Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56
Built: 1956 · Series: THAMES
More machines from model year 1956
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Ford Thames – Ford's British commercial-vehicle brand until 1965, with the cab-over Thames Trader at the core of this page, 62 to 63 kW, 3.6- to 5.4-litre engines
Thames was the brand name under which Ford sold its commercial vehicles in Britain from the 1930s until 1965, before the range was renamed Ford D-Series as part of the move to unified model names across Europe. At the core of this page is the Thames Trader, introduced in 1957, a cab-over truck offered in various payload classes, built in Dagenham and fitted with diesel and, in some export markets, petrol engines, where it competed with the Bedford TK and Commer for customers in medium-duty distribution transport.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 13 versions with 62 to 63 kW from four- to eight-cylinders of 3,610 to 5,420 cm³, unladen weights from 2,600 to 5,800 kg, gross weights from 4,065 to 11,340 kg, lengths from 3,700 to 7,050 mm and widths from 2,200 to 2,420 mm.
The Thames Trader was, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, one of the most widely built British medium-duty trucks and, besides the home market, was exported to numerous Commonwealth countries; today it is a rare collector's vehicle of British commercial-vehicle history.
On these veteran trucks, frame and cab corrosion count, along with the preserved condition of the original engine, the function of the era's typical drum brakes, and the condition of the wood and metal parts of the flatbed or body; parts are scarce and are sourced through specialist veteran-commercial dealers and Ford clubs.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Ford Thames, Ford Motor Company (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 62 kWcorrect |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 8correct |
| Displacement | 3,620 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 7,000 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,300 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 3,100 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gears | 4correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 20 kW/t (62 kW / 3.1 t)
Stronger than 1% of the trucks in the register — out of 25,242 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56 have?
The Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56 delivers 62 kW.
How much does the Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56 weigh?
The unladen weight is 3,100 kg.
What engine does the Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56 have?
8 cylinders, 3,620 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56?
7,000 mm × 2,300 mm.
When was the Ford THAMES ETF6/3985-56 built?
Production years: 1956.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 8 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
Sources: Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
