Worthy workhouse though it is, the Ford Transit is too light a subject for the pages of Trucking. But that doesn’t apply to the long line of Ford trucks that were once an ubiquitous part of Britain’s transport landscape.
Ford entered the UK commercial vehicle market following the US introduction in 1917 of its Model T derived TT one-tonner. Production began in Trafford Park, Manchester, before being switched to Dagenham in 1932. Up to that time, US and UK Ford commercials shared the same basic designs. A catalyst to change was the 1929 transfer of Fordson farm tractor production from Southern Ireland to Dagenham. This led to the adoption in 1933 of the Fordson name for Ford of Britain’s US-derived one- and two-ton commercials.
In outward appearance at least, purposeful divergence from US Fords began in 1935 with the introduction of the two-ton payload 7V, instantly identifiable by its distinctive sloped, rounded-cheeks sheet metal and onepiece flat windscreen (though initially with two split panels). The front axle was forward-set, the doors – and therefore the side windows – were exceptionally wide, with the bottom following the line of the mudguard and at the rear extended down to a few inched above the wheel centres to give a fairly low step height. In contrast to typical British heavies, the cab was more car-like in terms of accommodation. And would you believe it: the 7V had a summer-is-a-comin’ sliding roof.
The Flathead
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Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Trucking.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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![Economic Certainty](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/376544/5da017958b17e/crp_EconomicCertainty.jpg)
Economic Certainty
DAF’s HVO-sipping lightweight FTP chassis goes all-out for payload and fuel frugality.
![Gold For J Mould](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/376544/5da01d9226360/crp_Gold-For-J-Mould.jpg)
Gold For J Mould
The life of the eight-wheeler can be harsh. Trucking went to hear how one Reading operator switched to Renault after a long and tough market-wide evaluation.
![Step In The Right Direction](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/376544/5da014a6c209a/crp_Step-In-The-Right-Direction.jpg)
Step In The Right Direction
How switching to alternative liquid fuels can help operators put the brakes on HGV emissions.
![Leading By Example](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/376544/5da01a4960d53/crp_Leading-By-Example.jpg)
Leading By Example
Flogas drives forward carbon reduction with new Bio-LNG powered truck duo.
Dearborn To Dagenham
Ford used to be a mainstay of the UK light/medium truck market – and in the 1930s offered three-tonners powered by the legendary Flathead V8.
![Cost of traffic to UK business approaches £1bn](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/259989/5a96c3cd7cb12/crp_Cost-of-traffic-to-UK-business-approaches-1bn.jpg)
Cost of traffic to UK business approaches £1bn
Cost of traffic to UK business approaches £1bn
![Motward Marks Anniversary With Top-Spec Tribute Truck](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/263684/5aa136f3e4a91/crp_Motward-marks-anniversary-with-top-spec-tribute-truck.jpg)
Motward Marks Anniversary With Top-Spec Tribute Truck
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire based Motward has celebrated 40 years in business with the purchase of a new Volvo FH16-750 tractor unit, which has become a lasting tribute to the company’s much-loved boss, Jason Tolhurst.
![The New Hotel Entrance](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/263684/5aa13dd910ccd/crp_THE-NEW-HOTEL-ENTRANCE.jpg)
The New Hotel Entrance
Slippery slope for this driver after his initiative is rewarded with a dose of the white stuff
![Trucker Of The Year 2018](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/267936/5aa244344e9ee/crp_TRUCKER-OF-THE-YEAR-2018.jpg)
Trucker Of The Year 2018
In association with Staveley Head, Trucking magazine needs your nominations as we look to crown the country’s best truck driver!
![Cat-Astrophe!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10022/267936/5aa2453600563/crp_CAT-ASTROPHE.jpg)
Cat-Astrophe!
Feline shenanigans with clandestine stowaway of the furry variety