Fordson Thames ET6 year model

ShaunG

ShaunG

Junior Member
Hi All,
I am hoping someone can help me with information regarding the year model of a Fordson Thames ET6 truck originally sold in west Queensland Australia. It is a 2 tonne model with a 'Ford' 'Made In England' manufacturers plate with : Model No. ET6 and Engine No. 7222299. These are the only numbers I can find on it. I believe they were made as an ET6 (V8 petrol) by Ford (Fordson) from 1949 through to 1953 then later as an ET7 (4cyl diesel).
Any information you can provide would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Shaun.
 
gday Shaun

I have just bought an engine out of one of these .

It is complete otherwise if you need any parts and in very good condition.

Located in Molong NSW.

They ran a 221 21 stud pilot V8 .

I am guessing they ran about the same years as the Ford Pilot car, 47 to 51.
 
Last edited:
pooch said:
gday Shaun

I have just bought an engine out of one of these .

It is complete otherwise if you need any parts and in very good condition.

Located in Molong NSW.

They ran a 221 21 stud pilot V8 .

I am guessing they ran about the same years as the Ford Pilot car, 47 to 51.
Click to expand...
Pooch,

Thanks for the info. This truck has a 24 bolt flat head (239cui) which I believe is unusual for the ET6 but maybe it is an Australian thing or it may have had an engine swap.

Shaun.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
 
OK this engine I bought was under bonnet, has bypass oil filter, , complete , clean oil, turns freely, 59000 miles on clock, pulled out, ready to pick up $500.
 
"And i believe that a 221 pilot engine is far superior to a USA 221 engine"

Pooch, what makes you believe that? I think you need to qualify that statement.
 
380699


380700

Above is a copy of the Australian 1953 Fordson Thames V8 Truck Postcard. While the Postcard is undated, it mentions the 50th Anniversary of Ford which was 1953. Hope that this helps.
 
pooch said:
OK this engine I bought was under bonnet, has bypass oil filter, , complete , clean oil, turns freely, 59000 miles on clock, pulled out, ready to pick up $500.
Click to expand...

Pooch,

That seems like a good buy to me. I have been told this 24 bolt engine runs but I will need to spend some time checking it out before I try. Even though the 24 bolt isn't original equipment, I will stick with it as it is part of the trucks history.

Shaun.
 
mercman from oz said:
380699


380700

Above is a copy of the Australian 1953 Fordson Thames V8 Truck Postcard. While the Postcard is undated, it mentions the 50th Anniversary of Ford which was 1953. Hope that this helps.
Click to expand...

Mercman,

Thanks for the info. I have seen this before and it is a good set of specifications on the standard trucks. I cant find any recent reference to Metropolitan Motors and there is certainly no Ford dealer at that address. It would be interesting to find out where my truck was originally sold from as it has paintwork on the door indicating that it was a farm truck out in Charleville. Lost in time most likely.

Shaun.
 
pooch said:
And i believe that a 221 pilot engine is far superior to a USA 221 engine.
Click to expand...

Pooch,

It would be interesting to find out the differences in the various engine models and manufacturer variances. I think compression ratios would be a big part of that. It seems there was quite a range of different specs.

Shaun.
 
I was considering buying the whole truck, but have enough projects on the go, so just bought the engine for a spare.
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380705

Back in the 40's, 50's, Metropolitan Motors were located at 302 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. They also had a workshop on the corner of Ann and Wickham Streets, Fortitude Valley, pictured above. Then, in the early 60's they moved to Spring Hill. The company is still in business, but now trades as Metro Ford, and they are located at 95 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead.
 
pooch said:
I was considering buying the whole truck, but have enough projects on the go, so just bought the engine for a spare.
[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]
Click to expand...
Pooch,

That one doesn't look bad at all. Similar condition to mine. Where is it, in NSW?

Hope someone saves it!

Shaun.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
 
mercman from oz said:
380705

Back in the 40's, 50's, Metropolitan Motors were located at 302 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. They also had a workshop on the corner of Ann and Wickham Streets, Fortitude Valley, pictured above. Then, in the early 60's they moved to Spring Hill. The company is still in business, but now trades as Metro Ford, and they are located at 95 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead.
Click to expand...
Mercman,

That's great info, thanks! They're just around the corner from my work.

Shaun.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
 
The pilot engine is the same basic engine as the 1937/38 Ford USA engine except It was manufactured a lot longer since it was used in Universal Carriers during the war and then as the engine in the Pilot cars after the war. They were all good engines. Ford UK likely had to buy back any surplus engines produced during the war after hostilities came to and end. This was a common practice for all war contract equipment suppliers in the UK. Ford Dagenham needed a place for all those engines to go.
 
Apparently there were two sites in England that the British Army stored these 21 stud Ford V8 Engines owned by Ford Motor Co. The British army removed the engines when they required them and paid for them. After the hostilities the British Army did not require these V8 engines owned by Ford they then were removed and returned to Ford Motor Co Dagenham who then fitted them into the Ford Pilot and Thames trucks. A lot of these Thames trucks but not many Ford Pilot cars were imported into N.Z by F.M.C NZ and were probably assembled at their Seaview Ford Plant.
 
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