Thames Trader 75
This long wheelbase New Zealand-assembled Ford Thames Trader 75 diesel was advertised for sale late in 2019 on the Trademe website. Whilst it was a fair distance away from home, I had to go check it out, so a friend and I made the journey up west side of the Coromandel Peninsula to the owner's farm .
The lorry had been with the same family for many years and whilst it had not been used in anger for some time it had been regularly started. Whilst a little rough around the edges it was in very original condition with little rust and ran well. I had a test drive and found it to be typically a British lorry that really needed another gear! It was comfortable at about 40 MPH.
Because of the distance from home and the fact that the lorry had not seen a WoF inspector for years, meant transportation/towing would be required. Realism set-in and I decided that this cost would exceed the Trader's worth (to me) AND I already have a Trader 55 tipper that has been waiting for attention for 5 years(!), so I left without making a purchase. It remained unsold, but it eventually did sell from a subsequent listing on Trademe, for a figure close to my own valuation.
A missed opportunity?.......maybe so, but interesting vehicles often turn up when you can least afford them!
I'm confident it went to a good home and that it will make it to the show circuit in due course.
Thames Trader 75
This long wheelbase New Zealand-assembled Ford Thames Trader 75 diesel was advertised for sale late in 2019 on the Trademe website. Whilst it was a fair distance away from home, I had to go check it out, so a friend and I made the journey up west side of the Coromandel Peninsula to the owner's farm .
The lorry had been with the same family for many years and whilst it had not been used in anger for some time it had been regularly started. Whilst a little rough around the edges it was in very original condition with little rust and ran well. I had a test drive and found it to be typically a British lorry that really needed another gear! It was comfortable at about 40 MPH.
Because of the distance from home and the fact that the lorry had not seen a WoF inspector for years, meant transportation/towing would be required. Realism set-in and I decided that this cost would exceed the Trader's worth (to me) AND I already have a Trader 55 tipper that has been waiting for attention for 5 years(!), so I left without making a purchase. It remained unsold, but it eventually did sell from a subsequent listing on Trademe, for a figure close to my own valuation.
A missed opportunity?.......maybe so, but interesting vehicles often turn up when you can least afford them!
I'm confident it went to a good home and that it will make it to the show circuit in due course.