Ford Thames 400E

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ford
Thames 400E flatbed
Thames 400E flatbed
Thames 400E
Manufacturer: ford
Production period: 1957-1965
Previous model: Fordson E83W
Successor: Ford Transit
Technical specifications
Designs: Box vans , minibuses , flatbed trucks
Engines: Otto engine :
1.7 liters (39 kW)
Diesel engine :
1.6 liters (31 kW)
Wheelbase: 2100 mm
Payload: 0.6-1.5 t

The Ford Thames 400E was a van from Ford of Britain , which was produced from 1957 in Dagenham UK and at Ford Denmark in Copenhagen . A total of 187,000 units were built by September 1965. The successor was the Ford Transit  II developed for Europe in England and at the Ford headquarters in Dearborn .

Model history

In the mid-1950s, Ford of Britain was well behind the competition in the commercial market. In addition to the Fordson Thames ET truck , only the reliable but outdated Fordson E83W from 1938 was on offer. The competition, on the other hand, was already successfully offering modern small delivery vans such as the Morris J-Type , the Bedford CA or the Trojan 1.5 ton van.

Therefore, a modernization program was decided, which in 1957 led to the Ford Thames Trader truck and below it to the Thames 400E forward control van with a payload of 0.6 to 1.5 tons. These models were based on a classic truck ladder frame. First there was a box van with a payload of 600 or 800 kg and a chassis with a full cabin which, with a box body, enabled a load volume of 5.1 m³. Later, a box body model with a loading volume of up to 11.8 m³ was also available. Furthermore, there was a chassis with only a windshield for various bodies. The drive was the 1703 cm³ OHV engine from the Ford Consul, including the associated 3-speed gearbox with synchronized 2nd and 3rd gear, which was installed between the front seats. Here, however, a lower compression (6.9: 1) than the Consul (7.8: 1) was chosen, whereby an output of 53 HP (39 kW) was achieved at a speed of 4400 / min (the Consul made 60 HP / 44 kW). A little later the minibus appeared, which at first glance looked like a box van with windows, but differed in the design of the side walls. The bus version had a side door that opened to the front and a step that could be folded out, in contrast to the conventional side door of the panel van. There were the minibuses called Van with eight to twelve seats. The Deluxe Estate Van version had chrome-plated bumper horns and moldings, ashtrays, map pockets, a two-tone interior and exterior design and, if desired, whitewall tires, which was not common at the time. With the start of the van version, the Thames 400E also received a 1.6-liter diesel engine with 42 hp (31 kW) from Perkins Engines .

From the beginning there were also left-hand drive versions for the European continent, but where mostly the FK 1000 from German production was used. In what was then the EFTA country of Denmark , however, the English Ford models were more popular. The Copenhagen Ford factory even developed and built its own version of the Thames with an extended wheelbase. The Thames 400E was not known as such everywhere, but wore z. B. in Finland or Australia the name Thames Express Bus or Thames Freighter .

From 1961 there was a flatbed with side flaps made of wood or steel.

In January 1963, an improved version of the 1703 cc petrol engine followed with 55 PS (41 kW) and lower compression for regular petrol and with higher compression and 58 PS (43 kW) for premium petrol. At the same time, a synchronized four-speed gearbox was standard and a rear-axle differential lock could be ordered as an option .

After the Ford D series was introduced across Europe in March 1965 , all commercial vehicle models were given the Ford name and the 400E appeared with a Ford trademark instead of the Thames logo on the front. Production of the 400E ended in September 1965. In its place came the Ford Transit , which had been developed since 1963 under the code name "Redcap".

  • 400E panel van

  • 400E as a minibus

  • 400E flatbed with wooden walls

Web links

Commons : Thames 400E  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files