Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Peter_L · Last edited by Peter_L on Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:31 pm; edited 2 times in total

Ford have announced the closure of the Transit assembly plant in Southampton.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-20078109

I don't think there has been another commercial vehicle with the charisma of the Transit. Born at a time when commercial vans were built but not designed, the Transit had lines that made them desirable.

Back in the 70's I got to drive the company's twin wheel, diesel pick-up on a regular basis. From long hauls along the motorways or hurtling along country roads, the Transit was the thing.

I wonder just how many people have driven Transits over the years.

Maybe the forum members would like to answer.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22780 Location: UK

Last time I went in a Transit was to collect the mountain of Austin 7 bits that came with the special I had. The only other recollection I have is of kipping in one at Beaulieu autojumble years ago, a distinct improvement over the previous year's tent!

It was sad to read the story about the factory closing after all these years. I guess the Transit introduced car-like levels of comfort, almost, at a time when previously vans had been pretty slow, noisy and uncomfortable to drive around in.

RJ
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Bitumen Boy · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:12 pm Post subject:

Another 1400 (+++) jobs gone, welcome to the treble dip recession. Apparently Ford won't be producing ANY vehicles in Britain after this, so you have to wonder how long the factories making engines and other components will last Sad

I drove a Transit based ice cream van for a while, back in the early noughties - how the insurance worked with me being 17/18 at the time I have no idea. I have some great memories of that time, but the flip side of the coin is it's long hours, lousy pay and you don't meet as many girls as you might think. Still, the ices were free and abundant Cool

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

47 years of the Transit coming to an end. Its a shame really but over the last few years they have become rot boxes with soft engines. Sad

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47Jag · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:43 pm Post subject:

The company that I worked for before I retired supplied the computer that created the work/spec. sheets at Southampton. This was in the form of a punched data card and the card punch went faulty. It was only discovered when a manager looked out the window and asked why they were stocking so many white Transits. It transpired that the default colour (no hole in the card) was white and this column wasn't being punched.

Art

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

"I don't think there has been another commercial vehicle with the charisma of the Transit"

I think there has, the VW Type 2 and the Bedford CA to name two.

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4850 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
Have done quite a lot of instruction work in Transits, trying to improve drivers economy. It is an easy vehicle to get a driver showing a 20% to 30% improvement on without any significant increase in journey times.
Don't like the FW drive version though. ( Proper Transits that is, not Connects)
Still do drive Transit minibuses regularly (Yreg through to 09s).
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D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Uncle Alec · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 734 Location: Manchester

I have been driving Transits on & off for 40 years. Love them. They blew all other 15cwt vans out of the water when they were launched, and have been doing the same ever since. Imagine having to try to sell Atlas or JU250s when Transits were available for not much more money.
I'm collecting my latest one next week. A Mk 5 smiley diesel. It's the very rare model - the one with wheel arches and botoms to the rear doors!

P3steve · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:40 am Post subject:

Driven loads of Transits over the years through all models the strangest was one that belonged to a friend of a friend who had lost his left leg in a bike accident and couldn’t work a clutch so built himself a 2.8 V6 transit with an auto box from a Granada…. Interesting!
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