Great little vans and trucks in their day - dad used to have one in late 1970s and used to haul fish in London for his stalls - rotted away but boy did he used to have that truck loaded. He had custom paint, sunroof and chrome side rear mirrors, looked a treat.
Amazing! My Mum (Anne Marie Varley) used to play piano with the Cy Laurie Jazz Band! Probably didn't feature in this film as a piano is just TOO big for the van and, in 1958 she was expecting me!
wonderful to see Stan Leader on Bass,used to follow the band in their prime which kind of dates me. Stan was always generous with his time for fans during breaks and after gigs, and a witty raconteur as well as a very talented bassist. ' Up the Chimney' was his feature number, Stan with the fingering and the drummer on the strings. fhs
My father had one of these Thames Van in the early 70's, I was one of 7 kids and it was like an old school people carrier, In fact one of us would sit on top of the engine since it was between the driver and passenger. Even remember for some reason the Reg Number 151 DTM
Did you grow up in Luton? It's just that I have bought and read a much reduced book about British number plates, and it mentions TM being Bedfordshire, and I when I sometime travelled for work Bedfordshire usually meant Luton
back in my misspent youth I overhauled the engine in one of these. The parts availability in the USA was iffy at best. It was a tough go, to say the least.. However, I did prevail, and the engine ran well. The college girls who owned it were greatful. For that matter, so was I. This is what memories are made from.
I think this is about the most fun one could have with an ad for a van, although it must have gotten loud in there. One would be hard pressed to find an American truck/van ad this fun........ Great music too! thanks for sharing this.
I love this film. It's like a acted Merrie Melodies, with jazz. My favourite bit is the woman (is it Ronnie, Cy's wife?) changing the wheel; with one of the band has jacking up, the rest fiddling with their instruments, and Cy sits inside seemingly looking for the big end!
I can safely say that this, Dagenham Donkey, was yet another pile of rubbish churned out by the British Motor Industry; and is a classic example of why the UK has no real homegrown motors anymore. They were Hell on wheels to drive. Dodgy suspension, hence inherently unstable. So little power that a decent head wind knocked their speed back into single digits. The pathetic vacuum driven wipers stopped dead just when you needed them. They started rusting BEFORE they left the factory door and the rust never slept after that. They were unstable and dangerous in side winds. I once caught a huge side gust that blew me right across into the opposing lane - luckily no oncoming traffic!
@aikiAshley Thank you for your kind comments about my late dad , Stan Leader. What a character and a wonderful Daddy.Do you know of anyone who has a copy of ''Up the chimney ''.I heard him play it many times when I was a youngster but don't have a recording of it. Cheers Marilyn.
Ford Thames was alright pottering round towns. But when the motorways came, it couldn’t handle them. Did you notice way the driver also played the trumpet as well, with the bench seats and lack of seatbelts as well, if they’d crashed it would been a bloody mess. They didn’t take Health and safety seriously in those days.
I had a 1960 Thames 400e (no side windows, left hand drive) van in Sacramento, California in the late 1960's and into the early 1970's. It had been repainted, but underneath the red and white paint could be read "Coca Cola", probably used by the local Coke distributor when new.
Sorry to disagree but this music is awe-inspiring to me anyway!.... & in this case very well arranged technically & musically to fit this film. Similar to how Classical music is used also for effect in films!
hola amigo compre una con motor de maveric el 6 en linea 250, la estoy restaurando, y modificando el tapa maquina ya que se lo hicieron de metal con tubos 2 X 4 y calienta una barbaridad, corre , hay que arreglarle unos detalles
to trevor arnold not good on computor please send e mail address i have got pictures of you in daddy s scrap books cheers marilyn farrant nee leader daughter of stan leader cy laurie jazz band
This was a poor bit of kit,poor Beatles,If they did anything other than bring on new era of pop music,which may have galvanised Ford GB to get the Transit out and operational.(joke) but the Thames van / truck / minibus was an awfull think
the music so amazingly recalls the period, and is nice too! And in THOSE days, vehicles were designed by REAL DESIGNERS, ( not the woke idiots of today), so when the van got a flat tyre - unlike vehicles today - IT HAD A SPARE WHEEL!
