Ford Transit MkI Police Control Vehicle

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AMENDMENT: The V5 for this vehicle has now been located and is available to view at Brightwells although the van is still at Stondon.

In 1965, Ford launched the front-engined Transit into a market segment largely dominated by so-called 'forward control' vehicles where the driver sat virtually on top of, or in front of the engine.

This new, British-built light commercial vehicle was designed to replace the Ford Thames 400E which had been introduced in 1957 and was now rather dated. The new van was not the first production Ford to wear the 'Transit' badge as a Taunus version had been built in 1953 in Ford's Köln plant in Germany. However, both the name (Latin for 'go across') and the van struck a workmanlike chord and tradesmen took to it in droves.

The new Transit’s American-inspired styling with its broad track gave it a huge advantage in carrying capacity over comparable vehicles of the day. The adoption of a front beam axle in place of the more supple independent front suspension that had featured in its predecessor seemed a retrograde step, but in use the Transit's wider track and longer wheelbase more than compensated for the older technology.

The engines used in the UK were the Essex V4 for the petrol version in 1.7 and 2-litre capacities. By using relatively short V4 engines, Ford were able to minimise the additional length needed to place the engine ahead of the driver, thus significantly reducing the excessive noise, smell and cabin heat of earlier vans.

The Transit MkI was produced initially at Ford's Langley facility in Berkshire, but demand soon outstripped the capability of the plant and production was moved to Southampton. A key to the Transit's success was the sheer number of different body styles available. The new van was seen everywhere as a panel van, an ice cream van, a high-sided small removal van, a police minibus, and even a fire engine. By the time the second generation Transit took over in 1978, it was the UK’s favorite workhorse.

The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe since its introduction, and in some countries the term 'Transit' has passed into common usage as a generic term applying to any light commercial van in this size bracket.

First registered in March 1977, this Transit MkI 2-litre served as a Metropolitan Police control vehicle until going on display at the Stondon Museum some years ago. Retaining much of its original crowd control equipment including a public address system and reinforced windows, it would be an ideal base from which to shout at people at country fairs, pop festivals and the like from a position of relative safety. "Oi, you with the long hair, put that out now!"

At the time of cataloguing the paperwork for this vehicle could not be readily located but PYT 500R is still recorded on the DVLA system and an online check reveals that it last had a valid tax disc in 2000.

This lot will be available to view at Stondon Museum (SG16 6JN) on Friday 5th June. Although this vehicle will be offered for sale at Brightwells (HR6 0DE) it will need to be collected from Stondon. Due to where the vehicle is currently stored, collection may not be possible for up to 4 weeks after the auction.