Fordson Thames ET

Fordson Thames ET tow truck

In 1949, Ford of Britain presented its new post-war truck range, this time under the Fordson Thames brand only (instead of offering a vehicle by both brands separately), replacing the previous Fordson 7V models while still retaining the same chassis and Ford V8 flathead engine. ET stood for English Truck. In addition to the Commonwealth of Nations, it was also offered in continental Europe, but not in Germany (where it was seen as unnecessary as the similar Rhein and Ruhr models were sold there). The model series was available not only as a truck and chassis, but also as a panel van and bus.

A version with a Perkins engine was also offered. The conventional cab with a hood muzzle and split windscreen had more space than its predecessor. It was built by coachbuilder Briggs Motor Bodies and was supplied in almost the same form for the Dodge 100 and the Leyland Comet.[1] The chassis had semi-elliptical leaf springs and now hydraulically operated brakes with vacuum brake booster. Payloads of up to nine tons and optional all-wheel drive were now also possible.

A four-wheel drive 3-ton variant (ETF6) with the Canadian V8 engine with vertical valves and a cab-over-engine cab from British Light Steel Pressings was also built. This was also used by Commer.

Because of the high fuel consumption of the outdated V8 engine, Ford launched the newly developed "Cost Cutter" in 1953 for payload variants up to three tons, a 3.6-liter four-cylinder engine with overhead valves. This engine was also the basis for Ford's first self-developed diesel engine with 3.61 liters of displacement and 70 hp (55 kW) of power. This was offered from 1954 as 4D or 6D. Production in Dagenham ended in 1957 and its successor was the Ford Thames Trader. Ebro built the Fordson-Thames ET models under license from 1956 to 1963 as the Ebro B series.

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• Fordson Thames ET English-Australian History
• Fordson Thames ET auf Simon Cars