While the E83W is my favourite Ford commercial, this corner of the site has been added to show some of the other sit-up-and-beg commercial variants that existed before and after WW2. Other pages show photographs of 5cwt Fordson vans, this page shows some of the rarer sidevalve-powered commercials.

Postwar 5cwt van - E04C

This old publicity photograph shows an early-postwar E04C commercial van. Little of this model was shared with the 10cwt, although the headlamps and number plate mounting bracket will be familiar to E83W fans. The E04C was the postwar version of the 7Y 'Eight' model. There aren't many of these left nowadays, as it was only built between 1946 and 1948. The Mk1 version, shown here, has the larger 7" lamps whereas the Mk2, from October '46, had smaller 5" lamps. This print, purchased recently, has been taken from an original Ford negative I think.

Ford 8hp Model Y pickup

This really old photo was printed many years ago onto card, and looks like it was stuck into a photo album for years judging by the marks on the rear. I've no information as to who took the photo, or why. A bit of research identifies this as a "longrad'" Model Y, probably dating to somewhere between 1932-1937. The long radiator Y, as opposed to the earlier shortrad version, did away with running boards, had a deeper grille, had a door mounted spare wheel, and only six louvres on the bonnet side panels.

Ford A493A Ute (Australian version of the UK's E493A)

This copy of an old photo was found at a show not long ago, and shows a slightly battered A493A Prefect Ute. Is NGC 30 still around??? It is an interesting photo because the Prefect ute was an Australian-built job, yet this one looks like it has a UK registration and must have been an unusual vehicle to see in the 1950s over here. Australia built up many postwar sidevalves with their own style of coachwork. This one looks fairly knocked about, and is showing some serious tinworm in the bottom of the passenger door. English Prefects didn't have the opening quarterlights that are shown on this Australian variant. Below is an identical example that survived into preservation, see here at the Gaydon Classic Commercial Show, June 2005. Nice right hand turn indicator mounted on the drivers door!

Ford Prefect E493A Ute at Gaydon June 2005

Fordson Tug

How's this for a weirdo Ford? This original publicity shot is dated 1935, and was a reprint done by Ford of Britain in 1979. Bill Ballard's interesting book on sidevalves mentions this model, as does another book I have on Ford vans and pickups. It was built as a mechanical horse, in a similar vein to the Scammells that were popular with the railways. Briggs Motor Bodies, based near the Ford plant (and to be taken over by Fords in later years) built a number of these tug bodies, but only 111 are believed to have been built. A small number survive it seems. These would have been very manouevrable machines, although with a maximum speed of 18mph it wouldn't be a vehicle you'd want to travel far in.

Please do not reproduce any item found on this website in any format, or hotlink directly to images hereon, thanks.