1973 Mk1 Ford Transit – Auction Car of the Week

Is this the real life, or is this just vantasy? Caught in a bank job, no escape from the magistrates… You know, because the Mk1 Ford Transit, with it’s revolutionary car-like handling was made famous for its strong links to nefarious activities when it was launched. Before the Ford Transit, vans were slow, horrid, ponderous things that were a chore to drive. The Transit changed all that though, and proved to the world that vans could be comfortable, speedy and also a bit naughty in the case of the crims who were out annoying the Sweeny.

The Ford Transit was more than a getaway vehicle, of course. It revolutionised light commercial transport by being one van that could be all things to all trades. It could be a van; short, long and/or tall. Or it could be a chassis cab, which made the possibilities as near as dammit endless. Tipper, drop-side, camper, mini bus, petrol, diesel, all-wheel drive, ambulance, recovery, the list goes on. It was even super thanks to the V8 from a GT40, mid-mounted in Supervan. Today, the Transit is available in millions of different combinations. It is, as the adverts said for decades, the backbone of Britain.

However, while the Transit is a formidable machine, there is no escaping the fact that vans are built to work, and work for a van takes its toll. Lots of miles, out in all weathers, in all environments. It wasn’t uncommon in the case of the Mk1 Ford Transit to see examples just a few years old sent to the scrap yard. Vans are used, they are seldom cherished, and that makes them a rare thing within the classic car world. And that rarity means that when one does become available, you need to pounce on it. Vans like this utterly glorious 1973 Mk1 Ford Transit Custom, for example. Look at it. Van-based perfection.

This stunning 1973 example has covered a mere 69k over the course of its 50 year life, and has had just three owners over all that time. It’s clearly never been used for any kind of heavy, dirty work, as it presents today in exceptional, largely original condition. There was a hiatus around 2015 when the van was put into dry storage, but in 2022 it was given a complete overhaul and put back into service. All the paperwork is there to back up the van’s impressive history, which even includes the original, stamped, service record. Finds like this don’t come about every day.

Power comes from the tough little Ford 2.0 V4 unit, which is mated to a four-speed manual transmission driving the back wheels. The van runs and drives like new, thanks in no small part to last year’s work. The cab, with it’s luxury ‘custom’ specification is a glorious place to be, while the rear load area is just as fresh and clean and even has some ply-lining. You could do whatever you wanted with this space. A stealth camper for shows, or maybe just carpet and insulate it to make it a comfy day van for short adventures. Or, and we’re going a bit off the reservation here, you could use it as, you know, a van…

Externally, you have that captivating respray in Cascade Blue hue, the white details like the light surrounds and grille are all excellent, and the whole thing rolls on the original 14-inch wheels with factory trims. The vast panels are all excellent, and while there is some welcome patina and evidence of age, there is nothing to raise any concern or worry your MIG. It’s solid, it’s stunning and it’s ready to go. And we really mean that, as most of the mechanical stuff underneath has been refreshed in the last decade.

We love a classic van here at Car & Classic, and this 1973 Mk1 Ford Transit is no exception. It’s a magnificent example of a vehicle the likes of which we seldom see today. This, and we’ll take bets on this, will turn more heads than any E Type or Porsche. The Mk1 Ford Transit elicits a far more visceral, personal response than those cars. The Transit is part of the backdrop of our memories, and that makes for a powerful anachronism in 2023. Plus, if you buy it, you could probably make a small fortune by renting out to whatever retro TV show is being made for Netflix this week. Bonus!