Whether you are a small business owner or embracing the van life, the Ford Transit is high on the list of vehicles that you would consider buying. While it’s not as flashy or newsworthy as the other groundbreaking vehicles, such as the Ford Mustang or Porsche 911, the Ford Transit is one of the most important vehicles ever produced.

As Ford’s advertisement campaign said, the Transit is “the backbone of Britain”, and it is not limited to the UK. Many more countries and their economy revolve around the Ford Transit. These vans are put through years of abuse, driven daily for many miles with literally tons of cargo, and get stuff done. They've changed the lives of people that live in developing countries. Let’s dive deep into the history of this workhorse and understand the reasons why it is one of the most popular vans of all time.

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8 Origins of the Ford Transit

Early ambulance using the Transit badge
Via: Wikimedia Commons

Back in the day, vans were not good. They were very underpowered, uncomfortable, and hard to drive, except the Volkswagen Transporter. Ford UK and Ford Germany were building direct competitors to the popular Volkswagen Transit. Germany had the TK line, which was not well received by the public. But one particular vehicle was pretty good, so Ford Germany changed its name to Ford Taunus Transit, naming it after the popular family vehicle.

Thames 400E, Manufactured by Ford of UK
Via: Silverstone Auctions

Ford UK had the Thames 400E, which was fine, and sold moderately well. But these Ford vehicles were competing against each other on the other markets, instead of the VW Transporter. So, Henry Ford II personally asked two companies to work together and create one van for the European and world market. This move was also the foundation of today’s Ford Europe. He assigned a supervisor from Ford’s Dearborn headquarters and these two branches started working on the Project Red Cap.

7 High-Speed Testing was Done on Public Roads

Ford Transit Vans on the road
Via: Ford Motor Company

Development started in Britain, with engineers from Germany, US, and the UK. Ford UK understood that the new van should be front-engined, for more cargo space at the back of the vehicle. They also went through Ford’s parts bin to save on developmental costs. This was the reason for the Mk 1’s good handling and more than adequate performance. The front was elongated to house bigger engines and the new Transit used an alternator, instead of a dynamo like its competition, It also looked like an American vehicle.

First generation Ford Transit, also known as Ford Transit Mk. 1
Via: Wikipedia Commons

As the UK’s highways didn’t have a speed limit, allegedly Shelby Daytona was the reason for the introduction of them, tests like top speed and high-speed stability were done on open, public roads at night time. Legend has it that they were still pulled over occasionally. Police didn’t ticket them, they were just curious about the development process of the new van.

6 Ford Supervan

Ford Supervan 1
Via: Ford Motor Company

While vans were not particularly quick in 1971, Ford wanted to celebrate their four consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans wins. They celebrated their monumental success with an unexpected car. They took the chassis, engine, and the running gear from a Ford GT40 and bolted it on an Mk.1 Transit body onto it, the result was the first Supervan.

Ford Supervan 2 was used to highlight the Transit's high performance
Via: Ford Motor Company

This first Supervan could reach a top speed of 150 mph despite its crude aerodynamics. Ford used this vehicle for generating publicity, displaying and driving it at drag events, or lending it out to the press. After this Supervan’s success, Ford built two more, one for the Mk. II and one for Mk. III. While the Supervan project is merely for advertisement, these vars aren't going to lose a drag race to Mercedes Sprinter any time soon.

5 They Tested Their Diesel Engine at Monza

2 "Pig-Snout" Transit Vans ripping the track at Monza
Via: Ford Motor Company

In 1972, Ford decided to replace the underpowered Jenkins diesel engines, as they were very unpopular. They developed and produced the York diesel engine to power their commercial vehicle line-up. For testing and demonstrating the new engine’s performance, reliability, and durability, Ford took two Transits that were powered by the 2.4-liter inline-4 York engine to Monza.

The drivers were handpicked by legendary F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart. They drove the vans non-stop for 7 days straight, stopping only for fuel and driver changes. Drivers pushed the cars to their absolute limits and broke three world endurance records along the way, including covering 10,000 miles at 73.5 mph. This publicity stunt gave the then-new York diesel engines some much-needed credibility.

Related: 2021 Ford Transit Van: Costs, Facts, And Figures

4 Britain’s Most Wanted Van

3 Generations of Transit Vans
Via: Ford Motor Company

The Ford Transit was a groundbreaking vehicle at the time. It could comfortably seat 5 people, haul more than 1.5 tons of cargo, and thanks to Ford’s impressive engine layout, it could reach impressive top speed all the while handling like a regular passenger car. This made the Transit the right vehicle for a number of jobs, including some illegal ones.

Ford Transit Mk. 1
Via: Ford Motor Company

In 1972, Metropolitan Police gave the transit the moniker of “Britain’s most wanted van” describing it as “Ford Transits are used in 95% of bank raids. With the performance of a car and space for 1.75 tonnes of loot, the Transit is proving the perfect getaway vehicle.” The police were using a Transit to catch the robbers too, a slightly souped-up van that used the 3-liter Essex V6 for high-performance applications.

3 UK’s Most Stolen

Via: Ford Motor Company

Transit vans are no stranger to crime, so much so that they earned the “Britain’s most wanted” title. But nowadays, the police want these vans for a different reason: they are getting stolen! They are being targeted to such an extent that the police regularly stop Transit drivers to offer some safety advice or catch the thief if the driver stole the van.

2017 Ford Transit and Transit Connect Construction
Via: Ford Motor Company

In 2015, 6000 Transit vans got stolen, making it the most stolen vehicle in the UK. The thieves target these vehicles for their cargo, precious equipment or tools. Even worse is these vans are also stripped down and sold for the parts and then burned to destroy evidence. Only 1/3 of the stolen Transits could be recovered and returned to their owners.

2 The Backbone of Small Businesses

Via: Ford Motor Company

Businesses need a reliable workhorse to do their job. They also need a special license for carrying cargo in many parts of the world, including the UK, the Ford Transit’s home country. This license can be very expensive and could hinder the earnings of small business owners. But you only need a license if you carry more than 3.5 tons in the UK.

2019 Ford Transit Cargo Van
Via: Ford Motor Company

Since 1970, business owners could choose from more than 1,000 possible combinations of Ford Transit. Most of which could carry significantly less than 3.5 tons, meaning that you don’t need a special license to drive it. This meant that small business owners everywhere bought the Ford Transit, so much so that Ford couldn’t keep up with the demand. Making the Ford Transit the most popular van almost everywhere it's sold, from the day it was first introduced. Helping the economy, one small business owner at a time.

Related: Here's Why The Ford Transit Connect Is Best Car To Live Inside Of

1 A Transit for Everyone

Via: Ford Motor Company

The Ford Transit has been continuously produced since 1965, it has seen four generations, each traditionally getting a huge facelift halfway in production. It was and still is offered with huge numbers of possible combinations. You could choose between the door styles, the number of seats, engine, FWD or 4WD, long or short wheelbase, cabin height, and much more. You could kit your Transit exactly the way you want from the factory. Even the famous Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang is built on a Transit’s skeleton.

Via: Wikimedia Commons

This makes the Ford Transit the perfect vehicle for small business owners, fleet operations, governments, or the van life movement that's gaining popularity. There are great deals at the second-hand market, parts are cheap and plenty, and due to the Transit's popularity, the aftermarket options are endless, so you could build the dream van for your adventures.

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