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Old 01-14-2021, 10:35 PM   #109
mercman from oz
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 10,297
Default Re: 1961 Fords - Where have they all gone?





Illustrations of the Custom 300 from the Ford Australia Sales Brochure for the 1959 and 1960-61 big Australian Fords. Unfortunately, for the purpose of showing the 15" wheels and Hubcaps, the Fairlane 500 was parked at such an angle that you can't see the Hubcaps. However, the Customs 300 was parked correctly so that the Hubcaps were clearly visible. Having said that, all Australian 1959 - 1961 "big" Fords came with 15" wheels and small "dog dish" Hubcaps and Wheel Trims tucked behind the Hubcap.
If you look at the top illustration of the 1959 Ford Custom 300, you will see that the Artist has drawn the car with 1956 Ford Hubcaps? The actual 1959 Fords did come out with the correct 1959 Ford "dog dish" Hubcap.
As Ford Australia spent big money on producing these cars in Australia, and offering a Station Wagon for the very first time, they weren't about to discard the stampings for an all new 1960 model. So, for the 1960 "big" Fords, it was decided to change the looks of the "new" 1960 model, so the Grille and Side Trim from the Canadian 1959 Meteor was chosen. This "new" 1960 "big" Ford did get the correct, new for 1960 "dog dish" Hubcaps.
This revised 1960 model was also carried over for 1961 with minimal changes.
In Australia, the 1959 and slightly revised 1960 and 1961 Fords sold for all three years.
In 1962, Ford Australia management and consultants thought that the "big" Fords were getting too big, so chose to replace these cars with the all new Compact 1962 Ford Fairlane, but that is another story.
The "true" 1960 and 1961 big Fords were never sold in Australia, which is a real pity.
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