nightmail:
My memory of the old ‘D’ series when I learnt to drive HGV’s.
This was with Hills of Swindon back in 1975. My instructor was Jack ‘Brown Boots’ Parker who was a real character. I used to have my lessons weekly as a two hour session.
I was 21 in the January and finally passed in the July after failing once for a pedestrian crossing incident and second test cancelled at test centre due to normal L plate missing although it had the big orange and white sign displayed.
I remember the weird dash mounted parking brake, and also the footbrake, which was totally without any feel, and just looking at it would bring vehicle to an instant abrupt stop.
I can also remember doing some part time work for ‘Lex Carpet Express’ in Cheney Manor, Swindon in the early eighties, also using a D series rigid. Happy Days!
Was Mick Lindsey at Hills when you were there.?
Hi Altitude,
The only Mick Lindsey I can recall was a TM at Coopers Metals in Swindon, who also ran his own small fleet of HGV’s at the same time. This would of been around 1978/9.
nightmail:
My memory of the old ‘D’ series when I learnt to drive HGV’s.
This was with Hills of Swindon back in 1975. My instructor was Jack ‘Brown Boots’ Parker who was a real character. I used to have my lessons weekly as a two hour session.
I was 21 in the January and finally passed in the July after failing once for a pedestrian crossing incident and second test cancelled at test centre due to normal L plate missing although it had the big orange and white sign displayed.
I remember the weird dash mounted parking brake, and also the footbrake, which was totally without any feel, and just looking at it would bring vehicle to an instant abrupt stop.
I can also remember doing some part time work for ‘Lex Carpet Express’ in Cheney Manor, Swindon in the early eighties, also using a D series rigid. Happy Days!
Was Mick Lindsey at Hills when you were there.?
Hi Altitude,
The only Mick Lindsey I can recall was a TM at Coopers Metals in Swindon, who also ran his own small fleet of HGV’s at the same time. This would of been around 1978/9.
Regards, N
Yeah that’s him, he left Hills to go to Coopers. he’s retired now I was talking to him a few weeks ago.
cheers
John.
I had a D1000 when I first started on for Terry Creasey who had a yard in wapping east london in 1972.It had a ■■■■■■■ V8 with a 6 speed gearbox and a two speed axle.At the time we were pulling trailers out of dover an felixstowe an most were over weight for a 28 ton unit.with a light load it was a flyer but when it was heavy it was a pain.The truck itself was easy to park any trailers as you had good vision being a day cab and it had a good lock.I spent many a time with the cab up as when it had alternater trouble (whitch was very offen) the engine would cut out if the battery,s run down an you had to turn a screw on the pump to make it keep running on manuel.Had some great trips in the uk and the odd european run with the truck,it was reg XGT 527G.This photo is of a D series I used to borrow to take my drag car to santa pod back in the 80,s
My start in transport was with a D series at Swifts, a 7.5 tonner doing line shortages for Fords, then a new 7.5 D series, white with a tautliner body doing Motorcraft deliveries to Advance Motor Supplies all over the UK. Sleeping across the seats with curtains drawn and a Gloden Retriever called ‘Bonnie’ that dog became well known for jumping out of the cab when unloading and riding on the back of any fork lift truck nearby.
I then took my class one and progressed from there. F86, F88, F7 tp F10.
My brother bought one of the first D800s (1966 D reg.) when it was nearly new, one previous owner-driver. It was a Custom Cab, for it’s day very comfortable, fantastic heater. Nice to drive, 5 speed synchro + 2 speed Eaton, good brakes with the wind up umbrella handbrake. But a disaster engine-wise – got through a number of injector pumps and kept dropping liners, so I think it spent more time running on five than six pots. Probably why the original owner didn’t keep it long, and my brother didn’t either!
Bernard
ICI Noble Explosives ran a fleet of D series from their depots around the country delivering explosives to quarries, gun cartridge and firework factories, I maintained all the D series that ran out of the Fisherwick depot nr Lichfield Staffs. This picture was taken on the way back from Featherstone MOT test station In the late 80’s.
Don’t suppose anyone has any pictures of the D series Courages brewery used to use as drays? They had a golden rooster on top of the cab and were a sort of flat bed with metal bars forming an open topped cage for the barrels. My old man drove one for years working out of their depot at Ludgershall
I have just stumbled across this site/thread and thought I would join in.
I still use a D series here in Australia. It does not do many miles these days. It is used to carry my tractors to shows mainly as well as general cartage for my small property. I am not a truck driver, I just like to tinker.
My truck is a 1978 D1211. The numbering system is out of kilter with the UK trucks as it is 13,000 kg GVM so it would have been a D1311 in the UK. It has the 380 slant six (6.2 litre) with an 8 speed Ford box. Sits on 55mph loaded but is slow on hills. Very economical on diesel.
I also used to use a D1314 with a crane many years ago. Same truck as my D1211 but with the 360 turbo.
D series trucks here in Australia where still available with petrol engines into the 1980s, unlike the UK. I am not fond of the petrols. Although they have much more horse power on paper they are no faster than the diesels when loaded and guzzle petrol.
I also have a few Thames Traders. Mainly 3 75 FC and a 75 NC. Mixture of 330 diesel and 300 petrols. One has a 5 speed box and all have 2 speed axles.
A few interesting pics here from an old Trucking magazine article about the D Series, the drawing of the D1000 shows how compact this unit was and fitted with the first V8, the ■■■■■■■ Vale which had its problems and Ford offered its own (actually the Perkins V8-510 developed by both companies) engine within a year which was more reliable. The second shows a D800 tipper with an experimental Aluminium chassis on trial, the article though doesn’t mention this. The last pic is to remind you of the spartan yet comfortable interior, the Custom Cab was slightly better finished with heater/demister and adjustable drivers seat. Franky.
I’ve been following this thread and I was hoping someone might have pics. and info on the experimental “D” series that had two engines.
I believe Ford had two or three out there on evaluation for the, at that time ,proposed 44t operation.
Any one any info or experience of these trucks?
