Thames (also known as Ford Thames or Fordson Thames) was a
commercial vehicle
A commercial vehicle is any type of motor vehicle used for transporting goods or paying passengers.
The United States defines a "commercial motor vehicle" as any self-propelled or towed vehicle used on a public highway in interstate commerce to t ...
brand
A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create ...
produced by
Ford of Britain.
History
![Ford Thames pickup (20053604948)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Ford_Thames_pickup_%2820053604948%29.jpg)
The Thames name first appeared in 1939 as the Fordson Thames.
Ford of Britain wanted to make a British brand identity and
Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...
became widely used. When Ford retired the
Fordson
Fordson was a brand name of tractors and trucks. It was used on a range of mass-produced general-purpose tractors manufactured by Henry Ford & Son Inc from 1917 to 1920, by Ford Motor Company (U.S.) and Ford Motor Company Ltd (U.K.) from 1920 to ...
brand in 1957 it continued to use Thames. In 1965 Ford dropped the Thames name.
The Fordson E83W pre-dated the name Thames. It was a bonneted lorry built between 1938 and 1957. The Fordson Thames 7V was a forward control line built between 1939 and 1949 in ratings from 2 to 5 tons and 8 tons as a tractor.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, civilian production was halted for military vehicles, in 1945 civilian production resumed.
The 7V's
forward control cab was cramped so the ET6 and ET7 introduced in 1949 were a bonneted design with ratings similar to the 7V. The ET6 had a V8 petrol engine while the ET7 had a
Perkins
Perkins is a surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon corruption of the kin of Pierre (from Pierre kin to Pierrekin to Perkins), introduced into England by the Norman Conquest. It is found throughout mid- and southern England.
Another derivation com ...
diesel.
In 1957 Thames introducing the heavy-duty Trader. It was available at up to 7 tons as a rigid truck and 13.4 tons as a tractor. At that time Ford had Thames rigid models from 1.5 to 7 tons. In 1962 The Trader II was introduced, available as a 7.5 tons rigid and 17 tons tractor.
After the name change to Ford in 1965 Thames model trucks were marketed as Ford until replaced with new designs.
Models
*
Fordson Thames E83W, a 10 cwt light lorry built between 1938 and 1957.
*Fordson Thames ET introduced in 1949
*
Fordson (1954 to 1956) then Ford (1957 to 1961) Thames 300E, a 5 or 7 cwt car derived van built between 1954 and 1961.
*
Ford Thames 307E
The Thames 307E is a small panel van launched by Ford UK
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Compan ...
- a small panel van introduced in June 1961.
*
Ford Thames 400E
The Ford Thames 400E is a commercial vehicle that was made by Ford UK and introduced in 1957. Production of the range continued until September 1965, by which time a total of 187,000 had been built.
Publicity for the model included hiring the ...
- a 10, 12, or 15 cwt range built between 1957 and September 1965.
*
Ford Thames Trader – a 2 to 7.5 tons rigid range and up to 17 tons as a tractor built between 1957 and 1965.
See also
*
Ford Transit
References
*
External links
{{Ford Motor Company
Commercial vehicles
Ford Motor Company Marques