The Ford Thames Trader range of forward control trucks was announced in March 1957. There were 30cwt, two-ton and three-ton versions on the SWB chassis of 138in with a four-cylinder petrol or diesel engine. Four and five-ton versions had the SWB or optional LWB chassis of 160in with six-cylinder petrol or diesel engines. There was also a 108in chassis used for the articulated tractor unit and 5cu yd tipper, both with six-cylinder engines. You might have expected the Thames Trader to have replaced the old Thames ET6/ ET7/500E/502E trucks, but in fact 30cwt to fourton versions of those continued in production alongside the new model until 1961.
