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Ford Transit Celebrates 60 Years Of Continuous Production
With 60 years of continuous production under its belt, the iconic Ford Transit large van’s future looks secure with new models and power trains available.
Words by: Tom Roberts
Published on 23 June 2025 | 0 min read
2025 is the year that the iconic Ford Transit large van celebrates 60 years in continuous production. It’s hard to believe that on the 9th August in 1965 the first Ford Transit van left the production line at Ford’s facility in Langley, UK.
Hans Schep, general manager of Ford Pro, Europe, comments: “During the past 60 years, ‘Transit’ has become a byword for getting the job done. Sometimes highly visible, other times working hard out of sight – for six decades Transit has been powering the businesses and services that keep our world moving.” By 1966, large fleet operators using Transit vans included police forces, rail and gas companies, and even the military, with Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations department quickly responding to requests for niche Transits to perform unique roles.
Hans Schep, general manager of Ford Pro, Europe, comments: “During the past 60 years, ‘Transit’ has become a byword for getting the job done. Sometimes highly visible, other times working hard out of sight – for six decades Transit has been powering the businesses and services that keep our world moving.” By 1966, large fleet operators using Transit vans included police forces, rail and gas companies, and even the military, with Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations department quickly responding to requests for niche Transits to perform unique roles.
The ‘Transit’ Name
Vans of all types operate across the globe forming the backbone of national logistics infrastructures, and it all started with the creation of the Transit van. But back in 1965, few could have predicted the impact this new van would have on businesses and economies during the coming decades, nor that the name ‘Transit’ would become slang for any large van. Even today I get asked when my next ‘Transit-size’ van loan is coming in for review, mainly by people who expect me to help them shift a bookcase or two. I politely decline, explaining these vehicles are press loans and I don’t want them messed up.
The Transit name is now applied to Ford Pro’s light commercial vehicles across the lineup which includes the compact Transit Courier, the Transit Connect small van, and the powerhouse that is the best-selling
The Transit name is now applied to Ford Pro’s light commercial vehicles across the lineup which includes the compact Transit Courier, the Transit Connect small van, and the powerhouse that is the best-selling
Here’s To 60 More Years Of Transit Vans
“There are six decades of know-how built into every Transit and each new generation is built on the feedback and experiences of our customers,” Schep adds. And at the pace the world is changing with electrification at the heart of the UK’s van future, we can’t wait to see what the next 60 years will bring. So, happy 60th birthday to the Ford Transit van!
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