[mercman from oz]

You guys in the USA don't realise how well off you are when it comes to cars & the variety that was available. As mentioned earlier, Ford Australia decided not to release the true 57 or 58 Fords, but offered a restyle on the 55/56 Fords for both years. The following pictures are of Australian 1958 Fords. The ones with the additional narrow chrome strip starting on the front door & extending to the rear with the added third colour were called Fordomatics, & naturally came with an Automatic Transmission. For those that wanted a stick shift, they could choose the cheaper Customline, which lacks the extra rear trim. The White & Maroon car is such a car. While you see the occasional 1958 Fordomatic at car shows, the Customline with the 3 speed manual is hardly ever seen & are extremely rare, as by 1958, nearly all buyers opted for an automatic transmission. The styling of these cars is a mix of 1955 & 1956 Canadian Meteors. The Grilles came from the 55 Meteor, while the side & rear trim came from the 1956 Meteor. Now you can appreciate why Australians go shopping in the USA for the true 1958 models. I hope that Ford Barners enjoy this little bit of Australian History.