What was the Ford van before the Transit?
Before the iconic Ford Transit van, there was another Ford van that paved the way for its success. The Ford van that preceded the Transit was known as the Ford Thames 400E, and it played a significant role in the evolution of commercial vehicles in the mid-20th century.
The Ford Thames 400E
The Ford Thames 400E was a light commercial van produced by Ford in the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1965. It was designed to fill the gap between the smaller Ford Anglia and the larger Ford Thames Trader truck. The Thames 400E was a versatile vehicle, available in a variety of body styles, including a panel van, a pick-up, and a chassis cab.
Design and Features
The Ford Thames 400E was characterized by its distinctive rounded front-end design, which was a departure from the more angular styling of previous Ford commercial vehicles. The van featured a front-mounted engine and a rear-wheel-drive layout, which provided good load-carrying capacity and maneuverability.
In terms of specifications, the Thames 400E was powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which was later upgraded to a 1.7-liter unit. The van had a payload capacity of up to 1.5 tons, making it a popular choice for small businesses and tradespeople.
The Transition to the Ford Transit
The Ford Thames 400E was a successful model, but it was eventually replaced by the Ford Transit, which was introduced in 1965. The Transit was a larger and more modern van that offered improved performance, payload capacity, and fuel efficiency.
The Transit quickly became a best-selling commercial vehicle, and it has remained a staple of the Ford lineup for over 50 years. The success of the Transit can be attributed in part to the groundwork laid by the Ford Thames 400E, which paved the way for the development of more advanced and versatile commercial vehicles.p>
What was the first Transit van?
Although the Transit name was first used by Ford in 1953 in Germany on the Taunus Transit, it wasn't until 1965 that the Transit would stop looking like a VW Camper Van & truly embrace its destiny as the light commercial vehicle we all know & love today.
What was the Ford panel van called?
Ford's panel van was called the Sundowner (for a little while) and also gained much popularity and saw a fair bit of use, though to a lesser degree than the Holden.
What happened to panel vans?
Panel vans generally declined in popularity through the 1980s. Holden's last panel van, the WB, ceased production in 1984. Ford was the last manufacturer of Australian panel vans, until production of the XH Falcon, ceased in 1999. In 2000, Holden unveiled a retro-styled Sandman show car based on the Holden VU Ute.
What is the old Ford van called?
Ford Econoline
Ford E-Series. The Ford E-Series (also known as the Ford Econoline, Ford Econovan or Ford Club Wagon) is a range of full-size vans manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced for 1961 as the replacement of the Ford F-Series panel van, four generations of the model line have been produced.
What was the old hippie van called?
What are those hippie vans called? Known officially as the Volkswagen Type 2, the Hippie Van is known by various names in different international markets, including Bulli, Transporter, Kombi, Microbus, Samba, Campervan, or just Bus.
What is the smaller version of the Ford Transit?
Transit Connect
What's the difference between the Transit and the Transit Connect? Size, basically. The larger Ford Transit is perfect if you are a tradesman or contractor and need to carry items to job or client sites. The more compact, fuel-efficient Transit Connect is ideal for around-town driving or navigating busy city streets.
What was the original minivan?
In the late 1970s, Chrysler began a development program to design "a small affordable van that looked and handled more like a car." The result of this program was the first American minivans based on the S platform, the 1984 Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan.
What came before the Ford Transit?
Although it is known as something of a British institution, fans of the Transit may be surprised to learn that it actually has its roots in Germany! The closest things to Ford Transits for sale from 1953 right up to 1965 were called the 'Taunus Transit', with a typical model pictured above.
What was Ford's minivan called?
Ford Windstar
The Ford Windstar (later the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey) is a minivan that was produced and sold by Ford. The replacement for the Ford Aerostar, the Windstar adopted the front-wheel drive configuration of the Chrysler minivans.
What is the small Ford van called?
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van sold by Ford since 2002.
