Terrific TRADER
Back in July 2017, we met Ian Chadwick, a Lancashire based tractor fan with a particular interest in Roadless four-wheel-drive adaptions of Ford tractors, and a large collection of these rare vehicles.
Back then, he had just completed his first lorry restoration and it was an entirely appropriate one – an All Wheel Drive 4x4 conversion of a Ford Thames Trader. As he told us at the time; “If Roadless had ever built a wagon this would be it.” We concluded the feature by mentioning that another 4x4 lorry, a Bedford MJ which had spent its working life pushing a snowplough around Aberdeen airport, which was awaiting restoration.
Three years on, it seems that the lorry bug has bitten. Work on the MJ is now underway, while another Thames Trader – a 4D – is also partway through a rebuild with the hardest part of all – the cab – done. However a third Thames Trader – a 1963 Mk2 – has now been completed, and though more conventional than the 4x4, restoration of
