The Ford Thames 300E is a car derived van that was produced 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 Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

from 1954 to 1961. The Thames (or

Thames Trader The Thames Trader was a range of trucks manufactured by Ford UK built between 1957 and 1965. Forward Control models Design The distinctive cab design, which sets it apart from other British commercial vehicles, was a forward-control (or semi-forw ...

) name was given to all available sizes of commercial vehicle produced by Ford in Britain from the 1950s through to 1965. In that year the Thames and Trader names were discontinued.

History

The 300E was introduced in July 1954, based on the Ford Anglia /

Prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect's ...

100E saloon range. It shared its bodyshell and 1172 cc

sidevalve A flathead engine, also known as a sidevalve engine''American Rodder'', 6/94, pp.45 & 93. or valve-in-block engine is an internal combustion engine with its poppet valves contained within the engine block, instead of in the cylinder head, as ...

four-cylinder engine with the

Ford Squire The Ford Squire is a car that was produced by Ford UK from 1955 to 1959. It was a two-door, four-seat estate design, related to the Ford Prefect 100E four-door saloon, sharing the same Ford sidevalve engine and other parts and the same inte ...

estate car versions of the line. Oddly, the bodyshell was optimized for use as a panel van rather than an estate with its two short passenger doors and shorter overall length than the saloons. Initially produced only as a single model with carrying capacity, the range was later expanded with the introduction of Standard and Deluxe variants. All three offered the same load volume. Production totalled 196,885 examples comprising 139,267 5 cwt, 10,056 Standard 7 cwt and 47,562 Deluxe 7 cwt units. 300E production ended in April 1961 and the van's replacement, the Anglia 105E based Thames 307E, was introduced in June of the same year.

References

External links

Ford Thames and Morris Mini 1/4-ton vans at Hemmings Motor News
{{Early European Ford vehicles

Thames 300E The Ford Thames 300E is a sedan delivery, car derived van that was produced by Ford of Britain, Ford UK from 1954 to 1961. The Thames (or Thames Trader) name was given to all available sizes of commercial vehicle produced by Ford in Britain from the ...

Vehicles introduced in 1954 Vans 1950s cars 1960s cars