Sixty Amazing Facts from Sixty Years of Transit

DUNTON, UK - A Ford E-Transit being used to berth ships in Denmark. An inflatable Transit being used to publicise a children’s movie. Transit vans having to be cut in half to enable them to reach their final destination. Just three of many weird and wonderful facts about the Ford Transit.

This year marks the Ford Transit’s 60th anniversary as Europe’s trusted business partner. A van that has been there to support the economy and all of us in almost every facet of life. But, in those 60 years, stories abound surrounding the van, the records it has achieved, and the strange, weird, wonderful and even eccentric uses the van has been put to.

In recognition of this, Ford Pro has put together 60 of these amazing facts, one for every year the van has been in production. And, for those who like a challenge, they have also been turned into a quiz, with multiple choice answers giving everyone a chance of success.

Amazing facts 1-10: Click on the image to find out more

On this page you can read how the first ever Transit was produced at Ford’s Langley facility in Berkshire on August 9, 1965 – and that that the cheapest model cost £542 back then.

Amazing facts 11-20: Click on the image to find out more

Here’s a thing. The millionth Transit was produced back in 1976, but did you know that according to The Metropolitan Police, 95 per cent of bank raids in the early 1970s were carried out using Transits?

Amazing facts 21-30: Click on the image to find out more

Transit has been involved in many stunts over the years, such as becoming the first van to hit a ramp and jump over 15 cars. It also famously took part in a raft race in the Thames Estuary. Yes, you read that right!

Amazing facts 31-40: Click on the image to find out more

Rewind back to 2006, and Ford created a one-off stretched limousine version of Transit called XXL. A year earlier, German Racing driver Sabine Schmitz drove a Transit around the Nürburgring circuit in just over 10 minutes on BBC’s Top Gear TV programme.

Amazing facts 41-50: Click on the image to find out more

Top Gear also once converted Transit into a Hovercraft with hilarious results. Fit for a king? Prince William and his wife Kate drove a White Transit whilst living on the Isle of Anglesey to avoid paparazzi.

Amazing facts 51-60: Click on the image to find out more

Plans to celebrate Transit’s 55^th anniversary cancelled because of Covid. So, Ford UK donated its entire press fleet of Transits to organisations including NHS Ambulance Trusts to help them with their work.