In search of old Transit photographs in West Yorkshire

[Nick Hibberd]

New Business Wants Old Photo’s


We are desperately looking for old photographs showing the changing face of the Transit Van to illustrate an online feature.

Obviously we are not the first organisation to cover the history of the Ford Transit and its pioneering years dating back to before 1965, but where others have illustrated their features with mainly generic shots, many provided by Ford, we felt that it would be more interesting to give it a ‘local feel’ and use only photographs that show vans that are sign written with long established West Yorkshire firms.

The added advantage of carrying the story online is that we can then link the pictures to the each of the Companies that have been kind enough to provide the images.

The periods that we are looking for, coincides with the changing shapes/models that have evolved through the different generations. For this reason we are looking for images for between 1965 and 1978, 1978 and 1986, 1986 and 1994, 1994 and 2000, 2000 and 2006 and finally 2006 and 2014. The design has subsequently been changed again in 2014 to much accolade, and so this would give us the opportunity to showcase any new businesses that have just been launched in the region this year.

As well as looking at the differing shapes and models that evolved, Ford also launched a number of ‘specials’ that would be of particular interest to us at Waterside Vehicles, Leeds. These celebrated key events in the Ford Transit calendar.

You may or may not be aware that in 1995, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Transit, Ford released a limited edition model called the Ford Transit ‘Hallmark’. There were only six hundreds of these made and offered in just three different colours. Obviously it would be good to see if any of these are still available and in the West Yorkshire area. If they’ve been sold on then there is every possibility that the new owners may not even be aware that they have a limited edition model.

I have subsequently found out through the Ford Press office that they did a similar ‘limited edition’ range to commemorate forty years of production in 2005 and in the same year celebrated the production of the 5 millionth Ford Transit worldwide. Ford is already planning another event next year to mark the 50th anniversary, although production has now moved to Turkey with the closure of the Southampton factory in July 2013.

Photographs should be sent to admim@watersidevehicles.co.uk along with a contact number and details of your own website where you want them linking.

Please ensure that you have full copyright approval and permission of any people that appear in the photographs before sending them.

[karl]

very interesting and good look with your search

also this member may be able to help you with somethings

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