A few guys here might correct me if I am wrong but I beleive we were about 2 years behind the US with the models.

The majority of parts for our cars came out of Canada.

The 58 and 59 (last model made) here were called the Star model which the USA never got.

The Star grill was "borrowed" from another Canadian model which I think was the Meteor, but I could be wrong.



In any case I have a Star model which is exactly the model I was after

Gary - 1958 Star Customline and 1940 Ford Deluxe Hotrod

Snowcone,

I think you're right on most of what you have written.  We used (Imported) Canadian cars. 56 was the last model that was the same as the American models. 57-59 was a sort of change over period where Ford Australia was being set up to build locally produced Falcons. From what I understand 57 and later were 56 bodies the 57 the same as 56. Our 58-59 were as you pointed out used Canadian Meteors front clip.

There are some differences our 56-57 uses a US style 55 dash. I'm not sure of the front suspension but we followed suit and 57-59 got 9" rears like US and Canada.

Mainlines in Australia are Utes and are a Australia only body. Ford Australia was making Utes from the 30's. In 57 the Yanks got a ute called a Ranchero based on their body styling.

Cheers

Warren 

Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)

Generally were copied from 55 and 56 meteors, star in grill was vastly downsized.

yyy

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

And this is the 55 meteor.

yyy

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Warren

Most of what you write is correct.

We did not get any 9" diffs in our Customlines. The first 9" was in the 1959 Fairlane, similar to the US model, we called them a Tank Fairlane and kept this model for 1960 with a modified grille.

Our 1956 was very similar to the US model. The '57 was basically our '56 with a different grille, unlike any other in production. Had a big V8 badge and a bonnet emblem off a '55 Meteor. for some weird reason we kept the '55 dash for both thes years.

Our '58 Star model used the Canadian '55 Meteor Rideau grille with '56 Meteor Rideau side stripes. The '58 used a dash similar to a US '56 but used Smiths' 12 volt gauges and speedo.

Just thought I would set it straight.

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Welcome Gary,from the Great White North, you are correct about the Aussie models being produced from Canadian Meteor parts. It is always good to have another Aussie on board, makes up for that "One Bad Apple" in your bunch!  I will mention no names of course!!!     LOL

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

Thats you LON!  

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Apple - did you mention Apple. I don't think we have any members from the apple isle, Tasmania

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Bill, like anyone would NOT know that the "Bad Apple" is Lon!!! 

At least the other Aussies that came over with the "OLD Crusty One" were respectable representatives of Australia!

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

Interesting seeing the variations on the Canadian Meteor.Were the export models all right hand drive?As I understand all exported vehicles     were done through Ford of Canada.I see parts catalogues from Oz for these cars listed on Ebay occasionally but they are the Canadian issued standard parts books like I have in my library of manuals.How did the dealerships determine what exterior trim parts to order if they only had the regular Canadian Ford and Meteor parts catalogues?Looking at the pics there is quite a combination of different years of Meteor parts on them.