Pick of the Day: 1956 Meteor Rideau

Check out the brightwork on this beauty:

The Pick of the Day is a 1956 Meteor Rideau two-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Parksville, British Columbia. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Rare 1956 Meteor Rideau Victoria two-door hardtop,” the listing begins. “One of 2,110 built. This is a mild custom.”

Ford Motor Company of Canada offered a variety of badge-engineered versions of U.S.-market vehicles that were only sold north of the border. Some of those cars were produced under the Meteor brand, which was introduced in 1949 and (aside from a few unique years) existed until being phased out in 1976. The Meteor was similar in equipment and price point with some Mercury offerings, and the design language took unmistakable cues from cars sold in the United States other nameplates.

The Rideau model, which came out in 1954, was one of the cars sold under the Meteor division. Its name was coined for the Rideau River which connects with the Ottawa River in Canada’s capital city — Ottawa, Ontario. The car was offered in both four-door sedan and two-door coupe body styles. Today’s featured car is a two-door 1956 in a brilliant blue hue. But there’s much more to the car than its catchy color.

The most distinctive feature of the Rideau (to me, anyway) is its swoopy front grille. The design lends a subtle effect of the letter “M,” which was undoubtedly an intentional move from the design team. The seller says that the body is solid, and the car received a respray last year. At the same time, the chrome on the grille was replated, and the front turn signal housings and taillights were replaced. The already-unique look of the Rideau is further characterized by shaved door handles, mirrors, windshield wipers, and badging. The resulting look is understated and “smooth,” yet attractive at the same time.

The seller says that the interior is “nice but not perfect.” The bucket seats have been redone in perforated tan vinyl, and an aftermarket wood steering wheel has been added.

Under the hood, power comes from a rebuilt 302ci Ford V8 mated to a Mustang T-56 five-speed manual transmission and a Granada rear end. The seller says that the car “runs very strong.” Recent work included replacement of the gas tank, lines, filter, pump, and Edelbrock carburetor.

Few restomods will steal as many glances as this Meteor. The asking price is $23,900 or best offer.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, navigate over to the archives at Pick of the Day.