Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6316
Location: Derby
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 Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Penman wrote: | | Of course, we had the 400E and Germany had a Taunus Transit, how big an improvement was the First Gen? |
The Transit was a revelation. It wasn't difficult for Ford to clean up when you look at the competition. It drove more like a car than anything before it. The BMC (originally either Austin or Morris) J4 was not a pleasant drive; it was noisy...but the same could be said about any of the other panel vans. They had been sold cheaply with the fleet market in mind. The Transit was aimed at the rapidly emerging self employed tradesman market.
The only vehicle that came close to competing with the Transit (in my opinion) was the Bedford CF. I have a soft spot for the Bedford and found it to be a nicer vehicle all round than the Ford.. but I think it was probably too well built to be viable at the price.  |
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bjacko
Joined: 28 Oct 2013
Posts: 360
Location: Melbourne Australia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:08 am Post subject: Ford Transits |
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We had Ford Transits with 6 cylinder Ford Falcon Australian engines at work in the late 1960's and they drove very well. They were built "or assembled" in Australia.
The 6 cylinder engine made an unbelievable difference not just quieter but the extra power made them so much more usable.
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP |
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alastairq
Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1954
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:40 am Post subject: |
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I recall having to drive a hired Bedford CF Twin wheeler van in 1972{?}
What a revelation, having driven a Bedford CA, BMC J4 and its predecessor...etc?
Faster than most of the cars I had owned to that point....
This, all in London. {I was a LT bus driver at the time]
Later I had the [dis?] pleasure of driving [for a living] twin wheel Transit minibuses [diesel and petrol]....and diesel box vans [freezer] and, of course, that hugely successful driver training aid, the diesel Transit Luton!!
The latter useful for teaching overtaking techniques on a motorway....Capable of just a little bit more speed than the average artic, it was possible to start overhauling a wagon...All going well, until one met the headwind off the wagon's cab! Then, progress virtually ceased! Only choice was to either [a] hope one was cresting a rise at that point, with a downhill bit to follow..or [b] dropping back to try again later?
Always best to overtake wagons on right hand curves.....Since one was on the ''inside'' one could get past even though one's speed was only slightly better than the wagon's at that point.
In those days, overtaking in an 'underpowered' vehicle [certainly by today's standards, where things have swung totally the other way??] was a skill requiring more than just a lead wellied right foot.
''Charging the tailgate'' was one technique...useful when driving a Renault 4 and the traffic in front was too slow for my tastes...
Or overtaking a tractor, or pushbike, in a double deck bus where one was ''all in'' in top gear at 31 mph!!
All skills learnt drivng Transit Lutons....
Heaven help one in a strong cross wind.....
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4757
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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