The summer weather finally here to stay for a few weeks in the Puget Sound area, I’ve got the urge to throw a sleeping bag in the back of the truck and hit the road for some serious summer outdoor fun. However, I do have a wife, which means I not only have requirements this camper/canopy/cap must meet, but a budget it must stay under. So I’ve been on the hunt for a good camper shell, canopy, or cap to sit atop the bed of my F-150 It was just as I was about to pull the trigger on a sweet aluminum shell with leaky windows that I came across this, the 1964 Mercury Park Lane with that glorious breezeway window. Some of you are probably wondering why I would consider a 50-year old family car an alternative to a flimsy canopy, but like many cars from the 60’s, there’s more here than meets the eye. Check it out. Back when America was in love with the open road, and there was open road to be found, truck manufacturers began offering camper specials, pickups designed with large slide-in campers in mind. With heavy springs, a stretched wheelbase, and large tires, these trucks were capable of hauling these heavy metal boxes up and down the highway with ease. The Park Lane, however, had none of those things, which makes this car and camper combination a real curiosity. The seller claims this is a one-off camper made for this car. Considering the builder made room for the breezeway window, I’d have to say he’s probably right.

1964 Mercury parklane w camper one of kind – $1500 (SURREY) 10 mins from blaine border crossing  1964 MERCURY parklane w camper 390AUTO, p/s p/b WAS BUILT IN THE 60s needs work , b.c car terry  Been park in2000

Very few details offered leaves lots of unanswered questions. We do know that with the big 390 and power steering & brakes, it should be fairly easy to drive, although the mileage is going to be abysmal. Why a 4-door sedan, though, when a pickup was more capable and cheaper? Why did setting a heavy load in the trunk make more sense than just pulling a trailer? How easy is it to do a wheel stand? So many questions. After a thorough and exhausting search of the internets, I came up empty. There are better campers for the price, and they would fit most trucks easily. On the other hand, you wouldn’t have a Mercury Park Lane in your driveway with a camper in the trunk: it’s a real quandary. Somehow, I think the Top Gear guys would have been much happier in a car like this on their caravanning episode. Seriously, if any of you know anything about this car and camper, I would be very interested. Let us know in the comments. [Source: Seattle Craigslist]