Korumburra swap meet

Post deleted by poster.

Brocky Ford Australia only rehashed the 1956 Customline for 1957. We never saw the American 1957 Ford here.

I had a Ford Mainline ute when I was 19 with the sloppy gear shift.

Second time I ever took Bev out I got stuck between two gears on the column shift one night at the top of Elizabeth street. Lifting the bonnet I saw the problem but had no bungy or spring to hold the shift rods in the right spot. They had to move in both directions so a fixed wire or string was no good. One thing led to another and here I was with a girl on the second date with my trousers lowered in the middle of the city as she ripped the elastic from my underpants with her nail file. Worked great and in fact was still there when I sold the ute a couple of months later. We always say she got into my pants before I got into hers!

Lang, Thank You for the link to the very interesting article on Y block engines. He did not discuss the truck applications. In 1952 Ford used the Mercury 317 Y block in the F-800 trucks only. By 1956 Ford also produced a 332 Y block, torque cammed, for truck use. In 1958 Ford introduced the "Super Duty" 401, 477, and 534 built for trucks engine that lasted until diesels out ran them.

Think some of the Tank Model Fairlanes here were 332 powered. Not sure of the actual engine specs.

There was also a 332 FE(??) engine with the distributor in the front like a 352.

Paul

Still not convinced. I think it might be the older we get the better we were. Young blokes counting mile posts with speedos calibrated to anything don't have numbers anywhere similar to factory specs (who have every reason to exaggerate performance).

Here is the American end of era flat head factory spec - I will keep looking for the Australian road tests of the era.

 1953 Ford (US Model) Specifications & Road Test
Engine: 239 cubic inch (3.9 L) "Strato-Star" Flathead V8.
Horsepower: 110 gross hp.
Torque: 196 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm (approximate).
Transmission: 3-speed manual standard, Overdrive optional, or Fordomatic 3-speed automatic.
Performance:
0–60 mph: Approx 19 seconds [0.1.14 (Note: similar to Zephyr-Six/Lincoln data)]
Top Speed: Approximately 80–85 mph.
Dimensions (Crestline Victoria):
Wheelbase: 115 inches.
Overall Length: 197.8 inches.
Weight: ~3,173 lbs.

This is from the Sydney Morning Herald 1954

 

The first true local majority content production Australian Fords to get to the numbers seem to be the 1963 Falcon with the 200 "pursuit" engine which the factory said 97mph but we might give it credit for being a good one off the line to crack 100mph. The Standard Falcon of 63 had factory advertised top speed 92mph. These along with the 63 Fairlanes who were claimed exactly 100mph for the 6 and 115mph for the V8.

According to factory brochures the early 1959  "Tank" Fairlanes could do 96mph but when they were up graded to the bigger engine about 1961 they were rated at 107mph beaten to the jump by the Mercedes as the first "production" Australian 100miler.

 

There were any number of sports and specialist local and fully imported cars capable of 100mph going back to the 20's but not Australian production vehicles like the Fords under discussion.

This is from "Motor" magazine "snippets" whatever they were?

 Based on historical records of Australian-assembled vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz 220S (Ponton series), assembled by the Standard Motor Company in Port Melbourne, was capable of reaching 100 mph (161 km/h) around 1959.
Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz 220S (6-cylinder, twin Solex carburettors).
Context: Assembled in Melbourne with locally sourced components (trim, tyres, batteries).
Timeframe: 1959.
While earlier bespoke "specials" existed (such as those driven by Norman "Wizard" Smith or faster imports), the 220S is highlighted in Australian automotive history as an assembled production car capable of breaking the 100 mph barrier in that era.

Based on historical records of Australian-assembled vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz 220S (Ponton series), assembled by the Standard Motor Company in Port Melbourne, was capable of reaching 100 mph (161 km/h) around 1959.

Yes around 1959, Standards had morphed into becoming AMI   . My father worked there for 20 years from 1955. They also assembled Ramblers. They had a large repair facility in Sth. Melbourne,  in Cecil St. My father painted the Fergy Tractors on the assembly line , but he was also a specialist painter at Sth. Melbourne for many years, where they did crash repairs. They had a active  racing team, they raced all types of cars , Vanguard , a Triumph Spitfire and even a Corolla. I've still got some stuff from the Xmas events they put on, a Toyota Crown die cast model.

I admire the achievements, experience and knowledge of all who post on here. Have deleted my comments regarding road speed of various vehicles as they are not correct. Have left the comments which are relevant to the original question posed. Thank you.