The 1951 Meteor Custom DeLuxe Convertible Coupe was the most refined version of the good new Ford / Meteor generation ushered in for 1949 .
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Meteor , the Ford Motor Company ’s " Canadianized " adaptation of its namesake cable car , experienced a small , abbreviated sales decline in 1951 . introduce in mid 1948 as a 1949 model , 23,037 Meteors were built for that first long selling season , according to R. Perry Zavitz in his bookCanadian car , 1946 - 1984 . Then , in the more normally run 1950 model year , output signal rose to 26,075 cars , good enough for fourth place in sale in Canada . Most of those gains were wiped out the undermentioned year , however , when production of the 1951s came to just 23,138 .
It ’s slightly arduous to imagine why , considering how sleek the 1951 model were . Among the Modern features – albeit one that arrive late in the model year – was FoMoCo ’s first automatic transmission , an optional three - speed unit . A two - door hardtop was total to the model card . There were new instrument panel and steering wheel designs , and central start was adopt . A counterbalanced decklid did away with international hinges .
All these features and several engine and chassis refinements were shared with 1951 Fords . But there were some new things alone to the Meteor . Most striking was a classifiable horizontal loop grille that owed nothing to the Mercury - style grille used on 1949 - 1950 Meteors . ( As meteoroid were sold by Canadian Lincoln - Mercury dealer , some sentiency of family unit resemblance had been hold necessary in earlier year . ) Trim was revised , too , and made wider habit of the Meteor ’s four - point - star logotype all around the car .
Even with the slump in sale , Meteor continue its grip on quaternary place . Perhaps buyer were holding out for 1952 , when a redesign railway car was due . They snap up 24,246 of the 1952s and then 37,073 in 1953 . Ford - base Meteors keep on through 1961 .
A convertible bring together the Meteor line in 1950 . The Sportsman Green 1951 ragtop here belong to Ruben Wacker , of Sacramento , California . Its 100 - bhp L - head V-8 boast the aluminum nous and intake manifold peculiar to Canadian V-8s ( though one rootage says cast iron heads came in for 1950 ) . choice include overdrive , a wireless , and " Magic Air " bullet .