Great little vans and trucks in their day - dad used to have one in late 1970s and used to haul fish in London for his stalls - rotted away but boy did he used to have that truck loaded. He had custom paint, sunroof and chrome side rear mirrors, looked a treat.
When I was a kid in the 60s, our church had one as a minibus for the youths. I remember one day there was 21 of us piled into it. 🚐
I always enjoy watching and listening to this.
Amazing! My Mum (Anne Marie Varley) used to play piano with the Cy Laurie Jazz Band! Probably didn't feature in this film as a piano is just TOO big for the van and, in 1958 she was expecting me!
wonderful to see Stan Leader on Bass,used to follow the band in their prime which kind of dates me. Stan was always generous with his time for fans during breaks and after gigs, and a witty raconteur as well as a very talented bassist. ' Up the Chimney' was his feature number, Stan with the fingering and the drummer on the strings. fhs
Best van ever made
Big, beefy and very American inspired. Super cool and should be as popular as the Volkswagen split screen vans.
4:26 flying through that pedestrian crossing 🤣
My first ever vehicle on the road when I was 17 was a green Thames 12 seater like this with the very apt registration "945Bus"
I had some good times in my used Freighter in 1963, 64, 65. The only one in Santa Barbara, Ca.
My father had one of these Thames Van in the early 70's, I was one of 7 kids and it was like an old school people carrier, In fact one of us would sit on top of the engine since it was between the driver and passenger. Even remember for some reason the Reg Number 151 DTM
Did you grow up in Luton? It's just that I have bought and read a much reduced book about British number plates, and it mentions TM being Bedfordshire, and I when I sometime travelled for work Bedfordshire usually meant
Luton
Note the step coming out on the side door as it opens/closes....1958....today that costs to have that "high end" add on....
back in my misspent youth I overhauled the engine in one of these. The parts availability in the USA was iffy at best. It was a tough go, to say the least.. However, I did prevail, and the engine ran well. The college girls who owned it were greatful. For that matter, so was I. This is what memories are made from.
That’s my great grandad :)
Who? Colin Smith ?
@@honoredutrey the guy with the funky moustache playing the double bass
It looks like a MADNESS video clip
I think this is about the most fun one could have with an ad for a van, although it must have gotten loud in there. One would be hard pressed to find an American truck/van ad this fun........ Great music too! thanks for sharing this.
Priceless!
I think the Consul 1703 OHV was a high compression whilst the Thames was a 1703 low Compression unit allowing it to run on 3 star petrol
I love this film. It's like a acted Merrie Melodies, with jazz. My favourite bit is the woman (is it Ronnie, Cy's wife?) changing the wheel; with one of the band has jacking up, the rest fiddling with their instruments, and Cy sits inside seemingly looking for the big end!
The lady is absolutely beautiful. Cute kitten too!
charming!
The 50s seems to be full of pedestrians who vandalise your van for no reason!
I can think of a reason, it's that Devils music!
I can safely say that this, Dagenham Donkey, was yet another pile of rubbish churned out by the British Motor Industry; and is a classic example of why the UK has no real homegrown motors anymore.
They were Hell on wheels to drive. Dodgy suspension, hence inherently unstable. So little power that a decent head wind knocked their speed back into single digits. The pathetic vacuum driven wipers stopped dead just when you needed them. They started rusting BEFORE they left the factory door and the rust never slept after that.
They were unstable and dangerous in side winds. I once caught a huge side gust that blew me right across into the opposing lane - luckily no oncoming traffic!
Wonderful Stuff
Burtie Butler
nice bit of jazz
I heard that the Beatles had one of these in their early days
They did.
@aikiAshley Thank you for your kind comments about my late dad , Stan Leader. What a character and a wonderful Daddy.Do you know of anyone who has a copy of ''Up the chimney ''.I heard him play it many times when I was a youngster but don't have a recording of it. Cheers Marilyn.
barely wait till they're in before taking off. bloody door is still open!
A young Mrs Slocum in the van :-)
Really??
