Retroford Magazine Present OSF’s Second Display Car at NEC 2024

Ford Vans have been popular for many years with trades persons, local businesses and the odd character in a black and white striped T-shirt carrying a swag bag. Not to mention our people in blue.

Did you know that Ford started producing vans way back in 1905, based on the Model C, so its not surprising that they have become part of our culture and language?

People nowadays refer to all box vans as a ‘Transit’ even though there are many companies supplying vans. So, you would think that if you looked in the dictionary under the word Transit you would get the meaning “van”, sadly not but it would not be a surprise if it did appear someday.

The Ford Van range though did not just have one listing – Transit which was launched in 1965. It was the head of the family of Ford light commercial vehicles that included an Escort 2 door panel van appearing in April 1968, and through many variants on the same theme finally ended production in 2002 in favour of the Ford Transit Connect. 34 years is a good run though for any commercial vehicle.

The Mk1 Escort Van used all new panel work except for the rear doors which were carried over from the Anglia-based vans. It had an immense powerplants in its 1098cc and 1298cc 'Kent' crossflow engines that provided the power for the 6cwt and 8cwt versions. Heavy duty leaf springs and a 4.125 differential made for good load carrying and low-down pulling power.

For the 6cwt the specifications were: power output: 48bhp at 6,000rpm; Maximum speed: 80mph; Acceleration: 0-60mph 22.3secs – rice pudding skin safe!

It was a hit from day one with an attractive £449 basic price and Fords slogan at the time said “This Ford Light Van will be doing the rounds for years to come” – they hit the nail on the head this time!

On 19^th April 1968, a reviewer for Commercial Motor Magazine travelled to London to carry out a full review of the newly launched Escort Van. He said, “the Escort is the most eye-catching commercial vehicle yet”. They went on to do a full road test and continued with “loading and off-loading were found to be easy, with a reasonable floor height and door clearance of sensible proportions. Heavy items can be lifted off the floor without bending your back too much and it is unnecessary to stoop too low to avoid hitting your head on the roof. They liked the absence of sharp edges to bang into apart, of course, from the doors' corners. But it was thought to be unnecessary having the intrusion into the load space of trunking which houses the filler neck of the fuel tank. It severely limits the storage facilities of the offside rear corner of the floor area.”  The review was completed by saying “the Escort is a real eye-stopper. Now, although in the past the reviewer had not favoured fancy shapes for working vehicles, because of repair difficulties and expense. He felt that perhaps this vehicle is the exception to his rule!

These reviews were very practically driven unlike the ones done today!

What would he have said if he had reviewed the many 1970’s and 80’s Hot Rod vans with big rear wheels, v8 powerplants and fur interior?

The van made an obvious conversion to a small camper possible and Dormobile, Nimbus, Elba, SunTor were companies that made usable conversions though very few sadly remain today.

Escort van names changed over the 34 years and even when the Mk2 van was launched in 1975 it was renamed the Escort 45.

Escort vans were a big hit with the Emergency Services from day on with the police using them for the dog section and forensics as well as the fire service for onsite early command and light duty rescue. Let’s not forget our armed forces too!

It’s just a coincidence then that we have a red van that Retroford Magazine has presented as OldSkoolFords second display car, on stand 8-090 at the NEC Classic Car Show 2024. Chris’s Mk1 Escort Van, first built and registered in 1969 and painted in red. He had always wanted a red escort van since he was 18 so jumped at the chance to get this one. If you want to ask Chris why, then come and visit the stand!

KDR 174G, was purchased in June 2008, by Chris and in a very sad and sorry state, although it did have 6 months MOT left. It had a lot of 70’s passion wagon mods, big arches, velour interior, slot mag wheels, bonnet scoop - a real old skool Retro Ford!

The very brave restoration process took 14 years to complete, and at times didn’t get worked on for a year, as it fought Chris every step of the way and he had to walk away. He used genuine panels where possible but being a van there was a lack of available panels generally.  Many people had said the car came from a boat yard on the Norfolk broads, which may explain the gearbox and chassis rails being full of mud.

It now has a Silver top Zetec engine on throttle bodies, with 2.8 capri 5 speed gearbox, single piece prop mated to a 3.54 plated limited slip diff.

Since completing the van Chris has covered many long miles and it can sometimes be seen towing a fold up caravan or Austin 7 race car, this year the van covered a very long journey to take park in the Old Skool Ford 2024 tour of the moor event.

Retroford Magazine is proud to support this stunning vans’ first time at the NEC Classic Car Show in 2024.