Beloved by bands and bank robbers, the Ford Transit turns 60

Climbing to 1965 Ford Transit is like stepping into a time capsule on the wheels.

Forget your modern high -tech nicknacks such as satnavs and touch screens. The only thing you get here is a steering wheel, a large chromium lining speedller dial and a chunky heater control. Not even a radio.

On the road, it explodes and explodes and jumps from time to time.

In a disturbing way, there is no seat belt, the seat itself has a tendency to walk around, and the brakes seem to do much.

As it is, it is difficult to imagine that this old machine is the latest technology.

Nevertheless, when the original transit first initiated Ford’s production line in the Fordy’s factory in Berkshire on August 9, 1965, it was a revelation.

According to the standards of the day, it was extremely wide, powerful and practical. It was comfortable, there was a sharp use and put existing vans like Morris J4 firmly in the shade.

After sixty years, transit has been redesigned many times, but the brand itself is still strong. For many small businesses, it continues to be a foundation even in an age where “white minibuses” are eleven cents and the market is full of competition.

The world’s best -selling minibus – and so far it has been built more than 13 million.

AA President Edmund King, “There are many iconic cars: Morris Minor, Minor, Mini, Land Rover, Vw Beetle, but there is only one iconic minibus and this transition,” says AA President Edmund King.

“Probably the only minibus that people really know.”

Initially, a cooperation between the engineers of Ford in England and Germany, and primarily a cooperation for British and European markets was designed to be as versatile as possible.

It has become a staple for tradesmen, including builders, carpenters, electricians and delivery drivers.

But at the same time, he also appealed to others looking for a wide, cheap transport, including enthusiastic rock groups. It was almost a gate ritual. Among those who spend time on one way Black shitLed Zeppelin, small faces and Slade.

Peter Lee, the founder of Transit Van Club, said, “It was the freedom to go where you want, when you want. Oil was much cheaper than now,” he says.

“I came to Spain, I lived as a hippie at a strawberry farm for 13 months, then he returned and established a business. Before I know, I had 180 workers in 28 transit vans in London.”

The speed and the loading area of Transit also addressed the people on the wrong side of the law.

In 1972, the story was going, a metropolis police spokesman claimed that 95% of the bank raids were used and added that the speed and loading area has become an excellent escape tool. This, Dribly, “England’s most sought -after minibus” did.

Meanwhile, the cliché of bullying “White Van Man”, Sunday Times correspondent, Jonathan Leake, did not target transit drivers in 1997, which were described as “a kind of tattooed with a cigarette in his mouth, which was prone to flashing his lights while descending to his hunting.

However, considering how many of them were on the road until then, it is a fair bet on which they are implied.

Transitions were built in England for about half a century – first in Langley, then in a factory just outside Southampton. However, this was closed in 2013 because Ford lifted production to Türkiye and said that the costs were “significantly lower”. It was a controversial movement that dismissed hundreds of employees. It was described as ‘betrayal’ by trade unions.

Today, Ford continues to emphasize both the British heritage of Transit and the work that still takes place here, especially in the center of England in Dunton, Essex.

“It is the home of Dunton Transit,” he insists that British General Manager Lisa Brankkin

“This is the place where we manage all engineering and design works for new minibuses. But at the same time we build our diesel engines in Dagenham just below the road and make power packages for electric trucks in Halewood near Liverpool.”

Most European production of the company remains in Türkiye, which is likely to change.

“This is about centralizing productivity and production in one place instead of having more than one site throughout Europe.”

Most of the event in Dunton focuses on what a new generation of transit vans will bring. But will there be another radical game changers like the original model?

“We’re working on,” says Commercial Vehicle Development Director Seamus McDermott, when I asked him this question.

He believes that what customers want from a minibus does not really change in 60 years. It is still about having a reliable wheel set that is still versatile and cheap. However, the way of achieving the target is now very different.

“It is cheaper to run electric vehicles and it is cheaper to repair,” he says.

“In addition, when we bring more software defined, smart more ‘tools, the ability to manage fleets remotely will help reduce costs. Therefore, revolution will be related to provocation and software.”

However, according to AA president Edmund King, the transit brand has already endured for 60 years, but today it goes to an uncertain future.

“In the 60s, in the 70s and the 80s, if someone had a passage of his father, they would make a pass.”

“I think this is changing. There is more competition in the Van market, so brand loyalty is definitely not as strong as before.”