Ford have despatched a touring party of four current Ford Transit models to make a schedule of visits to dealerships, events, and shows over the coming weeks in celebration of the Transit’s 50th birthday.
The iconic model was first launched in August 1965, and to mark the half century celebrations a quartet of gold-coloured models – the Transit Courier, Transit Connect, Transit Custom, and two-tonne Transit – will be touring the UK.
Almost eight million commercial vehicles bearing the Transit name have been produced since the first example rolled off the Langley production line on 9th August 1965, and lined up end-to-end they would circle the globe. Ford claim that over the past five decade a Transit has been sold, on average, every three minutes. It passed the one million milestone in 1976, and is on course to top 9 million during this year.
The Transit’s popularity shows little sign of waning, helping Ford to record and all-time high 16,497 commercial vehicle sales in March, up by 43 per cent compared to the same month in 2014 To meet demand production has expanded beyond Europe to such far flung places as Nanchang in China, and last year production of the Transit commenced in North America for the first time at the firm’s Kansas City, Missouri, plant. As a result, the Transit is now sold in 118 markets worldwide.
“From house moves to moving people, the Ford Transit is an essential tool to get the job done. It has become a mobile office or workshop for some – and loved by us all,” said Ford of Britain chairman and managing director Mark Ovendon.
"Ford’s Transit family continues to lead the way in innovation. With 50 years of van sales leadership in the UK under its belt, the new four-van Transit range is looking forward to its next half century.”
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