ebro b45 truck
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Ebro B-45, the most collectible truck?

The important thing in a restoration, as long as it is not done with a view to sports participation, should be the search for the greatest possible originality, right?

In the field of classic cars, this is an aspect that even today is not always achieved - or is sought - in our country, and that the fans have already widely turned 50 since those very first rallies such as Barcelona- Sitges or Madrid-Benidorm.

And then, with the classic industrialists, what happens? It is a sector of our hobby that is still in its infancy and that is quite a minority, although lately it has been progressing by leaps and bounds. You start to see restored trucks almost at every event; not in large quantities, but it seems that they are already a fixed thing.

However, although the effort to conserve and restore one of these great hulks is always commendable, it is not always done according to what we can see in the vintage photos. Some of the things that often "fail" are color schemes and cargo boxes.

This Ebro B-45 is perfectly restored with respect to its original state
This Ebro B-45 is perfectly restored with respect to its original state

On the latter there is a fundamental problem, and that is that being made of wood until well into the 60s, it is normal that intensive use and the passage of time has produced significant wear, sometimes reaching total rot and disappearance from the same.

In many cases, the old box is practically useless and there is nothing left of it except the metal fittings when facing the recovery of a veteran truck.

And this is where the most common error occurs: A “beautiful” high-quality wooden box is manufactured from scratch, with a design that more closely resembles that of a living room furniture than that used by old commercial vehicles.

Many times I have seen this type of new box with a pretended antique look, which between the new and pristine wood and an anachronistic design manages to take away all the grace from a perfectly restored truck.

The choice of the appropriate colors is also of vital importance
The choice of the appropriate colors is also of vital importance

This is why we must always insist on the pursuit of originality and an aspect that is as similar as possible to the period. Another common "misstep" in restoring or reproducing the old cargo boxes is usually in the subject of painting.

If we look closely at the old photographs we will see that from the 30s, and especially in the successive decades from the 40s to the 60s when metallic materials were used for their construction, the boxes were normally painted in some color that it stood out in contrast to the cabin.

For example, it was normal to see them painted in beige or gray, with a central strip in white or red ... and, however, currently restored or redone boxes are simply varnished, revealing that shiny wood that has nothing to do with what they are. they saw our parents or grandparents on the roads of the 50s.

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This Ebro is also in good "physical" condition

Well, you wonder what all this is about brick on the appropriate restoration or not of classic trucks if looking at the photos of our protagonist you can not put any fault in this regard.

Indeed, this beautiful Ebro B-45 looks very close to what it could have looked like in its “young years”, and that is precisely what is extraordinary about this unit manufactured in Barcelona at the Motor Ibérica factory.

Iberian motor

Although these picturesque “nose” Ebro of the B series were the first trucks produced under such a brand, the Barcelona factory already had extensive experience in the manufacture of vehicles in the 50s.

In 1920 the "Ford Motor Company SAE" was established in Cádiz., which in 1923 moved for administrative reasons to the Barcelona Free Trade Zone, specifically on Avenida Icaria
number 149.

Ford cars and trucks were immediately assembled there, and in 1929 the company “Ford Motor Ibérica” was formed with the entry of new national and foreign investors who raised the company's capital stock to 15.000.000 pesetas.

Inside, a "vintage" atmosphere has also been preserved.
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Inside, a "vintage" atmosphere has also been preserved

At that time the Ford A and AA were assembled in Barcelona -Model of truck derived from the 4-cylinder A-, although previous studies on Ford Motor Ibérica placed the later 7V as the first truck produced.

Precisely, this model was designed in England in its aesthetic part, it mounted the famous Ford V-8 engine and began to be assembled in our country in 1934. In addition, these trucks hold the honor of being the first produced in Spain with a forward cabin.

Cars and trucks continued to be assembled until the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, at which time the factory became dependent on Republican aviation and vehicle production ceased.

After the war, the factory served as a workshop where vehicles of all kinds were reconditioned at the same time as the necessary gas-generator equipment was manufactured. Shortly after, production began in Barcelona of the Ford 118-T with a V8 engine, an American model presented in the US in 1941 and assembled at Ford Motor Ibérica during the period 1943-1946.

Iberian Motor comes from the Fords assembled in Spain since the 20s
Iberian Motor comes from the Fords assembled in Spain since the 20s

This was replaced by the first model that Ford presented after World War II, the C Series, which due to the design of its front was nicknamed in Spain as “barbas” and which was produced in Barcelona practically until the early 50s, when Iberian Motor came into contact again –as before the Civil War- with the English Ford.

In this case, it was not intended to return to producing tourism models, but only tractors and trucks, in part due to the Decree of February 15, 1952 by which the Spanish government called a competition for the serial manufacture of tractors which was finally awarded to Ford Motor Ibérica.

To this end, the Barcelona factory had to be updated and expandedSince in the production program it was estimated that by the fifth year some 3.000 units of the Fordson Major tractor with an English license would have to leave the assembly line per year.

In 1954 the company changed its name once more, changing its name to “Motor Ibérica SA” after partially nationalizing itself, with a capital stock of 9 million pesetas, and the manufacture of agricultural tractors began.

A typical scene that could well be from the 60s or 70s
This Ebro is also in good "physical" condition
1- A typical scene that could well be from the 60s or 70s
2- The box has been exceptionally restored

After a period of stabilization of the production and before the good progress of the company, the managers considered the production of trucks based on the Thames manufactured by Ford in England.

