Ford Transit 60 yrs today.

[Sharky]

Apparently, it's the 60th anniversary of the ford transit van today.

Is this a cause to celebrate or to commiserate.

Several club mates have had them and they are great at transporting bikes to events, but some drivers are lacking in driving skills.

 

[raleighnut]

The original ones were basically a car with a van body, my Uncle had a 'K' reg one (72) vast improvement on the Commer his brother had for their building company (Young Bros, builders)

 

[fossyant]

I've turned into a white van man !

 

[biggs682]

Done quite a few miles in transit's over the years in different areas of the world.

 

[MontyVeda]

The UK's most popular getaway car... bank robberies just wouldn't be the same without a Tranny

 

[MichaelW2]

Without it, we may well have lost WW2.

 

[Drago]

I've turned into a white van man !

They were originally a gloss mid grey. However, this was the days before aircon and it was quickly realised that cooking ones customers in sunny weather was not not conducive to repeat business so they changed the standard colour to white, and hence the white fans we have today.

 

[numbnuts]

My Father worked there

 

[DRM]

Chris Rea quite likes his Time Transit, makes a change from travelling the Time/Space Continuum in a portable plastic lavatory

 

[tyred]

I recently travelled as a passenger in a MKII Transit, for the first time in many years. It's amazing how dated it felt compared to modern vans. The engine was apparently RS2000 spec but it didn't seem to have much life in it.

 

[Beebo]

BBC have an article.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0j97xegz5no

I’d forgotten about the sliding cab doors. They were a good look.

 

[Ian H]

Ford made lots of different vans over the years but named them all 'Transit'. See also 'Escort'.

 

[Gunk]

 

[Gunk]

I hired a 2023 SWB Transit for the day recently, it was nicer to drive than my car!

 

[Cavalol]

Drove a couple of real lemons, but Transits are pretty much 100% the best van to drive. I didn't like the 90 brake 2.4 diesels (2000-2006) as they were gutless, but the 2.O TDCi SWB of the same era was a fantastic thing. They just seem to have that 'thing' that other vans don't.
The new 2.0 diesels ones are worrying though because of the stupid wet belt, but are still really nice to drive.