Friday Fun: The Ford Transit Supervan

There is no doubt that the latest diesel-powered Ford Transits are respectably brisk for vans – but they aren’t really fast, are they?

Not even the desirable Ford Transit Sportvan can lay claim to true high performance credentials, despite its GT40-style go faster stripes.

Perhaps that’s why no fewer than three Ford Transit Supervans have been built over the years, starting with the Supervan 1 in 1971:

Ford Transit Supervan 1 (c) www.nsva.co.uk
Ford Transit Supervan 1 (Copyright  www.nsva.co.uk)

The Supervan 1 was powered by a rip-snorting 400bhp V8 engine as used in Ford’s victorious GT40 Le Mans cars. It did 68mph in first gear and was good for 196mph in fifth.

For a time the Supervan 1 reigned supreme – but the launch of the Mk2 Transit meant that the time was ripe for a successor – the Supervan 2, which was unveiled at the Donington Truck Grand Prix in 1984:

Supervan 2

The Supervan 2 was powered by a long-stroke version of Ford-Cosworth’s DFV Formula 1 engine and was later clocked at 174mph at Silverstone. What more can I say?

Time took its toll on the Supervan 2 and ten years later the Supervan 3 was born. Although technically a complete rebuild of the Supervan 2, it was virtually a new van and used the then-new Ford Transit Mk3 body shape:

Super Van 3

The Supervan 3 remains in service today and has proved a highly-effective publicity tool over the years. It has an estimated top speed of 150mph and now forms part of the Ford Heritage Vehicle Collection.

4 thoughts on “Friday Fun: The Ford Transit Supervan

  1. Pingback: Ford Transit SuperVan 3 Unleashed At Goodwood Festival of Speed [video] - Van News: The VanRental.co.uk Blog

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  3. Pingback: » In the time it takes you to read this, someone will buy a Ford Transit - Van News: The VanRental.co.uk Blog

  4. Pingback: » Ford Transit Supervan 3 Will Star At CarFest South - Van News: The VanRental.co.uk Blog

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