Lovely looking van. Dad had a 10/12CWT version in the 60's. Bought it as a van, put windows in the sides and built seating and cooking area in the back. Bush Transistor radio in a frame between the sunvisors. Ridden 100's of miles sitting on the engine cover as a kid, bit hot on the bum in summer. Engine cover had rubber fasteners and metal retaining hooks, gashed my shin on them once, still got the scar on my shin at 67. Would love to own it for old times sake.
My Uncle had one. It had two long benches running either side down the van. He had a minor accident in it and my Auntie went through the windscreen, breaking her nose in the process. It never looked right after that, her nose, not the van. Lol.
I remember as a 14-year-old flying around the country with anything between eight and 10 friends following the small faces the herd Gina Washington allen bound set in a van identical to this huge mattress in the back 17 year-old who only just passed his test driving his father‘s van it was his Work vanand just looking back on the memories were truly fantastic. Oh how I love that old van.
Dad had a 61 Consul . In the 60s they were heading for Poole in Dorset for a holiday. As they were going over Hoggs Back the engine through a Con Rod. Got it to Poole where they found a back street garage coincidentally they were about to scrap a Thames van with a good engine. Fitted the engine to the Consul for £35. Dad was chuffed as he could use cheap fuel as it was low compression on the van engines. That engine lasted until he got his mark 3 Cortina in the early 70s
A great story worth repeating. In the mid 1960s we had an early Mark 2 Consul that had been privately imported into New Zealand, later a Mark 3 Zephyr 6 along with a Thames van. I think the van was a four speed like the Zephyr, I now appreciate the fortunate lives we had in those days.
Love this mans passion for what he does a real gentleman
Gosh when we were growing up in the 1970s. My dad bought a Thames caravanette to ferry us all around in (6 kids). Brilliant van
An excellent show van, great for someone interested in historic commercial vehicles.
Could listen to Derek all day
I can remember these as a child in the early 60's
Very popular with many trades.
It would look good with "Mathewsons Classic Cars" on the sides.
Lovely looking van. Dad had a 10/12CWT version in the 60's. Bought it as a van, put windows in the sides and built seating and cooking area in the back. Bush Transistor radio in a frame between the sunvisors. Ridden 100's of miles sitting on the engine cover as a kid, bit hot on the bum in summer. Engine cover had rubber fasteners and metal retaining hooks, gashed my shin on them once, still got the scar on my shin at 67. Would love to own it for old times sake.
My Uncle had one. It had two long benches running either side down the van. He had a minor accident in it and my Auntie went through the windscreen, breaking her nose in the process. It never looked right after that, her nose, not the van. Lol.
I remember as a 14-year-old flying around the country with anything between eight and 10 friends following the small faces the herd Gina Washington allen bound set in a van identical to this huge mattress in the back 17 year-old who only just passed his test driving his father‘s van it was his Work vanand just looking back on the memories were truly fantastic. Oh how I love that old van.
Dad had a 61 Consul . In the 60s they were heading for Poole in Dorset for a holiday. As they were going over Hoggs Back the engine through a Con Rod. Got it to Poole where they found a back street garage coincidentally they were about to scrap a Thames van with a good engine. Fitted the engine to the Consul for £35. Dad was chuffed as he could use cheap fuel as it was low compression on the van engines. That engine lasted until he got his mark 3 Cortina in the early 70s
A great story worth repeating. In the mid 1960s we had an early Mark 2 Consul that had been privately imported into New Zealand, later a Mark 3 Zephyr 6 along with a Thames van. I think the van was a four speed like the Zephyr, I now appreciate the fortunate lives we had in those days.
Best entertainment ever love them
lots of these were used as motorbike race vans .used to see lots of them at u k circuits .
Passed my test in one of these in 1969
Nice bus
In the days when Ford was good. My brother in law had one of these in 1966 and I loved travelling in it.
I thought it was a commer bedford thing
Did school the best 👌
Used to service CA vans for Fishburns, printing inks Watford, would've rather worked on 400E's far better engine.
I disagree, the Thames 400 E was thrice the van the Bedford CA ever could be.
i used to drive a friends Bedford C A to bike races mid to late 1960s . it never let us down , but i think the Ford was more popular .