After a hard-working life here at Vintage & Classic Spares (well, not really) we have said goodbye to the cute little Fordson Model Y van. A sad moment for all as the little van brings a smile to anyone, but we need the space in the warehouse for new projects. However, we are happy that the van has gone to an ideal owner. Roddy lives on the beautiful Isle of Lewis and already has a Model Y collection in his garage.
Lee and Clare from Highland Trailer Transport Services Ltd loaded the little van onto their trailer for the long drive north to Ullapool to meet Roddy for the ferry crossing to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles. Lee & Clare did a great job and come highly recommended for vehicle moving jobs.
Why you don’t see any Ford model Ys – Roddy has them all!
Roddy – proud owner of the little Fordson van
The Ford Model Y Van History
The Fordson Model Y was a wood-framed commercial van option for the Ford Model Y. The 5cwt van was available from 1932 to 1937, and this example is believed to be the very last one to leave the factory. Briggs made the oak or beech frame with steel sides for Ford. A fabric roof and no bumpers helped to keep the weight down. Ford adopted the Fordson name for its commercial vehicles in 1936.
Also known as the Ford 8 due to its RAC tax rating of 8hp the van used the same 4-cylinder 993cc side-valve engine as the saloon car, producing 22BHP. The 3-speed gearbox featured synchromesh between the top two ratios. The simple engine used a thermo-syphon cooling system to avoid the cost of a water pump and thermostat.
The little commercial vehicle was supplied with just one seat and initially with only 1 cab door – the driver sliding over from the nearside! When a second door was added the spare tyre was hung on the nearside door. Adding windows to the rear doors for increased visibility was a ubiquitous modification at the time. Early models had a shorter radiator than the post-1936 model.
Cosy for two, the cab featured an open glovebox and opening windscreen for ventilation (centre-top knob). The rod-operated brakes need a firm push, to little effect! The van is nippy, but the bouncy ride and “challenging” handling mean few would want to discover its top speed, but great fun on quiet country roads.
Launched during a time of severe financial depression Ford had to work hard to keep the purchase cost as low as possible. It was a great success with nearly 30,000 being built at Dagenham. Worked hard, the vans are now very rare and highly prized by enthusiasts.
I’d be happy to reprint this article in our Transverse Torque magazine….
Hi Roger – that is fine as long as you credit us.