GEC Mk1 Transit on the move today

[conrod]

ford nz produced transits from 1971 to 1980

You are right. I did a little research, and found out that they were assembled at Ford's assembly plant in Lower Hutt, Wellington. Based on my observations of the Transits I have seen here, rather than any documented evidence, I would suggest the follwing is close to what happened here:

The Mk1 was available in SWB and LWB (although LWB is very rare) and chassis/cabs in SWB and LWB.
The Mk2 was available in SWB vans only (no LWB) and SWB and LWB chassis cabs.
Both Mk1 and Mk2's were always petrol engined, no diesels!
All Mk2's were 2.0 OHC
All Mk1's were 1.7 or 2.0 V4's.
Many Ford dealers fitted the Australian Falcon "6 " usually 250 pre crossflow to Mk1's or 4.1 crossflow to Mk2's.
Most of the minbuses I have seen were vans with side windows and seats fitted, not the "proper" minbuses like you get in the UK with flush fitting windows and full interior trim that matched the door cards.

Although vehicles generally survive longer over here, as we do not salt the roads, due to the small number sold here in comparison to the UK there are very few survivors. Approximately 130 Mk1's and Mk2's are still registered and in use, and a large proportion of these are motorhomes/camper vans. It is extremely rare to find a low milage mint example ( I have never seen one come to think of it) whereby in the UK they seem to pop up on Ebay on a semi regular basis.

Conrad

[Neil]

produced about 600.000 units

[limitedblack]

I live about 500 yards up the road from where they first made the transits in Langley England. Just pure coincidence. They were making lorries there when I moved in, now it's a housing estate and mail sorting center.

I did a job for a chap who did his first 3 months working at a company who were decommissioning the old Hawker factory that preceded this, he saw the last ever planes fly out from Langley, and at that time Ford had a few units already in the factory at hawkers. Shame to think the only thing made there now are cups of tea

[Muttley]

Heres a spooky tale, I had a Ford Cargo tilt and slide years back. It was the most reliable truck ever! Never ever let me down, however I was bowling down the M4 at a healthy 60 mph when the truck suddenly lost power and I coasted onto the hard shoulder with the motor dead. I was annoyed and immediately grabbed the key and with one turn the old truck fired up straight away and sounded as good as ever, perplexed, I selected 2nd gear and went to move off, as I did I glanced to my left and saw the old Ford works (where this truck was built) being torn down True story folks, make of it what you will

[conrod]

produced about 600.000 units

Do you mean Transits, or total production?

[Neil]

TRANSITS

[DodgeRover]

600,000 that's about one for every person in NZ at that point and a few left over for the sheep! Can't be just nz

[Neil]

COULD BE A ZERO OUT 60,000

[conrod]

The population of NZ was around 3 million at that time, so 60 000 or 6000 would have been closer to the mark. Would be great to get some detailed data on the Transits produced here, such as variants and quantities - is this possible? I will have to get my anorak and bobble hat on!

Conrad

[Neil]

ill look it up again 6 thousands not a lot in 10 years

[Altransit]

I will have to get my anorak and bobble hat on!

Conrad

Don't forget the notebook and pencil ...............

[conrod]

I will have to get my anorak and bobble hat on!

Conrad

Don't forget the notebook and pencil ...............

ah yes:) I think the latest term for them is "rivet counters"- probably more to do with aircraft or old single seater restorations, but you get the idea

[limitedblack]

If you find yourself in a group of 3 or more, sitting in a pub, discussing the variations of certain mk's before 1978, then you know you've made it into the halls of Anorakedemia.

[MinorMatt]

What about discussing the variations in cab mats between the mk3/4/5 limbak? Does that count

[conrod]

okay bobble hats on! Mk1 pickup rear cab windows; were they all the same size, or the the size change during the model run?