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Mental
Mental PowerDork
10/12/12 9:40 p.m.

This one hurts... Bought this one for another project, wife fell in love with it, and it became hers. The plan became to restore it and use it for an actual tailgating vehicle or short range race support. Unfortunately, in the twilight of my career, the deployment schedule is wrecking my auto plans. I can store this, but it seems like a waste. 1978 Mercury Colony Park, not to be confused with the LTD Country Squire. That one is for plebes. This is the height of 1978 domestic luxury. Power brakes, big cali-smogged 400 2 bbl. Old school vacuum cruise control: Vinyl headlight covers, power seats; Power sliding rear window, dual action rear gate, and of course power windows locks with each door having its own ashtray. The little plastic bit around the drivers door lights up when you pull the handle. Each mirror has its own cable knob for adjustment. It has the super awesome rear sideway facing seats on the back. This is a true 8 passenger vehicle. The clock works. You can hear it rotating if you sit in the car. The odo reads 34K, it drives like it could be original, but no way I believe that. The previous owner found it in Santa Barbara California, bought it from the original owners and brought it to Oklahoma, where I got it. So the only rust is surface rust on the underside. The previous owner dropped $3K on it getting every thing fixed. Tires, shocks, the whole nine, and I have all the receipts.
Like any car of this size and vintage, it has its issues. The biggest is the headliner is falling; The rear glass is off the track. It seals, but if you lower it, it needs help getting back into position. I am told replacing the plastic guides will correct this. The radio doesn't work. It played through one speaker when I got it, but now doesn't even do that, and the dial stopped responding to input. The drivers side door pull needs to be replaced, the drivers rear is cracked. There is a small separation crack at the top of the steering wheel. The rear inside is scratched up and the metal piece over the rear tailgate is off (I have it). The drivers seat belt won't click into the original holder and I click it into the middle seat buckle. The brightwork is all there and on the car but could use some attention. The "wood paneling" is gone, beyond help. On the Station Wagon forums they mentioned a good plan is to got to a car wrap place and have it redone. Looks better and wears better. It needs paint. The original paint is just worn through on the hood. The AC worked when I got it, but no so much now. I want to tell you "it just needs Freon" but I am sure it leaked out of an old hose that probably needs to be replaced. The possibilities are endless. Awesome tow pig and/or RV, three sleeping bags can fit in there easily. Vintage cruiser. Restore this and take it to the old cruise it in town and see the response you get. Anti DUI vehicle, load up your buddies, head to the bar and have your designated driver bring you all home, or just leave it and take a cab to it the next day.

This thing is cool. I get more comments on this than my Midget, El Camino or 911. The seats are immaculate. I mean really, in better shape than most of my other cars. The dash is un-cracked;

BBBBUUUUUTTTTT..... There are conditions. In the manner this vehicle was sold to me, I cannot allow it to go to it's destruction. So no demo derby folks, sorry. I put it up here because you folks appreciate stuff like this. It doesn't need to be restored (although if you did, awesome), just loved.

That price is not carved in stone, not at all. Make me a cool offer. Bonus negotiation points of you are gonna use it for something awesome like BABE or as a support vehicle to your Challenge or Lemons efforts.

I have a ton of pictures here, and will be happy to take more. Clean, green title in my name and ready to put in yours. It is insured, legal and driven almost daily. It is in Oklahoma and if you make arrangements far enough in advance, delivery is available before December for the cost of fuel (especially if you live someplace cool the missus and I can get away to before I deploy again).

Like most of my unsuccessful for-sale ads, this one has a lot of info and a lot of pictures. But feel free to ask questions.

Thanks for reading this far.

Tom_Spangler
Tom_Spangler GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/12/12 9:47 p.m.

I cannot begin to describe the amount of awesome here.

poopshovel
poopshovel UltimaDork
10/12/12 9:58 p.m.

I love everything about this. Hope she goes to a good home. Rode in one of those jump-seats all the way to key west as a kid, doing the "horn-pull" at every 18-wheeler. Hell, I'd buy it if I wasn't fulfilling my own wagonlust. Good luck!

