12th April 2011,
Ford UK has made a tradition out of producing one-off high-powered
vans based on their popular Transit model. The lineage stretches
back to 1971 and the Transit Supervan 1. The Supervan 1 was
based on a Ford GT40 chassis and powered by a 5.0 litre V8.
It could hit 150 mph.
Sadly the Transit SuperSportVan (SSV) of 2011 is but a shadow
of its former glory. Instead of basing the SSV on some-high
powered alternate Ford, it's just a short-wheelbase Ford Transit
SportVan with a slightly larger engine usually reserved for
the heavier long-wheelbase Transits.
The 3.2 litre Duratorq TDCi engine of the Transit SuperSportVan
produces 200 horsepower and a slightly more impressive 346 lb-ft
(470 Nm) of torque @ 1700-2500 rpm. The transmission is a 6-speed
manual with FWD.
The rest of the Transit SSV - aside from the graphics - is based
on the regular production Transit SportVan.
Previous one-off, high-performance Transits include:
1971 Transit SuperVan 1 (see above)
1984 Supervan II, based on another Ford ex-Le Mans car,
the C100 and powered by a DFY Cosworth V8, was clocked at 178mph
at Silverstone.
1995 Supervan III appears with a totally new bodyshell
and powered by a 3.5-litre, Cosworth HB F1 V8 engine producing
650bhp at 13,000 rpm.
2000 The Ford World Rally Transit is built with a carbon-fibre
front air splitter and rear aerofoil, a rally interior featuring
steel tubular roll cage, carbon-fibre bucket seats, racing harnesses,
internal fire extinguisher system and Pi System 2 on-board data-logging
system. It has an uprated version of Transit’s acclaimed
2.4-litre Duratorq DI. With an available 165PS and 410Nm of
torque, Ford Rally Transit can reach 60mph in less than eight
seconds, onto a maximum speed of 130mph.
Similar and related vehicles:
Renault Espace F1
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