Not A Mk1 but its predeceser

[greek]

Mark or luke might delete this but I thought it might be of interest to somebody & a lot on here perhaps have never seen one but heres some pics of Ford Thames 15cwt i used to own early 70`s , Which was replaced by the Mk1 Transit.The van itself was an ex Brooke Bond tea van fully ply lined & a side door.I fitted it out with 4 units 2 bits over the wheel arch for the bed a wardrobe & made a unit to hold the dish to wash up & the cooker with a lid coverd in foam to use as a bed for my 1st daughter that was fitted to the half bulkhead.I could take everything out in10 mins & it was back to a van again Heres some pics



Did quite a few miles with it West coast of Scotland Yarmouth Blackpool & lots of others hope your interested Sorry Mark & Luke

[popuptoaster]

cool, i like the old Thames vans, guy i know has the german equivilant, a German Taunus Transit, had some serious oomph for a while until he blew the 24v up.

[rottie_007]

ahh THAT taunus.. has he got a new motor in it yet or is he still doing the capri?

you got to love his matching trailer too !

[greek]

Yeh I followed his post when he was doing it up seemed like a handy fella no doubt be back on the road soon

[Muttley]

Got to love a Thames I had one in the eighties with a mid mounted Essex and jag rear, ahhhhhh them were the days when you could buy old vans and engines for next to nowt

[popuptoaster]

Taunus has been sold on and is being converted to carry a triumph spitfire race car, Mercedes diesel engine going in it for motivation, its being replaced by a 50's bus as a more suitable vehicle for big lanky buggers to convert into a camper.

Capri is finished enough for him to use it for the trip over from europe to yeovil next weekend for the retro rides show.

[Luke]

Mark or luke might delete this

i hope thats a joke

love the pics great to see old van pics just a shame theres not more left today i appreciate nearly all classic vans i've even got a soft spot for the old CF's

[madmark]

Mark or luke might delete this

i hope thats a joke

love the pics great to see old van pics just a shame theres not more left today i appreciate nearly all classic vans i've even got a soft spot for the old CF's

and me as well ,greek you are most welcome mate as i am shure all will say the same!

[greek]

Got a bit of a soft spot for it.It has a lot to do with what I do for a living now .Was a bus Driver 1970/4 had a 1964 Vauxhall Cresta & did a swap with one af the lads i got the Van +£90 he got me Cresta & after using it for Hols taking a few lads to Newcastle away matches + learning the wife to drive.Decided to sell it after me hols aug 74 & use the money for a weeks course & test HGV1 which i passed & have been flogging the roads since.

[sidspop]

Bloody hell, a Thames where the door bottoms aren't disintegrating. That's rare!
What's not so rare is the gutters are starting to go in that picture, which is a 65 van, so 7/8 years old.

Looks great picture, and nicely fitted out.

Any more?

[greek]

Be probably 6yr old when they were taken sid
Most of the ones I saw at that time were 3 spd but that one was 4 is that unusual sid, Only other pics I can find at the minute is this which had a new paint job & Rover 3500 leather seats

[sidspop]

I am not too sure how many were 3 speed, and how many were 4 speed. Top gear is 1 to 1 on both anyway.

You would be familiar I presume with the "Thames knuckle shuffle" then, when the gear rods got stuck, and the only way to cure it is reach under the drivers side and play with the linkages.. Oh what joy these modern Transit Mk 1 drivers must have, not having to do such a strange thing......

[greek]

Even the wife was trained in that art when she was on L plates.
I did cure it though just pulled it all apart ground a bit rust & steel off the shaft then plenty of Grease

[sidspop]

I have had a PM off a well known member on here, stating that the Transit Mk 1 must have been luxury compared to the 400e, the predecesor.

Well a few things I have found out about 400e's just for your amusement, annybody who can be bothered to read it.

Basic price was £439
Passenger seat option, £12
Heater option , £12
4 speed box extra , £16
Truck tyres , £11 10 shillings

Am I have read somewhere in my collection of anorakobilia, that they could have topcoat paint for an extra £12.

So the Mk 1 was a luxury, compared to that.

[greek]

I remember mine as being quieter than a transit even though you were sitting next to the engine& loved the driving position like driving a truck