The Thames name was used by Ford England on nearly all of their commercials from 1937 through to the introduction of the D series in 1965.
These varied from the 5cwt 7Y and 10cwt vans and utes built on the Prefect chassi built to 1957.
The forward Ford Thames control 7V 2-5 ton with the 85b.h.p. (21 stud) V8)1937-49(they also had the B model 4cyl. as optional in 37-38"). In 1949 The ET6 with same mechanicals as the 7V and ET7 with the P6 perkins diesel motor. These were virtually 7V,s with a new Biggs cabin. In '53 a 4cyl. o.h.v. petrol and diesel were offered These were the first Ford o.h.v. motors built. All these models were marketed under the Fordson name until 1952 when the Fordson was dropped to become just Thames which became Thames Traders from 1957 as each total new model was introduced. These light (15cwt) and heavy trucks in forward control and normal cabs ran until 1965 by which time the Thames name had disappeared.
Most of these models were extensively marketed in Australia except the 7V.
Probably the most memorable of these forward control Thames Traders were used by IPEC as their first overnight express trucks between Melbourne and Sydney. Christened Sputnicks because it was about the same time as the Russians put the first spacecraft up.
Graham P.
P.S. This post was written before the last few posts appeared, so if you have a S.V. V8 it is technically a Fordson, as the Ford name was not used until after the V8 was dropped in 1953.
Is it worth restoring ??, of course it is, it's a Ford. But don't expect Coles to stock the body parts.
