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The best-seller
wasn't always great
Ford launched the Transit on 8 October 1965. This was arguably the most significant new van launch of the 20th Century, and CM was the first with the news.
Our first full road test of a petrol-engined 3.5-tonne panel van was, as you would expect, largely positive. We found it difficult to fault the overall ride and handling characteristics. The steering was considered to be class-leading, and we went as far as to say that "main road driving in the Transit van can only be compared with private car motoring". We loved the high levels of driver comfort too, especially the heater. We described it as: "Effective in keeping the whole of the interior of the vehicle at a comfortable working temperature. A remarkably efficient defroster will keep the screen completely free of snow in extremely bad conditions and the wiper equipment, which like the mirrors, has been specially designed for the vehicle, clears a sensibly placed, large area of screen." We also liked the screen washers, which, unusually for the time, were a standard fit on the Transit. We were impressed that "two double jets spray the screen at the most effective positions to obtain a quick clearance of road dirt and film".
Our first full road test of a petrol-engined 3.5-tonne panel van was, as you would expect, largely positive. We found it difficult to fault the overall ride and handling characteristics. The steering was considered to be class-leading, and we went as far as to say that "main road driving in the Transit van can only be compared with private car motoring". We loved the high levels of driver comfort too, especially the heater. We described it as: "Effective in keeping the whole of the interior of the vehicle at a comfortable working temperature. A remarkably efficient defroster will keep the screen completely free of snow in extremely bad conditions and the wiper equipment, which like the mirrors, has been specially designed for the vehicle, clears a sensibly placed, large area of screen." We also liked the screen washers, which, unusually for the time, were a standard fit on the Transit. We were impressed that "two double jets spray the screen at the most effective positions to obtain a quick clearance of road dirt and film".
But it wasn't all positive. We didn't like the cab entrance steps, for example, which were described as "thin and liable to wear through easily". Then there was the bodywork, which was "quite attractive", but deemed complicated and prone to expensive damage. "The wheel arches do not appear to be practical for goods vehicle application," we stated.
But it wasn't all positive. We didn't like the cab entrance steps, for example, which were described as "thin and liable to wear through easily". Then there was the bodywork, which was "quite attractive", but deemed complicated and prone to expensive damage. "The wheel arches do not appear to be practical for goods vehicle application," we stated.
But our most severe criticism was with the axle ratio, which we considered to be too high, making the use of top gear around town almost impossible. In fact, we described it as "extremely unhappy below about 28mph in top gear" and suggested that a lower axle would have improved acceleration and fuel consumption.
We weren't impressed with the "pronounced knock" that could be heard between 10mph and 12mph either, and found the transmission to be "extremely rough".
Although CM might have had a few reservations, the van-buying British public certainly did not. The Transit quickly became the UK's best seller — a title it still holds today, almost 50 years later.