It should be noted that Thames is the nickname given to Ford trucks in the UK after World War II, in honor of the River Thames. This fact inspired the choice of the name Ebro -Like the Spanish river- for what would be the Spanish industrial Fords.

The B-35 and B-45

The Thames series was presented in England in 1949 with three different sizes and engines: Two 4 and 6-cylinder diesels and one gasoline, the well-known flat-head V-8 that was already equipped by the Fords assembled in Barcelona before the Ebro.

This last motorization used to be used in England for the three-axle Thames, resulting in beautiful trucks with a nose like the Ebro but with a double axle with twin wheels at the rear.

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Only the 3.611 cc four-cylinder engine was manufactured in Spain
In Spain, the B series only mounted the 3.611 cc four-cylinder engine

In Spain, for reasons of savings, only trucks were produced with the 4 cc (3.611x100mm) 115-cylinder diesel engine and a compression ratio of 16: 1 that delivered 62 hp at 2.500 rpm and that was the same engine as the Fordson tractors with slight modifications.

In 1956 the first Ebro trucks went on sale under the name "B-35" -capable of 3.500 kg of cargo-, and during the following year a total of 596 units were manufactured.

The rate of production increased notably and years later, in 1959, several thousand units per year were already leaving the assembly line. Shortly afterwards, the range was expanded with the “B-45”, with the same characteristics as the previous one but capable of weighing 4.500 kg, equipped as standard with a brake booster and with a final price of 255.000 pesetas.

The B-35s were also equipped with brake boosters from 1962, although after paying a supplement to be added to the 230.000 pesetas it cost as new. Outwardly and without paying much attention, it is quite difficult to differentiate a B-35 from a B-45, since both have a practically the same appearance, with their classic nose normally painted red.

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Gorgeous - and burnished - original badges

However, there is a way to differentiate them at first glance: the doors on the B-35 model reach up to the running board, while on the B-45 a sheet metal space is left between the running boards and the doors, which are shorter.

As always happens with the Spanish manufacturers of that time, we can also find some B-35 and 45 that do not match this identification, so that in the last case the only way to differentiate them will be by looking at the technical data sheet.

Manufacture of the B 35 and 45 ceased after notable success in 1964, when they were replaced by the C-series semi-advanced cabin and flattened nose.

JOSÉ'S B-45

Registered in January 1960, this Ebro has led a quiet life transporting carbonated drinks across the La Mancha plateau. After long years of service, probably until the 80s, the truck was stored under cover in a warehouse, which ensured its good conservation for the following years.

It's really hard to tell a B-35 from a B-45
truck_ebro_32
1- The appearance of this Ebro is worthy of pride for its owner
2- He started from a good base to restore

When José discovered it, he realized that it was a perfect and easy base for a restoration. The truck had been cared for during its useful life, it had not traveled too many kilometers and had not undergone any modifications.

At a quick glance you can see many details that are not easy to find in other restored trucks: The green light to indicate overtaking, old reflectors still in place or the original extinguisher that Ebro supplied.

The restoration carried out was total, although trying to maintain the maximum originality, as it should be. Thanks to this we can see in all its splendor the old wooden box that preserves even the small rear boxes to store tools or tools.

According to José, the upper part of the box with its upper links and links had never been used and they were new and unused when he acquired the truck.

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All kinds of original details have been preserved in this truck
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1- Original rear box to store tools or tools
2- Catadriópticos and green light to indicate overtaking

The sheet metal part was in a reasonable condition but it was completely disassembled and repaired, finally receiving the typical red and black colors of the Ebro B Series. José applied a not too glossy paint, always looking for what the truck should look like in its time of use.

The mechanics hardly needed a revision and adjustment to continue working without problems until today. We can attest to its ease of starting, its beautiful sound and regular idle, but for better verification we leave you the little video above.

As a good vintage truck that it is, the vibration is remarkable with the engine running and when it is still cold it produces an intense white smoke worthy of the best coffee maker ... Which only adds to the grace of the matter, at least in my opinion.

Finally, José processed its registration as a historic vehicle, so that he could use it with the "normal" driving license, but, as allowed by current legislation, kept the old pre-86 number plates on and that vintage flavor, like everything else in this beautiful Ebro!

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All kinds of original details have been preserved or recovered for this Ebro

In short, we can only congratulate its owner for the magnificent work done, especially if we take into account that this young fan is far from old enough to have seen trucks like his new almost even in its last years of operation.

Let's hope that the photos of this "exemplary" unit will encourage other fans to restore beautiful Ebro from the first period, as they are not lacking in attributes: they are easy to find and normally low prices, they have a reputation for being robust and of course their unmistakable classic stamp "of nose ”- although the original catalog insisted on defining them as a“ semi-forward cabin ”- it makes them look even older than they really are.

And not in vain it is no longer rare to find these Ebro in concentrations, and perhaps they are the most restored classic industrialists in Spain, only behind the inevitable Pegasus and negotiating second place with the English Leylands and the Madrid Barreiros.

In addition, there is its easy handling, nice appearance and that they do not take up too much space thanks to a contained size (to be a truck) ... Come on, it makes you want to find one!.

Full-size images (1.280 px. Approx.)

What do you think?

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Written by Francisco Carrion

My name is Francisco Carrión and I was born in Ciudad Real in 1988, a place that was not at first akin to vintage cars. Fortunately my grandfather, dedicated to the automotive sector, had friends who owned veteran cars and participated in the annual rally that was held (and continues to be held) in my hometown ... Read more

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