Mental
Mental PowerDork
10/12/12 10:13 p.m.
poopshovel wrote: I love everything about this. Hope she goes to a good home. Rode in one of those jump-seats all the way to key west as a kid, doing the "horn-pull" at every 18-wheeler. Hell, I'd buy it if I wasn't fulfilling my own wagonlust. Good luck!

Make me an offer, I am coming home to the ATL for Thanksgiving...

Spinout007
Spinout007 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/12/12 10:52 p.m.

Showed it to my wife, followed by "You would let me drive that right?"

Her answer...."As long as you don't expect me to ride in it!" :( Sooooo much awesome there! I've been seriously thinking about a older wagon lately.

DoctorBlade
DoctorBlade SuperDork
10/12/12 11:04 p.m.

Dare I ask about gas mileage?

Cotton
Cotton Dork
10/12/12 11:07 p.m.
Mental wrote:
poopshovel wrote: I love everything about this. Hope she goes to a good home. Rode in one of those jump-seats all the way to key west as a kid, doing the "horn-pull" at every 18-wheeler. Hell, I'd buy it if I wasn't fulfilling my own wagonlust. Good luck!
Make me an offer, I am coming home to the ATL for Thanksgiving...

Are you saying some sort of delivery may be possible? I'm just west of Nashville and would be able to meet you somewhere along the way if we can make a deal.

I would love to end up with this wagon. If you want to e-mail me direct use cottonyzf at gmail. I don't get PMs anymore for some reason.

Mental
Mental PowerDork
10/13/12 11:12 a.m.
DoctorBlade wrote: Dare I ask about gas mileage?

No, no you don't.

We haven't kept any official records, but low teens.

Cotton wrote: Are you saying some sort of delivery may be possible? I'm just west of Nashville and would be able to meet you somewhere along the way if we can make a deal. I would love to end up with this wagon. If you want to e-mail me direct use cottonyzf at gmail. I don't get PMs anymore for some reason.

Delivery is possible, but see previously mentioned gas mileage and my comments about fuel cost. I will email you now, evilmental at gmail dot com

Datsun310Guy
Datsun310Guy UltraDork
10/13/12 11:32 a.m.

Ha ha ha - heavily "armor all" up those vinyl seats and drive like crazy. Your passengers will think it's funny.

Datsun310Guy
Datsun310Guy UltraDork
10/13/12 11:35 a.m.

You failed to mention: clean it up and head to Wally World next summer.

hrdlydangerous
hrdlydangerous HalfDork
10/13/12 1:10 p.m.

This has Powerstroke swap written all over it.

drainoil
drainoil New Reader
10/13/12 5:12 p.m.

Brother,, that is one damn cool ride!

HappyAndy
HappyAndy Dork
10/13/12 6:15 p.m.

Whats the tow rating for this beast? I know I won't be taking this one, but in the not to distant future I want a non pickup truck tow pig.

Cotton
Cotton Dork
10/13/12 6:16 p.m.
Mental wrote:
DoctorBlade wrote: Dare I ask about gas mileage?
No, no you don't. We haven't kept any official records, but low teens.
Cotton wrote: Are you saying some sort of delivery may be possible? I'm just west of Nashville and would be able to meet you somewhere along the way if we can make a deal. I would love to end up with this wagon. If you want to e-mail me direct use cottonyzf at gmail. I don't get PMs anymore for some reason.
Delivery is possible, but see previously mentioned gas mileage and my comments about fuel cost. I will email you now, evilmental at gmail dot com

You've got mail.

Tom_Spangler
Tom_Spangler GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/13/12 8:29 p.m.
hrdlydangerous wrote: This has Powerstroke swap written all over it.

I was thinking moderately breathed-on 460 for the sake of simplicity.

JThw8
JThw8 UberDork
10/13/12 8:50 p.m.

Damn you Mental....I love that wagon and it could almost fill the need for a truck around here right now.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid
SyntheticBlinkerFluid UltraDork
10/14/12 10:22 a.m.

This almost makes me want to the wife to go to hell and suffer having to sleep on the couch for a few months.

Almost.

