You've arrived at the only site on the 'net dedicated to the great little E83W Ford truck. This 10cwt commercial, in many different guises, continued in production throughout the war, finally being retired in 1957, making it one of the most successful, and long-lasting, lightweight Ford commercials of all time.
The site was originally launched in 2000 and has been updated on and off ever since.
I'm no longer updating the Owners Register, but please do call by the forum (link alongside) and join up to discuss E83Ws with other owners.
E83W merchandise now available!
I've put together a number of designs featuring the iconic E83W van. Each design can be ordered in the E83W collection, over on the Old Classic Car merchandise store. Each design can be ordered on 70+ different items, the ordering of which is all handled by Redbubble, on whose site these E83W designs are hosted. So if you've been looking for E83W T-shirts, caps, mugs, stickers and much more, please take a look by clicking the image below.
1938 E83W brochure review.
I've uploaded a video to Youtube, playable below, looking at a 1938 brochure for the (then) new Fordson 10cwt (E83W) van. Included in it are early features such as wind-up door windows, and the early style of rear wheel arch. Worth a view if you like your E83Ws:
Co-Op van.
Les kindly sent over this E83W photo. It shows a coachbuilt Fordson van used by the Co-Op in the 1950s. Note it has beaded edge wings, and wide 16" wheels from a pickup (vans had 18" as standard).
A standard 10cwt E83W van.
This photo shows a smiling gent sat behind the wheel of his standard 10cwt Thames van. It looks like a suburban setting, perhaps he'd only just bought the van, or was heading out for his first day in a new job? Most E83W drivers wore old overalls rather than a suit!
Update on CJM 357. Thames E83W, registration CJM 357, no longer exists. As suspected, this pickup, which has remained with its correct original number since 1955 (and I owned since the early 90s), has had the reg. number removed for quick financial gain since I sold it, thus destroying any chance of the vehicle surviving in original form. It went on to sport an age-related number, 106 XUE, before going to a new life in Ireland. As of 2014 the van's registration, KDL 703, continues to reside on it.
Fleet of vans used by WH Bensted
Gerald kindly scanned me this wonderful photograph, showing a fleet of predominantly E83Ws, with the accompanying note .. "W.H. Bensted was our family business, based in Maidstone Kent. WH Bensted was my great grandfather.". What a fantastic photo, thanks so much for sending it over to feature here! I can count 19 E83Ws, a 300E van, plus some larger commercials at the back.
Festival of Britain
Thanks to Rodney for sending this (photo credit: Fred Peskett of the Festival of Britain Society). Shown is a mint Rediffusion Sound Unit van, at the construction site for the Festival of Britain. Does anyone know what became of this and other Rediffusion 10cwt vans?
Please do not reproduce any item found on this website in any format, or hotlink directly to images hereon, thanks.