The Ford D series is a range of middle-weight trucks that were introduced by Ford UK in 1965. It replaced the Thames Trader and appears to have been envisaged as a more modern competitor to the

Bedford TK The Bedford TK was a truck manufactured by Bedford. Launched in 1960 to replace the Bedford S type, the TK was scheduled to be replaced by the Bedford TL in 1981, but manufacturing of the TK continued as a cheaper alternative. A military 4x4 ...

produced by

General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...

' UK truck subsidiary.

History

In 1965 the range covered rigid trucks with gross weights from 5.2 to 12.75 British tons, and tippers from 10.8 to 12.75

tons Tons can refer to: * Tons River, a major river in India * Tamsa River, locally called Tons in its lower parts (Allahabad district, Uttar pradesh, India). * the plural of ton, a unit of mass, force, volume, energy or power :* short ton, 2,000 poun ...

. Higher gross weights became available with the subsequent introduction of versions featuring twin rear axles and articulated models were also quickly added to the range. Three new diesel engines were developed for the trucks, respectively of 3.97 litres, 5.42 litres and 5.95 litres cylinder capacity. The smallest unit was of four cylinders while the larger engines employed six cylinders. Claimed power ranged from 82.5 bhp to 128 bhp. Possibly with an eye to export markets outside Europe, petrol-engined versions with power outputs of 129 bhp and 149 bhp were also offered. As on the

and on various US built heavy trucks of the time, the cabin was a flat fronted forward control unit positioned above the engine. Engine access was achieved by tilting the entire cab forwards: the hinge at the front employed a torsion-bar counterbalancing system which according to commentators made tilting the cab to access the engine "almost a one-hand job". The engines were installed at an angle of 45 degrees from the vertical which was intended to enable the cab interior to feature a virtually flat floor without the cab itself becoming excessively tall. April 1967 saw the range expanded upwards with the arrival of the Phase II D1000 series, designed for operation up to a weight of 28

gross, and at that time the largest trucks ever produced by Ford of Britain. The D1000s were powered by

Cummins Cummins Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products. Cummins also services engines and related equipment, including fuel systems, controls, air ...

produced V8 diesel engines of 7.7 litres displacement. In 1981 the range was replaced by the Ford Cargo in European markets and by the Ford N series (badge-engineered Hino Ranger) in Australasia.

Hyundai Hyundai is a South Korean industrial conglomerate (" chaebol"), which was restructured into the following groups: * Hyundai Group, parts of the former conglomerate which have not been divested ** Hyundai Mobis, Korean car parts company ** Hyundai A ...

produced the D-750 and D-800 models under license from 1969 to 1972. It was the first Hyundai-manufactured commercial vehicle. It was succeeded by the Hyundai Bison.

Sources and further reading

{{Early European Ford commercial vehicles D series D series Vehicles introduced in 1965