Ford Meteor
Encyclopedia
Introduced in 1981, Ford Meteor was the name given to the sedan version of the Ford Laser
, based on the Mazda Familia
(323) in markets including Australia
and South Africa
. Following much the same strategy in Europe was the Ford Orion
, a four-door saloon which had Escort mechanicals. It ran from 1983 to 1993, and like the Meteor was absorbed into the range from which it was spawned.
, although this was a temporary measure before the Telstar
was introduced. The Meteor name was dropped in Australia in 1987, with the Laser name used instead, but survived in South Africa, where it was used from 1986 to 1995.
The Meteor grille differed slightly and was available on one other model: a home-market Mazda Familia
sedan. Replacing the Laser's amber indicators were white ones, and the grille had more of an "egg-crate" pattern than the plain black slats of the Laser. The Meteor also had larger headlights than the Laser, which had smaller ones "sunken" into the bodyshell. In Australia, it was only available with a 1.5 litre engine at launch, in GL and Ghia trims—the 1.1 or 1.3 were not offered. Naturally, it had a hard job replacing the Cortina, which had engines beginning at 2.0 litre, up to a 4.1 litre six-cylinder, as well as a station wagon
option.
A mid-term facelift in 1983 dubbed GB brought the range closer together, with the same front end, though Meteors continued as a separate and slightly more premium line.
Ford Laser
The 1985 KC Laser/GC Meteor was the model's first major redesign. All body styles were carried over, with the addition of a station wagon from 1986. A new "TX3" variant, which was half-way between "GL" & "Ghia" in specification level, replaced the "Sport" variant from the KB series. Unlike the...
, based on the Mazda Familia
Mazda Familia
Mazda's automotive plans for the early sixties consisted of growing alongside the Japanese economy. To achieve this goal, they began by building an extremely cheap Kei car, the R360 in 1960, planning on introducing gradually larger and pricier cars as the Japanese customers became able to afford them...
(323) in markets including Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Following much the same strategy in Europe was the Ford Orion
Ford Orion
The Ford Orion is a saloon car built by the automaker Ford for the European market from 22 July 1983 until 19 September 1993. A total of 3,534,239 Orions were sold throughout the car's 10-year life....
, a four-door saloon which had Escort mechanicals. It ran from 1983 to 1993, and like the Meteor was absorbed into the range from which it was spawned.
First generation (GA, GB; 1981–1985)
When the Meteor was released in Australia in 1981 as the GA series, it replaced the larger CortinaFord Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
, although this was a temporary measure before the Telstar
Ford Telstar
The Ford Telstar is an automobile that was sold by the Ford Motor Company in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the European Ford Sierra and the American Ford Tempo. It has been progressively replaced by the Ford Mondeo....
was introduced. The Meteor name was dropped in Australia in 1987, with the Laser name used instead, but survived in South Africa, where it was used from 1986 to 1995.
The Meteor grille differed slightly and was available on one other model: a home-market Mazda Familia
Mazda Familia
Mazda's automotive plans for the early sixties consisted of growing alongside the Japanese economy. To achieve this goal, they began by building an extremely cheap Kei car, the R360 in 1960, planning on introducing gradually larger and pricier cars as the Japanese customers became able to afford them...
sedan. Replacing the Laser's amber indicators were white ones, and the grille had more of an "egg-crate" pattern than the plain black slats of the Laser. The Meteor also had larger headlights than the Laser, which had smaller ones "sunken" into the bodyshell. In Australia, it was only available with a 1.5 litre engine at launch, in GL and Ghia trims—the 1.1 or 1.3 were not offered. Naturally, it had a hard job replacing the Cortina, which had engines beginning at 2.0 litre, up to a 4.1 litre six-cylinder, as well as a station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
option.
A mid-term facelift in 1983 dubbed GB brought the range closer together, with the same front end, though Meteors continued as a separate and slightly more premium line.