Mental
Mental PowerDork
10/14/12 5:04 p.m.
HappyAndy wrote: Whats the tow rating for this beast? I know I won't be taking this one, but in the not to distant future I want a non pickup truck tow pig.

I have no idea. My plans was a aluminum trailer and air shocks for to haul my track and/or Lemons car.

Cotton wrote: You've got mail.

Got it. Working on the reply.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: This almost makes me want to the wife to go to hell and suffer having to sleep on the couch for a few months. Almost.

Or, just sleep in the wagon...

JThw8 wrote: Damn you Mental....I love that wagon and it could almost fill the need for a truck around here right now.

When I replied to you Jim, did I mention our rust free junkyards down here and the cargo capacity of the wagon? How about BBQ? There are two places within 500 yard of my house.

JThw8
JThw8 UberDork
10/14/12 5:58 p.m.
Mental wrote:
JThw8 wrote: Damn you Mental....I love that wagon and it could almost fill the need for a truck around here right now.
When I replied to you Jim, did I mention our rust free junkyards down here and the cargo capacity of the wagon? How about BBQ? There are two places within 500 yard of my house.

Yes, yes you did. I think I'd have to round up Studebaker parts to bring back...might offset a tank of fuel or something. Current status is wife isn't opposing, but it won't make her very happy either. Weighing the "marital misery" factor in with everything else and trying to see when I can arrange a fly and drive around work schedules. I'll keep you posted.

slefain
slefain SuperDork
10/15/12 10:16 a.m.

Needs 15" Torq Thrusts, 275/60-15's on the back, 185/75-15's on the front, rear air shocks set to ski jump level, and a few square miles of window tint. Leave the paint and wood siding alone.

JThw8
JThw8 UberDork
10/15/12 10:41 a.m.
slefain wrote: Needs 15" Torq Thrusts, 275/60-15's on the back, 185/75-15's on the front, rear air shocks set to ski jump level, and a few square miles of window tint. Leave the paint and wood siding alone.

yes it does...I've been scrounding the local CL all morning for just the right set.

I was thinking the whole thing should be bagged...just because.

mndsm
mndsm PowerDork
10/15/12 10:46 a.m.
JThw8 wrote:
slefain wrote: Needs 15" Torq Thrusts, 275/60-15's on the back, 185/75-15's on the front, rear air shocks set to ski jump level, and a few square miles of window tint. Leave the paint and wood siding alone.
yes it does...I've been scrounding the local CL all morning for just the right set. I was thinking the whole thing should be bagged...just because.

Yes, yes it should.

JThw8
JThw8 UberDork
10/15/12 10:56 a.m.
mndsm wrote:
JThw8 wrote:
slefain wrote: Needs 15" Torq Thrusts, 275/60-15's on the back, 185/75-15's on the front, rear air shocks set to ski jump level, and a few square miles of window tint. Leave the paint and wood siding alone.
yes it does...I've been scrounding the local CL all morning for just the right set. I was thinking the whole thing should be bagged...just because.
Yes, yes it should.

Hmmm...what's this I found just sitting in my shop...

dculberson
dculberson SuperDork
10/15/12 11:26 a.m.

Shoot man, you should drive this to Columbus, I'll buy this, then I'll drive you to Loudon for our race, then you can take your flight back. They don't mind if you miss the first leg of a round trip flight do they??

I'm about done with the Volvo, it wouldn't start this morning. It's been averaging 25mpg, this thing should get around that right? ;-)

mndsm
mndsm PowerDork
10/15/12 11:27 a.m.
JThw8 wrote:
mndsm wrote:
JThw8 wrote:
slefain wrote: Needs 15" Torq Thrusts, 275/60-15's on the back, 185/75-15's on the front, rear air shocks set to ski jump level, and a few square miles of window tint. Leave the paint and wood siding alone.
yes it does...I've been scrounding the local CL all morning for just the right set. I was thinking the whole thing should be bagged...just because.
That looks suspiciously like a 4 corner bag setup, ready to go. Yes, yes it should.
Hmmm...what's this I found just sitting in my shop...
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