Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Ralph, You summed up the situation perfectly, when you wrote:-

"The reason was that Lincoln Mercury dealerships were separate from Ford. LM needed a car for the buyer that couldn't afford a Mercury or a Lincoln so the Meteor was introduced. The same dealership could sell you a Mercury truck.
Ford dealerships wanted something a little more classy to offer customers who had a little more money to spend without sending them down the road to the Lincoln Mercury dealerships. So the Monarch filled that gap. Just a re-badged Mercury really."

Thanks for your clarification about these misunderstood Canadian cars. Regards Mercman <><

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

That's not true though. Even in America the Lincoln/Merc dealerships where separate. They did cross over here. But It had to do with trade. It had nothing to do about what you could afford. Ford is a big company that had many brands under them. Volvo was a ford car also. Just for patents. The general ford line was not used in Canada due to trade.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Maybe you Canadians guys can help out and can name at least a dozen Canadian car builders from 1920-1950 that have gone under. Probably a forum for it.


I love the Meteor and Monarch. But the base of how it was created was trade laws. Less you guys could buy a 1953 ford customline off fords line, oh ya they are Meteor with badging changes. No more and no less.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609317454
This is the Cover of the 1950 Meteor Sales Brochure. Nice.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Yes, I've read there were trade issues over the border that were part of the reason the Meteor and Monarch came to be.

Ford kept it interesting. For 51 the Meteor got it's own grille, no longer able to fit the big Mercury grille in the Ford front end. By 52 the top line Meteors got the Mercury engine and dash.
We never had six cylinder engines offered until 1955 as far as I know. Also Fords kept the flathead through 1954. Meteor also.
This is a locally owned 53 Meteor, top of the line Customline with the Merc engine and dash. Shows up at the local car show every year.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Yes Ralph like you Canadians us kiwis and Aussies were luckier than our Yank brothers as we got to keep the Flatty v8 another year too. We also got the Canadian aluminum intakes on our C59A engines from the factory which the US did not get on their 59AB.

Another US poster here mentioned the "Plodges" he saw while north of the border, these were also assembled here in the NZ Chrysler plant (Todd Motors).

Another interesting fact is that in Australia the 55/56 ford body style was carried over into the later 50's with a model known locally (probably colloquially) as a Ford "Star" because it had a huge star in the grill which I believe was picked off the Canadian Meteor/ Monarch...... Mercman will know for sure and will be able chime in on this one

GB

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609339175
Here is a larger picture of that Canadian 1953 Meteor. Very nice car.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

This is correct. To make a long story short, post-war Canadian Protectionist laws prevented the import of American cars.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

That would explain the "Cheviacs" too. Pontiacs with Chevy sheet metal and Pontiac engines. A neighbour had a nice 52 Pontiac coupe that looked a lot like a Chevy until you looked under the hood and saw the flathead six.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Your "Star" was a Canadian Meteor from what I have seen. I've always liked the Aussie "Utes" as well because we never had them here although a few built their own out of a sedan.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Ralph you mentioned the "cheviacs" . We got the Pontiac Laurentian which had a Chevy dash and a 283 donk.

GB

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

I took my driver's test in my dad's 64 Laurentian. 230 six cylinder with powerglide.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

I saw a Bonneville with a 409 once. Strangely, it was in the Florida Keys!

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609378777
This is the Cover of the Australian Sales Brochure for the new 1958 Fords that Ralph referred to. They were based on the 1956 model, as Australia never got the "true" 1957 and 1958 model Fords. As they were a "carry-over" model, Ford Australia had to do something different so people would know that they were a new car. The Grille is from the 1955 Meteor while the side strips are from the 1956 Meteor. These days, people refer to this model as the "Star Model" Ford.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609407543

Canadian 1954 Meteor Niagara Sedan that now calls Australia home.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609327642

Another Canadian Mercury 114 Grille showing the Mercury Head that is unique to these Canadian Mercury 114 models. The larger Mercurys that were available in the USA, all on a 118 inch Wheelbase didn't have this Symbol. This symbol is unique to the Canadian only Mercury 114 model.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

A line of new Mercury 114s shown in this photo from the book, "Meteor Monarch" by R. Perry Zavitz.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609472999
Thanks for this picture from R Perry Zavitz excellent book on these unique Canadian Cars. Unfortunately, Perry passed away on the 24th May 2020 aged 92. He is now with his Lord and Saviour.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1609479893

This is the cover of the book that was recommended by Ralph. The Title is "Monarch Mercury" by R Perry Zavitz.
A great book on these Canadian FoMoCo Products. Well worth trying to track down a copy.

Re: Canadian 1946-1948 Mercury 114
 

Yes, that is the book. I had not heard the author had passed on. I got mine at https://oldautos.ca/promotions/ and it looks like they still have copies listed for sale. There is also a section on Mercury trucks in the book.