Ford Transit: books - history and models

Ford Transit - The Making of an Icon

The Ford Transit is one of the most successful commercial light vans of all time and it has been the best selling light van in the UK and other parts of the world for over fifty-two years.

In this book, Peter Lee discusses the entire Transit range, including the wide variety of body types from 1957, when project planning was put into place, through to the present day with a peek into the future of Ford's famous van.
Written by a leading expert and promoter of the Ford Transit and including many previously unpublished photographs and rare designs, this book is an essential read for anyone with an interest in the history of Ford Transits, and of light commercial vehicles in general.

Product details

Author:	Peter Lee
Details:	96 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 x 1.7 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 x 0.67 in, paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781445667829

Ford Transit - Fifty Years

A history of fifty years of the iconic Ford Transit van, from the launch of the first-generation Transit in 1965, right up to the present day. Covering the full range of Transit models and with over three hundred photographs (including previously unpublished pictures from Ford's picture archive), this book is an ideal resource for anyone with an interest in this world-beating commercial vehicle.

Written by acknowledged Ford Transit expert Peter Lee, the book covers:
- The development era - light commercial vehicles in the 1950s, the 'Project Redcap' prototypes and the first Transit
- Production and development of all eight generations and variants of Transits, including custom vans, camper vans, minibuses and special vehicle options
- Specification guides, awards, sales figures are all included as well as marketing worldwide
- Interviews with designers, engineers and Ford employees, along with owners' experiences.

Product details

Author:	Peter Lee
Details:	192 pages, 27 x 22.5 x 1.9 cm / 10.6 x 8.9 x 0.75 in, hardback
Illustrations:	100 b&w and 200 colour photos
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2015)
ISBN:	9781847978738

Ford Design in the UK - 70 Years of Success

This book offers a detailed look into Ford UK's design studios over the past 70 years. It traces the company's British design history, the development of its studio sites, and the work of the designers, modellers and engineers who shaped many well-known vehicles. It also explains how automotive design has changed over time, from traditional craft methods to today's advanced digital processes.

The book follows the progress of major Ford projects created in the UK, with a strong focus on the Dunton studio, opened in 1967 and still an essential part of Ford's design network in Europe. It describes early techniques such as chalk sketches and wooden models used for the Consul, as well as modern digital renderings and clay models produced for the latest Transit. Many of these stories are told directly by the people involved.

Contents include:
- Early work at Briggs in Dagenham: Consul, Zodiac, Classic
- Development of the Cortina, Corsair, Escort and Capri at Aveley
- Opening of Dunton and the growth of design activities
- Challenges and internal politics during the creation of Ford of Europe in the 1960s
- Eight generations of Ford Transit, 1965 to today
- The Uwe Bahnsen era: Granada, Sierra, Scorpio and Cargo
- New Edge design and the politics of the 1990s
- The development of the Mondeo, Ka and Puma
- From New Edge to Kinetic Design in the 2000s
- The impact of modern digital design methods

Models covered: Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac, Classic, Anglia, Cortina, Corsair, Escort, Capri, Granada, Granada Scorpio, Fiesta, Sierra, RS200, Ka, Puma, Focus, Mondeo, Transit and Transit Connect.

Product details

Author:	Nick Hull
Details:	224 pages, 25 x 25 cm / 9.8 x 9.8 in, hardback
Illustrations:	320 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781845849863

Ford Taunus Transit: Die Geschichte vom Rotkaeppchen und seinen Verwandten

Ford FK 1000, 1250, 1500 or 800, Taunus Transit, Econoline or Thames 400E. They all have one thing in common: they close the gap between the estate car and the truck.
For transporting goods or people and with countless superstructures or special shapes, they were valuable helpers during the period of reconstruction, the economic miracle and right up to the present day.

Apart from Volkswagen, only Ford was able to compete successfully in the van market. With over seven million units of the Transit, one can speak of success. But how did this come about? What van types of past eras were there - and what does all this have to do with Little Red Riding Hood?

Text in German.

Product details

Author:	Jürgen Menges
Details:	146 pages, 21.5 x 21.5 x 0.9 cm / 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.35 in, paperback
Illustrations:	illustrated
Publisher:	CreateSpace (USA, 2016)
ISBN:	9781523876754

Le Ford Transit de mon père

On June 20 2013, in Nanchang, China, Ford celebrated the assembly of the 7 millionth Transit. For half a century, the Ford Transit has been at the forefront of its category. Such a performance is no coincidence. This longevity of career began in Europe, at the dawn of the 1960s, when Ford in Dearborn suggested that a "van with a European vocation" should be created.

British and German engineers were invited to pool their know-how within a project called "Redcap". In October 1965, this collaboration resulted in the creation of a European vehicle before the birth of a Ford Europe entity!
Marketed under the name Ford Transit, this utility vehicle would rise to the European top spot in its category and the French market would not be left behind. The Ford Transit would settle into our national landscape and would continue its establishment with the next generation (MK II 1978-86).

• Richly illustrated, this book is dedicated to the Ford Transit Mk 1 and Mk 2 vans.
• Traces in detail the history and evolution of the Ford Transit Mk 1 (1965-1978) and Transit Mk 2 (1978-1986) models.
• This volume of the "La voiture de mon père" collection is not only a source of in-depth information for the owner, but also a concise guide to originality.
• The technology, variants, modifications and special versions are described in detail.
• Contains more than 220 period photos, many of which have never been published.

Product details

Author:	Frank Rousset
Details:	120 pages, 21.5 x 24 cm / 8.5 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:	221 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:	De mon père
ISBN:	9791028300432

Ford Transit - Eine europäische Transporter-Legende

The Ford Transit is a cult transporter, camper van platform, stylish van and much more. It is available as a panel van, station wagon, Nugget, flatbed, camper van, with front, rear and all-wheel drive. It is a bestseller with millions of units, built in Europe, Asia and America, and sold in more than 100 countries.

Built for 70 years amid squabbles between British and German developers, but with technical pioneering achievements and also a few curiosities. Today, this transport legend has sophisticated assistance systems, high-tech engines, and is available with hybrid drive and a ten-speed automatic instead of the overdrive of the day before yesterday.

This book covers the history of five Transit generations: from the predecessor models Ford FK to the iconic generation between 1965 and 1985, the sleek vans from 1986, and the versatile vans and delivery vans of today.
From the development history to technology and design as well as the numerous possible uses, all generations are portrayed in detail with technical data, lots of images and period color.

The van expert Randolf Unruh has written a comprehensive and well-founded book that invites you to immerse yourself in all eras of Transit history and contains all the important information about the van legend.

Product details

Author:	Randolph Unruh
Details:	160 pages, 30.5 x 21.5 cm / 12 x 8.5 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2019)
ISBN:	9783958437937