Story of a Classic: 1966 Mercury Park Lane

The passion for collector vehicles revolves around more than just monetary value. It thrives on storytelling. From muscle cars to tractors and everything in between, each vehicle has a unique history, and collectors have their own stories for how each vehicle found their collection. Our team at Berkley One Classics enjoyed these stories so much that we’ve asked to share them!

Here is the story of Darrel from Milton Wisconsin and his 1966 Mercury Park Lane – the only one of its kind in the world!

Q: What drew you to this specific make and model?

Darrel: As a collector of classic cars for 40 years, I have always been drawn to rare, low production automobiles with exceptional stories. However, the opportunity to own this exclusive 1966 Mercury Park Lane far exceeded any dreams or expectations I ever could have imagined. Call it a simple case of a chance meeting leading to a chance of a lifetime!

Denise Clumpner, Chairperson of the Iola Car Show, deserves the credit for that chance meeting. My role as Executive Director of The Automobile Gallery & Event Center in Green Bay, WI, also contributed.

Darrel standing with his Park Lane

As soon as Denise saw this very special Park Lane she called me immediately and said she knew I would want it for display at the Gallery. Denise’s initial introduction to original owner John Kroll resulted in an instant friendship and a bond with John and his Park Lane.

Now in his late 80s, John had many opportunities to sell his Park Lane, but he was looking for more than an owner, he was looking for someone who would appreciate and preserve it the way he had for 56 years. My wife Kelly and I knew we were making the right decision and agreed that we wanted to put it on long-term display at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center where generations could see a true historic artifact.

This Park Lane is truly the only one ever built in the world as a result of the legendary Lee Iacocca being involved in its creation, which is a true honor.

Mr. Iacocca, Vice President Ford Cars & Trucks, 1966, said it better than I ever could. “If you are fortunate enough to get this vehicle as you want it, you should never get rid of it because there will be many that will look like it but never another one made like it!”

Q: What role did automotive legend Lee Iacocca play in the production of this 1966 Mercury Park Lane?

Darrel: I’m smiling as I refer to this Park Lane as Mercury’s Mona Lisa! While Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece was created with brush and canvas, this masterpiece was born out of John Kroll’s brush with automotive aristocracy and Ford legend Lee Iacocca.

In early January 1966, John was just 31 years old when he walked into Northern Motor Company, his local Lincoln-Mercury dealer in Escanaba, Michigan, seeking the fanciest, fastest, and fiercest car he could buy.

He started with the top-of-the-line Park Lane and then combined it with the sportier S-55 model. Bucket seats and a console already made this Park Lane 1 of just 1105 ever produced, but John wasn’t finished.

He soon elevated exclusivity to the summit. He proceeded to order the monstrous Special Police Interceptor Package which was only available to police departments.

The owner of the dealership happened to be good friends with the local police chief and entered the chief’s name on the order form to try and create a loophole for John to get this exclusive package.

Nine days later, the front office at Mercury caught on and quickly cancelled John’s order. Intrepid, John called the Lincoln-Mercury Division in Dearborn, Michigan and asked to speak to the boss. Miraculously, John was finally connected to Mr. Iacocca and the rest is automotive history.

Mr. Iacocca informed John that Ford Motor Company didn’t make Police Specials in 2-door hardtops with bucket seats, let alone for civilians.

Not content to take no for an answer, John was convincing enough to have Mr. Iacocca get Frank Zimmerman, General Manager of Marketing and former leader of the Special Vehicles Unit, involved. On March 22nd, 1966, John took delivery of the only car of its kind in the world.

Q: What makes your 1966 Mercury Park Lane so exclusive and different from any other?

Darrel: The simple answer is, thanks to Lee Iacocca’s power at Ford Motor Company, three different models were combined to make one! The top-of-the-line Park Lane, the sporty S-55 and the Police Interceptor Package.

This car is loaded with special order parts that won’t be found on any other car in the world in this combination.

As Executive Director of The Automobile Gallery & Event Center, verifying the facts is critical to ensuring credibility. Knowing how special this Park Lane is, I contacted Roger Towne and Adrian Clements, arguably the foremost experts in the world on big block and full-size Fords and Mercurys, to help me authenticate its provenance. It took us nearly a full year working together to write the unimpeachable history of this 1966 Mercury Park Lane. Every serial number, stamp and part on this car was rigorously challenged, reviewed, and documented.

This is just a partial list of the special parts.

• High-Performance Super Marauder 428 V-8 rated at 345 horsepower (though much higher in reality)
• Extremely rare Police Speedometer calibrated in 1 mph increments
• Special Holley Carburetor
• Heavy Duty C6 Transmission
• Larger Capacity Cooling System
• Heavy Duty Suspension
• Heavy Duty Drive Shaft
• Heavy Duty Brakes
• Heavy Duty Steel Wheels
• High Speed Rated Tires
• Heavy Duty Sway Bars

Q: Since your 1966 Mercury Park Lane is 100% original, what are your plans to preserve its originality?

Darrel: I have deep respect for John Kroll for never having this Park Lane in rain or snow which did wonders for keeping it in pristine, original condition. Now, as its owner and caretaker, I feel a deep responsibility to John and to the Park Lane.

Automobile Gallery in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Giving it a home in a temperature-controlled environment like we have at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is the next step in preserving it for generations to come.

I am a perfectionist when it comes to automobiles, so I am taking precautions to make every nut, bolt, screw, and part look exactly as it came from the factory without restoring the car.

Removing every speck of dirt, grease or particle with micro instruments is definitely time consuming, but to me, it is an honor to spend time preserving history that is timeless.

Q: Are you planning to attend major car shows with your 1966 Mercury Park Lane?

Darrel: Right now, my focus is making the Park Lane as perfect as an original car can be, but it has been gratifying to see the car receive television, newspaper, and magazine coverage. I am happiest for John Kroll who is the reason this car exists. I love being the reason he can still visit the car. I don’t see myself as the owner, rather as the caretaker.

Darrel’s Park Lane on display at the The Automobile Gallery & Event Center

It has been touching to receive invitations for the ’66 Park Lane to be part of special exhibits at high-profile shows and venues. Once I have the car completely finished and detailed to the highest degree, my wife Kelly and I plan to transport it to select Concours d’ Elegance events. I didn’t set out to make it an exclusive trailer queen, but I don’t have the heart to remove 56-year-old tires to drive it even medium distance!

The greatest honor for me would be to have Ford Motor Company invite the Park Lane to be on display where it all began in Dearborn, Michigan. The true reward would be seeing a car with just 43,000 original miles get a lot of mileage out of its story.

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