Thames Trader 55 F/C
Built: 1964 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1964
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
Thames Trader – other models: the collective page for Ford commercial vehicles outside the named series, types 30 to 75, four- and six-cylinder, around 4.9 litres capacity, 2.9 to 6.9 tonnes kerb weight
This page gathers lorries of the Thames Trader series that the register does not assign to a named series – from the 30 and 40 types, through 55 and 55 F/C, to the 75 type. Thames was the brand name under which Ford of Britain sold its commercial vehicles until the mid-1960s; the Trader replaced the pre-war designs in 1957 and was itself replaced by the Ford D-Series in 1965. The type numbers such as 30, 40, 55 and 75 denote the respective payload or weight class in British units, and the F/C suffix stands for the forward-control cab version.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 10 versions with an engine capacity of around 4.9 litres from four- and six-cylinder engines, and 2,900 to 6,860 kg kerb weight. Lengths range from 6,700 to 7,470 mm, widths from 2,200 to 2,400 mm.
The Thames Trader was, in the 1950s and 1960s, alongside Bedford and Commer, one of the best-selling medium commercial vehicles on the British market and was used as a flatbed, panel van and chassis for special bodies. Many examples were also exported to Australia, New Zealand and British colonies.
For a used example over 60 years old, frame and cab corrosion, the condition of the mechanical braking system and the manual gearbox, and any earlier repairs to the forward-control cab structure matter most. Spare parts can almost only be sourced through British classic-vehicle clubs, reproductions and donor vehicles.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Thames Trader (weitere Modelle)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 6correct |
|---|
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 7,460 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,280 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 3,860 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 4,080 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 7,755 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Thames Trader 55 F/C weigh?
The unladen weight is 4,080 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Thames Trader 55 F/C?
7,755 kg.
What engine does the Thames Trader 55 F/C have?
6 cylinders.
What are the dimensions of the Thames Trader 55 F/C?
7,460 mm × 2,280 mm.
When was the Thames Trader 55 F/C built?
Production years: 1964.
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 9 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: RDW — Dutch national 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.
