Ford has a proud tradition of producing one-off high performance versions of the Transit – now it has done it again with the Transit SuperSportVan.

The Transit SuperSportVan( SSV) is basically a production short wheelbase Transit Sport Van with the addition of the 200PS, 3.2 litre TDCi diesel engine that is usually only fitted to the largest, heaviest Transits. Add a custom paint job and pretty much all the extras on the option list, and you have the Transit SSV*.

The SSV is on display at the Birmingham NEC this week, as part of Ford’s contribution to the Commercial Vehicle Show.

The Transit SSV is the fourth such Transit that Ford has built over the years – the most recent was a Ford World Rally Transit, which came complete with a sub-8 second 0-60mph time, internal roll cage, rally-style data logger, lowered suspension and a Ford Martini World Rally livery:

You can see pictures of the first three Transit Supervans here.

*I have to admit that although it is pretty tasty, the Transit SSV does seem just a little bit tame when compared to earlier Transit Supervans. The original 1971 Transit Supervan, for example, was powered by a 400hp V8 petrol engine taken from Ford’s Le Mans-winning GT40 supercar… Come on Ford – you know you want to!