The Ford Transit - heritage and history:
"We believe that when an owner thinks about a vehicle, the impression he has of Transit is that it is tough, reliable, safe, available and that parts are affordable thanks to a huge dealer network. What we hear from customers is that they feel confident with Transit, that it is a trustworthy product."
Mark Simpson, Manager - Marketing and Brand Development.

Transit is one of the most successful Ford nameplates in the world. In 1997, with sales of 140,894, Ford Transit was the best selling vehicle in its class in Europe for the ninth time in 11 years. Since it's original launch in 1965 more than four million Transits built at factories in the UK, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, Poland, Belarus, China, Vietnam and Malaysia have gone into service. Highlights of this long and distinguished career include:

• 1965 The first Ford Transit comes down the line, already packed with innovations like a printed circuit in the instrument panel, an optional steering lock, a side loading door and seat-belt attachment. Halogen headlights, tubeless tyres and weight-saving minimum leaf springs were introduced shortly after launch. Original Transit is powered with a 73bhp 1.7-litre or an 85bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine. The first diesel on offer is a Perkins 4/99 with 43bhp on offer.

• 1966 Perkins 4/99 diesel replaced by Perkins 4/108. Transit is offered in long wheelbase version as well as short.

• 1971 This year sees an attractive, car-like grille introduced, as well as new model nomenclature to reflect the change to metric. Model numbers now describe the payload in kilograms, divided by ten.

• 1972 The Perkins powerplants used from launch are replaced with a range of Ford's high-speed 'York' engines with 54bhp or 61bhp on offer.

• 1975 Transit interior gains more than 100mm of legroom and a longer steering column for a better driving position. The Ford 1.7-litre 'Essex' petrol V4 is replaced by the more economical 1.6-litre 'Kent' engine.

• 1976 Transit gains disc brakes at the front for the first time, with ventilated discs for the new top-weight model, the 190.

• 1978 Transit receives a significant facelift with a more streamlined and longer bonnet to accommodate more fuel-efficient OHC engines. That year, Ford's C3 automatic transmission is introduced, as well as a more powerful heater with car-like ducting.

• 1984 Significantly, Transit gains Ford's own Dagenham-built 2.5-litre direct-injection diesel with its rotary fuel injection pump, which increased power versus the 'York' engines while cutting fuel consumption by up to 24 percent.

• 1986 An all-new Ford Transit is launched, featuring aerodynamic cab styling that, with a Cd of just 0.37, betters many cars. CdA also drops by 11percent, allowing fuel savings of up to 8 percent compared to previous Transit. The new Transit also gains a wider bonnet for better engine access, larger cab doors, deeper windows for better vision, wider and taller rear doors and larger side doors to accept a one-metre pallet. Overall, the load space is increased between 11 percent and 13.5 percent depending upon model.

• 1991 Transit receives a turbocharged diesel for the first time. Derived from the 2.5-litre DI, the new engine contains another commercial vehicle 'first' in its drive-by-wire engine control. Transit also gains a naturally aspirated version of the 2.5L DI and an uprated petrol engine with 97PS on offer. A redesigned underbody structure also means enhanced safety for the Transit allowing it to pass tough 48kph crash barrier tests and restrain a triple seat and its occupants.

• 1994 Transit is updated with a number of exterior and interior changes including the distinctive Ford family oval grille. Interior noise in the new model is reduced by 70 percent, and there are comprehensive upgrades to safety and security features. Added are three-point seat-belts and an all-new, more car-like, interior and dashboard. Other improvements include a new climate control system, a 2.5L DI diesel with improved emissions and a new 115PS DOHC petrol engine.

• 2000 The biggest step-change in the history of Transit happens with the start of the new millennium. The all-new Transit, though, is respectful of its long heritage - the styling deliberately reflects its predecessors, particularly around the trademark 'hockey stick' side glass on the front doors and the low front bonnet.