Now that's what I call In Car Entertainment! I love those old Ford Thames vans, a style all their own. Strange film.
the polis would have a field day today ! Imagine being caught playing a trumpet behind the wheel, they go mad if you have a mobile !
A woman of colour in a 1958 ad. great!
0:33 the automatic step Ford was advertising on their North American market trucks a few years ago wasn't that new...
Wonder if there are any of these vans around now ?..been to lot of shows never seen one ..
The vans went the way of Jazz thank god hehehe
I bet that cat was frightened.
yes I had a original one .freinds found it parked on the lawn.had a new motor in it.i put big wheels on it.and carted trailbikes in it.
Ford Thames was alright pottering round towns. But when the motorways came, it couldn’t handle them. Did you notice way the driver also played the trumpet as well, with the bench seats and lack of seatbelts as well, if they’d crashed it would been a bloody mess. They didn’t take Health and safety seriously in those days.
Good old vans them
Superbe
The precursor of the Ford Transit van that eventually replaced it.
You would get a fine and points on your licence for playing a trumpet while driving now AHAH!!!
Did they ever make left-hand drive versions for the export market ? I'd love to have one here in California!
+VinnyDaQ Ford did make LHD version for the European market, although we're not sure how many made it across the Atlantic.
I had a 1960 Thames 400e (no side windows, left hand drive) van in Sacramento, California in the late 1960's and into the early 1970's. It had been repainted, but underneath the red and white paint could be read "Coca Cola", probably used by the local Coke distributor when new.
Sorry to disagree but this music is awe-inspiring to me anyway!.... & in this case very well arranged technically & musically to fit this film. Similar to how Classical music is used also for effect in films!
It's objectively not awe inspiring and its supposed to be pedestrian and jumpy fun
🎷.
Just to make it clear my comments were in answer to the remarks of 'consul1957' , Thanks again
Hi, I do not agree that Cy Laurie's music is negative. I wish there was more of this great sound now!!!!!!
Where these better than the Volkswagen Kombi, Commer Van and Morris equivalent?
Ford.. doesn’t stop for anyone. Including old ladies on a zebra crossing!
Ad was kinda cheesy,kinda funny,cool music though.Ya gotta keep watchin the bs they get into.Definitely a thumbs up.
my dad bought one exactly the same brand new it made me sick everytime i went in it
You needed the 1700cc version not the 1250cc.
Хорошая реклама
hate to say this but now at 72 ln 2018.wish i had one..better than transit..
Colin Smith on tpt
They don't make commercials like this anymore, the quality of the music and the vehicles are not the same as they used to.
@jelemart did she get wot she expected ?????
can this be purchased anywhere ?
hi is this minibus still in a museum and where interested.
Dagenhams Econoline....
Poor bloody cat
Maybe they were just trying to stop a dangerous one handed trumpet playing driver.
The people carrier okay my father had one in the sixties . the music enough to send one round the bend
hola amigo compre una con motor de maveric el 6 en linea 250, la estoy restaurando, y modificando el tapa maquina ya que se lo hicieron de metal con tubos 2 X 4 y calienta una barbaridad, corre , hay que arreglarle unos detalles
"powerful CONSUL engine? A van would be better off with the larger ZODIAC engine. Should be an easy swap?
to trevor arnold not good on computor please send e mail address i have got pictures of you in daddy s scrap books cheers marilyn farrant nee leader daughter of stan leader cy laurie jazz band
Straight over the pedestrian crossing when people were waiting to cross, not very good for a promo film for Fords !!
These were rotting as it was being filmed.
1:50 - 2:00.. no one is driving the van..
Yes there is look closely.
This was a poor bit of kit,poor Beatles,If they did anything other than bring on new era of pop music,which may have galvanised Ford GB to get the Transit out and operational.(joke) but the Thames van / truck / minibus was an awfull think
Socialist public housing unit sad
That was O.K, but the Dixieland music got a bit annoying!
the music so amazingly recalls the period, and is nice too! And in THOSE days, vehicles were designed by REAL DESIGNERS, ( not the woke idiots of today), so when the van got a flat tyre - unlike vehicles today - IT HAD A SPARE WHEEL!