HAPPY BIRTHDAY FORD TRANSIT: 45 YEARS OF SUCCESS

Ford’s iconic Transit has a significant birthday next month, celebrating 45 years of success. The Ford Transit, the pioneer of the ubiquitous white van, has led the UK market ever since the year that Jim Clark won the Indianapolis 500 and F1 World Championship, Tom and Jerry and Thunderbirds made their TV debuts, the Sound of Music movie was released and Mary Quant invented the mini skirt.

At launch, the cheapest Transit, a short wheelbase, petrol-engined van with 610kg payload, cost £542. The most expensive Transit was a 15-seat Custom bus which cost £997.From 78 derivatives in 1965, there are now more than 600 Transit entities, providing a range of dedicated commercial vehicles to ensure there is a model for every job required.

Today’s Transit continues to represent great value. A special edition “Sapphire” went into production at the Southampton Plant this year to mark 45 years of success. The Sapphire develops more power and torque, has longer service intervals yet costs just £295 more than the last celebration model in 2005, the Transit “Hallmark”.

The latest Transit Sapphire’s specification and features list exceeds the 2005 Transit celebration vehicle as follows:

2005 Hallmark	2010 Sapphire
280 GVM	280 GVM
SWB	SWB
Low roof	Low roof
2.0L 100PS	2.2L 115PS
Euro 3 TDi	Euro 4 TDCi
5-speed transmission	6-speed transmission
Torque 250Nm	Torque 300Nm
15,000 mile service intervals	20,000 mile service intervals
£14,700	£14,995

Common Standard Features
Air conditioning	Air conditioning
Full width unglazed bulkhead	Full width unglazed bulkhead
6000 RDS Radio/CD	6000 RDS Radio/CD
Power operated & heated mirrors	Power operated & heated mirrors
Power operated front windows	Power operated front windows
Quickclear heated front screen	Quickclear heated front screen
Tinted glass	Tinted glass
Metallic paint	Unique Metallic paint (ink blue)
Front fog lights	Front fog lights
Partial wheel covers	Full wheel covers
Front and rear mudflaps	Front and rear mudflaps
Second remote keyfob	Second remote keyfob
ABS brakes with EBD	ABS brakes with EBD

Additional Sapphire Standard Features
Silver Painted grille	Silver painted mirror caps
Silver painted rear light guards	Electronic stability programme (ESP)
Hill launch assist	Bluetooth with voice control
Cruise Control	Auto headlights
Auto wipers	Shift indicator light
Trip computer	Self charging fob
MP3 socket	Rear trim boards
Bodyside mouldings	DIN tie down hooks