Our Canadian cousins could appear similar to us, however the fact is that they’ve been socialized fairly otherwise. Have you ever see their paper cash with the Queen? Or how how males of their 60s play intramural hockey? They even have had bizarre vehicles that regarded like ours however had totally different names and trim! One of the latter is our Pick of the Day, a 1967 Meteor Montcalm convertible. It’s listed on ClassicCars.com by a personal vendor in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. (Click the link to view the listing)
To Americans, the Meteor was the low and center trim stage for 1961 Mercurys (Meteor 600 and Meteor 800), then it turned Mercury’s cousin to the mid-size Fairlane for 1962-63. However, to Canadians, Meteor was a model offered by Mercury dealerships. If you’re questioning why there can be a necessity for a mainstream model in Canada past Ford and Mercury, you’re not alone.
It goes again to Canada being totally different than the United States. When Meteor was established for 1949, Canada was nonetheless a growing nation. (Truth be instructed, the U.S. was as properly, however that almost-as-large nation beneath Canada was additional alongside in its improvement.) The inhabitants of Canada was a lot lower than that of America and, in the central provinces, the inhabitants density was meager. Giving dealerships a two-pronged method in promoting to totally different market segments was a approach to assist dealerships survive the desolation.
Why did Ford of Canada really feel the have to create a brand new model with distinctive styling? For one factor, Canada had a tariff for imports from America till 1970, so the nation was all in favour of defending its business. Plus, the nation that was usually drowned out by these boisterous Yanks needed to have one thing of its personal, and Meteor was it. Even the mannequin names had been uniquely Canadian. Through 1961, Meteors regarded like Fords, however then the model was discontinued. In 1964, the Meteor marque was revived, now wanting like Mercurys. If that’s not complicated sufficient, Ford of Canada additionally produced the Monarch for a quantity of years, one other hodgepodge of Ford and Mercury design and styling parts offered by Ford dealerships, although it was discontinued for 1962.
This Oakville, Ontario-built 1967 Meteor Montcalm convertible can be considerably like a Galaxie 500 in America, particularly as seen from the inside. The Meteor trim ranges had been Rideau, Rideau 500, Montcalm, S-33, and Montego, with the latter being the first time the Montego title appeared. Few Montcalm convertibles had been constructed – solely 985 – so it’s a novelty even in Canada. The vendor says it lately has been repainted in Autumn Maple metallic paint, which doesn’t seem on Ford or Mercury’s paint chart although we’re curious if it’s the manufacturing facility Burgundy metallic underneath a nom de plume; the inside is black fabric, although that too appears to have been reconfigured from the manufacturing facility construct. “Strong-running 390 with a four-barrel Holley carb,” says the vendor, although the automobile initially was a 390 two-barrel. “New brake booster, starter, [and] rear coil springs.”
This Meteor, which originated from Victoria, British Columbia when new, comes with spare elements together with convertible high weatherstripping, taillight lenses, starter, gasoline pump, door arm rests, and headlight bezels. The taillights are particularly golden as a result of they’re Canadian items with delicate distinction from American Mercurys, however the different gadgets are normal Ford fare, which makes a lot of this automobile as simple to service as your typical 1967 Ford. For Can$35,000 (about $25,646), this uncommon ragtop will make Yanks do a double-take. Or preserve it in BC and take pleasure in the brief, candy summers.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
