Another from up your end Oily, thanks for making my other entry readable, Buzzer
Buzzer:
Another from up your end Oily, thanks for making my other entry readable, Buzzer
JM Bell, Bagby, Thirsk N Yorks old established family firm. Tyneside
I think it is a Tarmac Ford Thames 400E van rather than a Commer, no?
Dipster:
I think it is a Tarmac Ford Thames 400E van rather than a Commer, no?
Thanks for the input Dipster, very well could be a Ford, no doubt someone will put us right !! Tyneside
Hi Tyneside, Yes, the Tarmac " Commer " is a Ford Thames 400E 10/12 cwt van.
Some of them were rated to carry 15 cwt, and if I remember correctly, they had
the 1704 cc petrol engine that was in the Ford Consul, and a 3 speed column gear
change, some later ones had a diesel engine and a 4 speed gearbox. Cheers, Ray.
Ray Smyth:
Hi Tyneside, Yes, the Tarmac " Commer " is a Ford Thames 400E 10/12 cwt van.
Some of them were rated to carry 15 cwt, and if I remember correctly, they had
the 1704 cc petrol engine that was in the Ford Consul, and a 3 speed column gear
change, some later ones had a diesel engine and a 4 speed gearbox. Cheers, Ray.
Thanks. Tyneside
tyneside:
Ray Smyth:
Hi Tyneside, Yes, the Tarmac " Commer " is a Ford Thames 400E 10/12 cwt van.
Some of them were rated to carry 15 cwt, and if I remember correctly, they had
the 1704 cc petrol engine that was in the Ford Consul, and a 3 speed column gear
change, some later ones had a diesel engine and a 4 speed gearbox. Cheers, Ray.Thanks. Tyneside
Yes there was a 15cwt and a 10/12cwt The Diesel engine was a 499 Perkins.They had a starting handle fitted behind the driver’s seat which was a handy tool for sorting out the jammed gear linkages from under the bonnet.A couple of good points they had a wooden rear floor panel and the skirts were removable so that would reduce the cost of repairing body damage.
Good van just a bit light on the back end but alright loaded.
Tony
The one I drove was an elderly mini-bus version and that had a petrol engine with a 4-speed box. It was still column-change though, and as the post ^^above suggests, the linkage was crap and needed a bit of agriculture tlc. I used to have to crawl underneath to knock it out of reverse each time. Eventually the wiring caught fire and I had to evacuate about 16 kids. End of road for mini-bus. 
Ro
ERF-NGC-European:
The one I drove was an elderly mini-bus version and that had a petrol engine with a 4-speed box. It was still column-change though, and as the post ^^above suggests, the linkage was crap and needed a bit of agriculture tlc. I used to have to crawl underneath to knock it out of reverse each time. Eventually the wiring caught fire and I had to evacuate about 16 kids. End of road for mini-bus.
Yep, it didn’t only share the petrol engine with a consul, but that jamming up gear linkage too.
Ray Smyth:
Hi Tyneside, Yes, the Tarmac " Commer " is a Ford Thames 400E 10/12 cwt van.
Some of them were rated to carry 15 cwt, and if I remember correctly, they had
the 1704 cc petrol engine that was in the Ford Consul, and a 3 speed column gear
change, some later ones had a diesel engine and a 4 speed gearbox. Cheers, Ray.
Almost correct, but the pedantic anorak in me screams out that it was actually a low compression version of the 1703cc Consul engine (thankfully as I managed to get one to a fuel station running on paraffin…). The diesel was a gutless Perkins 4/99, and the 3 speed was an option on both petrol and diesel engines.
Sorry, but details gets to me…
I cannot believe I said the 3 speed was the option! 4 speed was the option-about 12 quid extra I think it was.
ERF-NGC-European:
The one I drove was an elderly mini-bus version and that had a petrol engine with a 4-speed box. It was still column-change though, and as the post ^^above suggests, the linkage was crap and needed a bit of agriculture tlc. I used to have to crawl underneath to knock it out of reverse each time. Eventually the wiring caught fire and I had to evacuate about 16 kids. End of road for mini-bus.
Oh yes, an electrical system that was totally without fuses as I recall!
Thanks to Ray Smyth, Buzzer and tyneside for the pics 
and others for he craic
A tanker or two, all credit to Richard Says for the photos on the Donny bypass.
Oily
Ford’s latest.
Oily
Dipster:
Ray Smyth:
Hi Tyneside, Yes, the Tarmac " Commer " is a Ford Thames 400E 10/12 cwt van.
Some of them were rated to carry 15 cwt, and if I remember correctly, they had
the 1704 cc petrol engine that was in the Ford Consul, and a 3 speed column gear
change, some later ones had a diesel engine and a 4 speed gearbox. Cheers, Ray.Almost correct, but the pedantic anorak in me screams out that it was actually a low compression version of the 1703cc Consul engine (thankfully as I managed to get one to a fuel station running on paraffin…). The diesel was a gutless Perkins 4/99, and the 3 speed was an option on both petrol and diesel engines.
Sorry, but details gets to me…
I cannot believe I said the 3 speed was the option! 4 speed was the option-about 12 quid extra I think it was.
I think you’ll find there was no option.The four speed was standard and the three speed discontinued.
Tony
oiltreader:
Ford’s latest.
Oily
Probably made in Turkey, where they’re sold under the Otosan brand.
