Ford celebrated two impressive milestones in its history today as the Ford Transit reached its 45th birthday and the 6 millionth Ford Transit rolled off the production lines.

Six million Transits have now been sold worldwide – with the UK’s van drivers accounting for 2.1 million of them.  Ford is celebrating these twin milestones with a new limited edition model, the Transit Sapphire. Only 1,150 Sapphires will be made and the generously-specified model will be available in short, medium and long-wheelbase versions. Goodies included as standard on the Sapphire model include air conditioning, cruise control, uprated stereo with bluetooth and auxiliary input for MP3 players and electric windows.

Here’s a picture of the Sapphire alongside a mk1 Transit – how things have changed in 45 years:

A Mk1 Transit from 1965 alongside a 45th anniversary 2010 Transit Sapphire

As it happens, the six millionth Transit came of the line at Ford’s Turkish plant – not its Southampton factory – but the first Sapphire did roll off the line in Southampton, with the keys going to the UK’s first ever Ford dealer, Hendy Group, which sells around 3,000 Transits every year and is celebrating its own centenary this year.

Hendy Group MD Paul Hendy collecting the keys of his 45th anniversary Transit Sapphire