The launch of a new Transit is always the perfect excuse to look at pictures of old ones. And, with a 47-year-and-counting lifespan, there are plenty to look at.
In that time the Transit has done everything from moving elephants at Regents Park Zoo to maintaining Switzerland’s railway network and transporting bands such as Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.
The motoring icon has also done its fair share of promotional stunts, most notably the series of mid-engined Supervans, which kicked off with Supervan 1 in 1971. It was powered by a five-litre V8 scavenged from a GT40.
Supervan 2 followed in the ’80s powered by a Cosworth F1 engine, before the pièce de résistance arrived in the form of the 650bhp, (probably) 200mph Supervan 3, which was launched in ’94.
During its long life a Transit has also jumped 15 cars in the hands of stuntman Steve Matthews, and entered the annual Malden Raft Race.
News of Ford’s new Transit comes as the Transit Van Club announces signing up its 1000th member.
