Tuesday 14th December 2010

Video: Ford Supervan

One from the archives and, er, something for the ladies..?

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'Do you do classics too?' enquired a friendly email from Ford's heritage department. It was accompanied by a link to a charming little movie called 'Women's Page 1937', which a chap in the Heritage Department described as 'something for the ladies'. (A remark we can only assume was a satirical reference to the social mores of the time, and which has thus been awarded a 'pass' by the official PH PC O'Meter...)

Anyway, we were seriously thinking about sharing that one, when our eye was caught by another little film listing in the Ford Heritage YouTube channel - simply entitled 'Transit Supervan'.

Even if you've seen it before, it's worth watching again - so we did. Twice, actually. And if it doesn't do the trick for you, perhaps you'd be better off watching 'something for the ladies' after all. (Ed. Can we say that? Uh-oh...)

 

 

[R66STU]

nice.. thats a really retro voice over but what a van.

[dinkel]

I watched the Supervan with the 3.9 litre DFX installed lapping Zandvoort: fantastic stuff.

Here's 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qd5Z0VK5zM&pla...

[snowy slopes]

I dont remember the original supervan, but i do remember seeing both 2 and 3 doing demo laps. The fact that ford havent made another supervan, means the world is a sadder place

[P4ROT]

Supervan 3 was the best (and loudest lol) IMHO

http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/trackdayvideos/217632/...

[dr_rallye]

It looks like a giant white Mini Traveller

Very cool.

[retro_racer]

I always wanted to do this with a Merlin/Sprinter....

[The Donster]

I'm sorry, but having been a fast Renault fan in my 'yoof', this one beats the lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaW_35KPDBY&fea...

Ok, technically not a van, but it sounds the nuts.

[edo]

400+ odd HP and only 0-60 in 7 seconds??

[Streetrod]

Sorry but I love all that old Santa Pod footage

[Oddball RS]

edo said:

400+ odd HP and only 0-60 in 7 seconds??

Can't help but think the gearing needed tweaking can you?

[danrc]

Check the tyre stretch!

[dave stew]

I was clocking the early 70s fashions and Mk1 RS Escorts as well... And in a couple of years we had the Mk2 RS1800 and punk rock! Happy days...

[Mooster]

edo said:

400+ odd HP and only 0-60 in 7 seconds??

Quite heavy though, those old transits. Can't imagine a thumping great V8 is much lighter than the original lump either

[dinkel]

I guess 0-60 in 7 secs is quite something in a van!

[72twink]

Didn't Supervan 1 have a GT40 engine and transmission - probably still on LM gearing!

[blunder13]

I liked the van but the second video is excellent.

Wind swept hair and all the ash trays you could ever want (oh and a radio, which unfortuantly replaces on of the ash trays).

[skint_driver]

It could start a great new race series with that Transit development mule for the Jag XJ220.

[Bebee]

Great vid, I learned to drive in a Mk1 tranny, I was on the road at 14 (allegedly)

Did you notice the passenger in the van at one of the tracks, the driver with full race gear and crash helmet, the passenger in his Sunday best, I miss the 70's

Is it still about?

It must have been roasting in the back, how did the Webbers get any air?

Edited by Bebee on Tuesday 14th December 14:53

[ncbbmw]

Streetrod said:

Sorry but I love all that old Santa Pod footage

+1 I saw Supervan at the Pod brought back some great memories.

[wombatcdn]

I once went to a job interview at TWR back in the 90s and in a dusty corner of the shop floor there lurked a late model Transit. My interviewer, doing the factory tour, stopped at this van and asked me to look in through the back window. Inside lurked a full subframe and powertrain for the XJ220. (It was only afterwards that I noticed the massive rubber at all four corners!) Apparently they used it as a test mule for the powertrain etc, and used to amuse themselves by pulling up next to 911s et al at red lights, and flipping off the driver in true white man van fashion. When the light went green, aforementioned stockbroker/drug dealer/w.h.y. would stomp it only to watch the Trannie disappearing off up the road.

The Transit was lighter than the XJ220 so it was actually quicker 0-60 and 0-100, however aerodynamics took over further up the scale and it only topped out about 160mph.

Never got the job :-(