Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

I love the pictures I've seen of the Canadian '55 Ford grille which was also used on the Aussie Fords up through '58 that looked like a '55. How hard is it to find one of those grilles (of maybe just the center piece is all I need if it bolts to a regular '55 grille) and what is a fair price to pay for a decent driver quality one (doesn't have to be perfect).

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

Our Aussie 55 Fords had the standard 1955 Ford Grille.
For the updated 1956 Fords, Ford Australia used the revised 1956 Ford Grille.
For some reason, Ford Australia decided that they would not release the all new 1957 Fords, so locally, the 1956 Fairlane side trim was used on Australian 1957 Fords together with the 1956 Grille that now included a large V8 Badge.
As the USA 1958 Fords were a revised version of the 1957 Fords, Ford Australia once again decided to use the 1955-1956 Ford body for their updated 1958 models.
So that the car appeared fresh, the Grille from the Canadian 1955 Meteor was used together with the side trim from the Canadian 1955 Meteor.
To answer your question, only our local 1958 Ford used the Canadian 1955 Meteor Grille.
I hope that this all makes sense?

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

Not sure about the 55, but the 56 Meteor is different than the Ford grille, not just the V. I have most parts for a 56, the park lights, and everything else is different. They are not cheap, as there are not many to be found.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614287523
This is the Cover of the Australian Ford Sales Brochure for the 1958 Fords. They came in two models, the regular Ford Customline, (Brown & Cream car in background) and the Fordomatic, (Tri-colour car in foreground).
The Customline came as a Manual Transmission while the Fordomatic came with Automatic Transmissions.
This was the only model that used the Canadian 1955 Meteor Grille.
In 1959, Ford Australia once again offered what was the current model in the USA, but like in 1957 and 1958, this true 1959 model once again was carried over into 1960 and 1961 with subtle updates, but that is another story.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614290736
Here is a picture of the 1957 Ford Customline from the Ford Australia Sales Brochure. While this car has the side trim of a 1956 Ford Fairlane, you can see the Customline Script on the front fenders. Also note that the Headlight Rims are Chrome Plated. Full Wheel Covers were never available locally and all came with the small Hubcaps.
So folks, while you may this that this is a 1956 Ford Fairlane, it is actually an Australian 1957 Ford Customline.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

A friend had a 56 Mercury Meteor grill on his 56 Victoria, they look bettor without the big star hanging from the hood in the center. My mistake, didn't know they were not call Mercury. My friend always just said it was a Canadian grill. Thanks for the picture Mercman.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614292496
This is the Grille for the 1956 Meteor. They do look a bit over the top?
By the way, these cars were never call Mercury Meteor, just plain Meteor.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

the canadian 55 ford grill is the same as american cars.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614301087

darrell, you are 100% correct, however, the Canadian 1955 Ford Grille was exactly the same as the USA 1955 Fords.
However, for the Meteor, which was sold at Mercury Dealerships had a slightly different Grille, as you can see in the above picture. They still retained the round Parking Lights, the same as all 1955 Fords.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

yes ive owned 4 56 meteors.however one thing they are not is mercury meteors just meteors.the mercury meteor didnt come along till the 60s.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

Mercman you seem to have pictures of everything, could you load some pictures of starter location, clutch and shift levers of Aussie cars. Wondering how they got around starter and clutch locations.
Thanks,
Ben

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614308609

CrownVic55, is this picture useful to you?
1957 Ford Customline showing the Engine, Transmission and Clutch/Brake Pedals.
This is a Page from the Ford Australia Sales Brochure.
This is the best that I can do.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

I always wondered how the transmission linkage was routed on a RHD but even that doesn't show it all that well.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

1955 Canadian Fords
http://www.oldcarscanada.com/2011/01/1955-ford.html

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

mercman i see you already covered the fact they were called meteors not mercury meteors.missed that.you see them for sale all the time as mercury meteors.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

That '55 Meteor grille is what I want.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614375167

Australian 1958 Ford Fordomatic showing the 1955 Meteor Grille that was used on this model in Australia.
Regarding the 59 in the Licence Plate, just for the record, all new cars released in Australia were released in the first half of the year and into the next year.
That means that in early 1959, this was the current model, and technically, this car could have been produced in 1959, the 59 on the Licence Plate. The CUS stands for Customline.

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

Quote Herman Munster;1989567. I always wondered how the transmission linkage was routed on a RHD but even that doesn't show it all that well.
Hi Herman,
I've got a trans shifter linkage for a manual with RHD. The clutch levers are an almost identical mirror image of a LHD. Re the starter motor ~ yes, you can still remove them.. takes a bit of jiggling but you can get them out.
A mate had a `57 LHD 6 cyl Customline. He wanted to put a 272 in it but couldn't get a LHD bell housing. He had a RHD one and I noticed that it had markings of where the clutch lever would be for a LHD and suggested that he cut it out and shift the clutch fork pivot. He did this ~ problem solved!! I've taken a photo of the "remote" gear shift linkage ~ it bolts to the bottom of the gearbox. I couldn't get photo to load.. I'll try it tomorrow.. Stiggy

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

Re: Canadian and Australian grille for '55 Ford
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1614637994
Thanks Stiggy for the photo of the "remote" gear shift linkage.
Here it is enlarged for everyone to see.