Transit Supervan returns!

By Jack Rix

12th April 2011

Get ready for the return of a legend! Back in 1971 Ford stunned the world when it introduced the GT40-based 650bhp Supervan, powered by the same storming 5.0-litre V8 and capable of hitting 178mph flat-out. And now Ford has revisited the winning formula. 

Currently being shown at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the Birmingham NEC, this one-off project is called the SuperSportVan (SSV) and uses a 200bhp 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine producing 470Nm of torque and normally seen in much larger and heavier Transit models.

Here though it's fitted to the short wheelbase, front-wheel drive SportVan and features exterior styling to match its performance potential. There's Le Mans bonnet stripes, twin exhausts and alloy wheels, as well as a body kit and extended arches.

"Transit has a strong reputation for its robustness and practicality.  We wanted to add some contemporary fun and also showcase our engineers’ skill and enthusiasm. SuperSportVan demonstrates just how far you can go with a white Transit van by mixing and matching regular technology in a different way," explained Steve Clary, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain.