“The shape you want to be in.”
For 1988, Mercury’s full-size Colony Park station wagon gained a new and at least somewhat more aerodynamic front end that better integrated the fenders, grille, headlights, and bumper. Inside, the front seats were updated, and the Insta-Clear heated windshield was newly available.
The Colony Park name had a long history within Mercury. The first Colony Park branded wagons appeared in 1957 as the “glamorous style leader” of Mercury’s wagon line. Because there were no Lincoln wagons, the Colony Park was consistently the highest-end wagon available from Ford Motor Company for almost 35 years, and it could be equipped to near-Lincoln levels.
The only powertrain available on the 1988 Colony Park was the Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with multi-port fuel injection paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration figures are hard to find for this 4,000-pound wagon, but it certainly wasn’t fast. Fuel economy ratings were 17 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (15/22 by today’s measures). With an 18.0-gallon gas tank, Colony Park owners could expect a range of 300 to 330 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
The 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park GS station wagon’s base price was $16,341—about $45,500 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included a bodyside rosewood appliqué, tinted glass, a rear-bumper step pad, power brakes, power steering, and P215/70R15 tires on 15-inch wheels with Deluxe full wheel covers. Inside, vinyl twin comfort seats with dual recliners, Luxury sound insulation, air conditioning, power side windows, a power tailgate window, a quarter-panel stowage bin with lock, a tailgate-activated cargo compartment light, and an electronic AM/FM stereo with four speakers were standard.
For an additional $585, the LS added turbine spoke aluminum wheels, Luxury twin comfort lounge seats with high level cloth, a rear seat center armrest, and the Light Group.
Packages, Options, & Production Numbers
Two packages were available on the Colony Park:
- Preferred Equipment Package 192A (about $1,700) included front cornering lamps, a Deluxe luggage rack, a 6-way power driver’s seat, dual inboard facing rear seats in vinyl, a tilt steering wheel, fingertip speed control, an electric rear window defroster, and the Power Lock Group.
- Preferred Equipment Package 193A included everything in 192A and added a power antenna, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual illuminated vanity mirrors, and the Premium Sound System (power amplifier, upgraded front and rear speakers, plus two additional speakers).
Exterior and mechanical options included a narrow bodyside molding ($66), the Insta-Clear heated windshield ($250), an automatic leveling suspension ($195), a heavy-duty suspension ($26), and an engine block heater ($18). Inside, buyers could add Automatic Climate Control ($211), a Tripminder computer ($215), and a high-level AM/FM stereo cassette audio system ($472). LS purchasers could also add leather seating surfaces ($415). A loaded LS could near $20,500—not that far from Lincoln Town Car money.
Mercury sold 9,456 Colony Park wagons in the 1988 model year—down about 12% from the previous year despite the freshened styling. Mercury’s offering continued to be outsold by both Buick’s Estate wagons (Electra and LeSabre) and Oldsmobile’s Custom Cruiser wagons—likely its natural competitors.
The View From 2025
Sixth-generation Colony Park wagons sometimes show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I write this blog entry in June 2025, there’s a Silver Metallic 1986 Colony Park with 117,000 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $12,500.
Make mine Medium Cabernet Metallic, I think.
Other Mercurys I have written about include the 1983 Grand Marquis sedan, the 1986 Capri hatchback coupe, the 1987 Lynx XR3 hatchback coupe, and the 1988 Cougar XR-7 coupe.
Eighties Cars 