Ford Supervan

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The Ford Transit Supervans were a series of promotional vehicles built for Ford UK. They combined the outline and appearance of the popular Ford Transit van with the chassis and performance of a sports racing car.

Supervan[]

The Supervan first appeared at the Easter 1971 meeting at Brands Hatch. A GT40 chassis and its mid-engined 400 bhp (298 kW) Ford V8 gave a standard pressed-steel Mark 1 Transit bodyshell a claimed top speed of around 150 mph (240 km/h). The vehicle had been built for Ford by .[1] Externally the van appeared very like a standard Transit, in Ford's racing livery of white with low horizontal triple blue stripes.[2] The wheel arches were flared to almost cover the wider wheels, but this was barely more noticeable than the extensions fitted to the production long-wheelbase Transit. Aerodynamics of the high-mounted bodyshell were crude though, and although the van was usually demonstrated with drag starts, body lift limited its top speed on a track.

In 1978 the Transit was redesigned as the Mark 2, with quite different looks. Supervan's appearance now looked dated and no longer suitable for promoting the 'New' Transit.

Transit Supervan – Ford Heritage Collection on YouTube

Supervan 2[]

In 1984 a new Supervan 2 was constructed. The bodyshell was a fibreglass replica of the Mark 2 Transit, although slightly lowered and fitted with a front airdam, large side air inlets and a high-mounted rear spoiler. The chassis was a Ford C100 Group C car, fitted with a Cosworth DFL engine. It was built by of [ Wollaston Northants]]. Supervan 2's debut was at Donington Park for the first British truck racing Grand Prix. During tests at Silverstone, it was timed at 174 mph (280 km/h).[1]

Supervan 2's promotional lifespan was even shorter than the first Supervan. Just over a year later, the Mark 3 Transit was released, with a very different outline. Supervan 2 retired to the Leyland Motors museum.[1]

Supervan 3[]

1994 Ford Transit Supervan 3

In 1994, to promote the new Mark 3 Transit Facelift, Supervan 2 was rebuilt as Supervan 3.[1] This was the first time that Supervan had been used to promote a new model, rather than a model already nearing its end of life. A seven-eighths scale reduced replica of the new bodyshell was fitted, together with a new engine, a Cosworth HB.[1] The work was carried out by DRL Engineering of Suffolk.[3] This version also had the longest promotional lifespan, appearing in public until 2001.[2] With several liveries in Ford's blue and white over the years, its final appearance was in Royal Mail red, celebrating Ford's new contract to supply their vans, taking over from a long arrangement with Leyland DAF Vans.

In 2004 a refurbishment was announced. The engine was replaced with a more practical Ford-Cosworth Pro Sports 3000 V6 engine, and the 1984 Ford Motorsport blue and white livery was restored. This work was carried out by of Bicester.[3]

In 2007 it was suggested that Supervan 3's chassis might be rebuilt into a C100 and used for historic sports car racing.[1]

See also[]

  • Renault Espace F1

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Noakes, Andrew (2007). The Ford Cosworth DFV. Haynes. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-84425-337-1.
  2. ^ a b "Ford Supervans". Archived from the original on 2011-04-17.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b "Ford's 150mph Transit Supervan 3 hits the tracks again". Ford Motor Company. 9 July 2004. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007.
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