. Then they had 71 New Yorker 440 thundering torque. I never found top end. It lasted and lasted. A little rust rear quarters, used some oil, PS leaked and valve covers eventually leaked some oil on hot exhaust and stunk. 76 Olds Delta 88 455 was by far best used car ever. Never leaked anything, never used any oil, always started, SO extremely smooth on roughest old roads. Wow. What a 20’ long heavy sled. It even beat the VIP and Chrysler in mpg’s. Fast forward, brand new 1988 F150 4x4, Lariat, 302 V8, 5 speed. Worst POC I’ve ever owned and it was new, new, new. One year, 15,000 miles, 3 leaks, 3 alignments, 2 brake jobs, gas tank sender shot, dash lights dimmer only worked one narrow spot, engine used a quart of oil to 350 miles, replaced, second engine was 1100 miles per quart. And if lugged too much below 2000 rpm, it bucked and jumped and ran on 5 cylinders. Hit 2000 rpm and would take off like a 302 should. Emergency brake froze on in winter and towed to town to thaw in heated garage. And many more troubles. Dumped for 1989 little Blazer with 4.3 liter, drove it 80,000 miles, only ABS electronics replaced, a wind seal adjusted. That was it. 5000 miles on synthetic oil and used none. Big 3, GM treated me best, only 72 TBird I liked of Ford and somehow rather inexplicably, Mopar got in my blood up to about 1972. I guess a Dodge 88 minivan was pretty good. Valve guides needed fixed. The main computer died just 5000 miles after warranty and they sneaked in a freebie new one. That was very nice. The very next year their newer 4 speed transmissions were pure crap. I heard of new Chrysler products not even driving themselves off the new car semi trucks that delivered them. I’m not willing to risk a new one now. I’m afraid I’ve wandered off to Toyo, Subaru. Maybe Honda, but they usually ride rougher to corner better. Ford is now interesting me with new smaller Maverick trucklette and Hyundai Santa Cruz is sim sized. The pendulum swings, quality and reliability must be vastly improved by now over the 1988 F150 lemon. Too many words. But it’s life over multiple decades. Ta !
@@Skunked68 Just reading your interesting post brought back many past car memories, both good and bad. I used to be a Ford man except for a 77 Cutlass 350 4bbl. For the past 20 odd years though I've driven nothing but import's.
@@hynestimothy411 That's like the plates they used under the 390 2bbl carbs. The carb heater, if you will. Cooked the carb in the summer, but couldn't live without it in the winter... The actuator or valve that controls the coolant to the heat plate never seemed to work exactly correctly. At least on the several Fords I drove. Wasn't my vehicles, so not my job to make it right, so I never investigated into the reasoning. Well except for my Dad's F100, I don't think that plate was meant for trucks, but those trucks would freeze the carb after you got to your first stop sign on a 25F degree morning. My Aunt's 67 Custom 500 390 2bbl would cook the carb in the summer as well. Sure it was more of an actuator problem. Fun times when these were dailies, back then....
This is an identical car to my mom's first Marquis. She got away from Cadillacs and remained with Mercury. Her next car was a 1971 Marquis that I sold to her, then a 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham, and her last one was a 1977 Marquis Brougham.
Good to see some respect for the Ford 390-4bbl. Our family bought a new Falcon Club Wagon 6cylinder for vacation trips. The first trip south through the mountains (no interstate) the engine maxed out uphill at 20 Mph. Back from vacation dad traded it in on a new 1962 Galaxie 500 XL two door 390V8 4bbl. No more excuses on any highway.
Have this sudden urge to watch the original Hawaii Five 0 . Beautiful car whats interesting used a 4 door but the pilot episode used a 2 door like this one. Stunning car.
Wow she is a beautiful example of how mid 60's to mid 70's Two Door Full Size Cars are just as good as it gets. I daily a 72 polara 2dr and for as difficult as it can be there's just nothing that could put in the happy place like behind the wheel.
I owned a couple of those cars starting with a 67 Montclair with the 410 A 68 Monterey 2dr Fastback with a 390 Just loved those cars ,and a couple of others
MY GOD....THIS CAR IS STUNNING BEAUTIFUL...........GREAT SHAPE LOVELY COLOR THIS MERCURY IS //////////PERFECT MAN/////////////////////// ENJOY THE RIDE ADAM//////////////////
Such an iconic tail end treatment on this car! I remember being a little boy in the early 70’s and seeing these Marc’s driving around and even then, the budding “car guy” in me knew that THIS was a cool looking vehicle! Wow - what a difference on the whitewall side of the car - it’s amazing how that simple little splash of white really changes the overall appearance of the car! That car is in lovely condition inside and out - what a terrific project to dig into as summer starts! I foresee a cool morning cruise on July 4 in your patriotic blue beauty…….🇺🇸
