Ford Thames

[Driller]

I'm sitting with some friends here in France and just been shown a photo of a Ford Thames which the guy has on Portugal. It is in clean and running condition. Difficult question but are these worth anything?

[RichB]

Bound to be if interest to collectors - which type/age? All these were known as the Thames van I believe...

Edited by RichB on Tuesday 15th February 19:25

[Driller]

Hi Rich, it looks like the one in the second picture and has a 1300 cc engine. I thought it was a Ford Anglia and it looks like it could be pretty rare.

[RichB]

I have no idea on value, but they are rare. This board is full of knowledgable people http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/

[occrj]

The small vans were badged as Fordson until the early 1950s, when they switched to Thames.

The cream/green van is a sidevalve-powered 5cwt E494C, based on Pop 103E running gear. The green van in the 2nd photo is a Thames 300E, based on the 100E saloon (also a sidevalve, but now 1172cc).

The Anglia 105E-based van is a Thames 307E or 309E, while the grey panel van is a Thames 400E series

hth,
RJ

[Driller]

Thanks for the info Rich and RJ. As you can see in the photo below, this model is not a van (if you look through the interior to the right):



and I can hardly find any info of the non-van version on, the net. It has been kept in a barn for years in an area of Portugal that never rains so their is no rust at all apparently.

I shall pop over to that CC forum, cheers.

[52classic]

The vehicle is clearly not a van conversion so IMHO the point of reference is the estate models of 100e. These were known as 'Escort' and 'Squire' in UK but quite possibly 'Thames' in other markets.

I think the difference was that the Squire had a much higher trim level than the Escort, typically some fake wood on the side, more chrome and the grille from a Prefect.

So, this one looks like an Escort - It has the Anglia/Popular grille and the mirrors etc look fairly poverty spec. The back doors are interesting, they should be split horizontally rather than vertically as in these and most other vans.

They are quite rare but that doen't mean desirable. The club has several known I think, but the rust free status of this one and the gimmick of LHD (if you're thinking UK) make it interesting although this is not a type that suffers rust badly anyway.

So I hope you save it but it is not going to make your fortune!!

[RichB]

52classic said:

These were known as 'Escort' and 'Squire' in UK but quite possibly 'Thames' in other markets.

Not possibly but actually, seeing as it says Thames on the front.

[52classic]

Or maybe a secondhand bonnet from a Thames van? Some pics of the interior would be nice. Could be more of a van spec than the UK Escort.

[Driller]

I shall try to get some more pics from the chap, including interior. I never knew there was so much classic car expertise here

[RichB]

52classic said:

Or maybe a secondhand bonnet from a Thames van? Some pics of the interior would be nice. Could be more of a van spec than the UK Escort.

Sorry didn't mean to sound "smart" but if you look at the paintwork it looks consistently faded so my guess is that the Escort Estate was marketed as the Thames in Portugal & Spain. As for what it's worth, not a clue but I'll bet there would be some interest, perhaps even from the custom chaps.

[RedexR]

I saw this one at Goodwood , it was probably a copy of the original but Alan Mann racing had one.

[52classic]

A bit more 'homework' on this, Escorts were made from 1955 'til April '61. The grille pattern on this one was introduced in '57. No mention of marketing as a Thames but as is said, that could have been Ford's policy for Spain/Portugal.

[occrj]

The Alan Mann van is a US Ford - probably an Econoline, rather than one of the Brit Fordson/Thames offerings

RJ

[52classic]

Have a look at www.ford100e.com