Quite liked the Custom Cab-a rather comfortable place to work for it’s day, with a fitted radio and a half-decent heater. Biggest drawback for me was worrying whether the Perkins V8 was costing me more in fuel or oil! They were good for about two years really hard work, then it was time to either spend money on them or invest in something with a bit better quality about it. Of course, nobody told me that before I bought the thing at two-and-a-half years old!
Hi All,
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?
Cheers Bassman
There has been mention of this on here before and there was also a couple of small articles in CVC or similar about the twin engined Fords. They had two slanted 6 cylinder inline engines and gearboxes with a prop shaft going from one to the front rear drive axle and the other to the rear drive axle, obviously they were 6x4 layouts and one engine could be shut down to save when running light. There were about three built if I recall and they were on trial for a good period, however the coming introduction of the Transcon meant the idea wasn’t worth further development and improvement.
Franky.
Hi Frankydobo,
Thanks for that , any idea what happened to the prototypes?
I would have thought an unusual set up like that would have warranted a place in a museum of some description.
Surely they wouldn’t have just been scrapped.
Cheers Bassman
Frankydobo:
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.
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Great shots those Franky !the one of the cab interior (D800) is identical to the D1000 except the D1000 had a rev counter to the right of the speedo.I spent many long,happy and often exhausting,hours sat behind the wheel in one of those cabs but wish I could turn the clock “back” I’d be in behind the wheel on my D1000 like a shot !! Great motor great times !! Cheers Bewick.
Cheers Dennis, I’ve been sorting through some old magazines and found the Ford article, good pics from it, I also came across the pic below on the inside front cover of another issue, Nov 94 Trucking International, that isn’t you at the wheel is it Dennis having a wee cabby! My old dad had a D1000 too and he liked it as did I, infact I probably done most of my artic training in that, it was easier to handle as a young lad than the other motors he drove and I just loved the engine noise, great days!
Bassman I’m not sure what would have happened to the Fords once the trials were over, maybe they were run until they were unrepairable, I’m sure at least one was in HTS (Hilton Transport Services) colours but I agree at least one should have been mothballed. Franky.
Sorry Franky,not guilty,it was some publicity shots that Renault comissioned which were taken on the A6 Shap Fell,they couldn’t believe their luck when they got a couple of their “flagships” into what was,at the time,a near 100% Scania fleet !! The driver incidentally was one of our Euro fleet lads,Mick Brown,a great driver for Bewick International and both the motor and the driver were a fine advert for the firm !! Cheers Dennis.
My father had a j reg D1000 XRL739J it was fitted with a 360 turbo 5 speed turner gearbox and a 2 speed axle and the cab had the west coast mirrors fitted .The Ford was a real flyer and could also climb the side of a mountain the biggest problem was the engine that would blow headgaskets regularly .The engine was changed for the later engine which was supposed to have better water flow think the original engine was called Dorset and the improved engine was called Dover or was it the other way round i cant remember
If you reckon that block of flats was such a wonderfull machine, Bewick, maybe you should talk to Coulthard. Remember the one he had in Williams Grand Prix colours? He couldn’t wait to get rid of it.
But maybe yours had a 240 Gardner in it? 
Retired Old ■■■■:
If you reckon that block of flats was such a wonderfull machine, Bewick, maybe you should talk to Coulthard. Remember the one he had in Williams Grand Prix colours? He couldn’t wait to get rid of it.But maybe yours had a 240 Gardner in it?
Correct ! you are very perceptive ROF ! Bewick.
Perception is over-rated. I would rather have had a brain!
D seris in Dannevirke New Zealand getting it’s service. Still working this year
Two For One in this photograph . 
When I took the photo of the green D Series , I had not realised that the other Ford was also in view.
On parade at the recent ■■■■■■■ Steam Gathering.
Cheers , cattle wagon man.
240 Gardner:
Chris, is that a canal, or a railway restoration? I just cannot recall the stonework on the bridge.
Its gone quiet…have they blown the fuses at the V Festival…I hope so!
Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Chris, is that a canal, or a railway restoration? I just cannot recall the stonework on the bridge.Its gone quiet…have they blown the fuses at the V Festival…I hope so!
Cheerio for now.
It’s the restoration of the Swanage Railway - BR kindly lifted all the track, even though negotiations were taking place for the sale…
Obviously took its toll on the D Series - it’s not very clear, but it’s missing its windscreen in the second pic!
