Vehicle Description
You can search the highways, boulevards and turntables of auto
exhibits all over and still not come across anything as unique as
this 1968 Ford Transit Mk I. After performing its duties overseas
for a German fire department, where it logged a scant 12,000 miles,
it's back in the States and ready to take its rightful place as the
centerpiece of some lucky enthusiast's collection.
It'll make you do a double take right away, simply because you just
don't see anything on the road quite like this mix of American and
European styling sensibilities. Manufactured in England by Ford,
and featuring distinctly American styling cues, this durably useful
vehicle turned the tables on the more common trend of foreign cars
creating a stir upon reaching American shores. With its rugged look
and a noticeably wider track than any of its European counterparts
of the era, the Mk I quickly gained a solid foothold as a
dependable fleet member for a variety of different public agencies
across the pond. Clad in a proper shade of red for a fire
department vehicle, a working siren and blue dome light proudly
displayed on top, it's spacious and compact at the same time, with
an unusually short distance between its front end and the
windshield. Its exterior still features a nice shine and no serious
mishaps, and you'll find a very sharp edge surrounding the
contrasting white front bumper and lower grille from its
surrounding steel. It's lived a life as a hardworking vehicle, and
proudly wears a few minor bumps and bruises as its badge of honor,
although those could be easily remedied if you so choose.
The gray vinyl interior is well suited to this Transit's
utilitarian nature. It's a comfortable, yet purpose driven
environment that, due to its unusually light usage, remains in very
nice condition. Nothing inside the cabin shows much wear and the
pair of low-backed bucket seats are still well-padded and very much
suited for real world driving. This Mk I began its life with the
bucket seats up front and a single bench seat just behind, with its
rear area designated for the tools and equipment needed to fight
fires, but an additional rear bench seat has been added, and it
sits looking clean and securely mounted on the inner wheelhouses to
provide additional passenger capacity - you can imagine the smiling
nods you'll get as you take this vintage workhorse out on the road
with your crew in tow. The dash area is still in very good order,
with its generously sized, circle shaped cluster housing very
readable gauges inside and the German language designations still
in place below their control knobs.
Lift the unusually compact hood and you'll see just how this
Transit's unique conformation was achieved. A 2.0 liter V4 - yes, a
V4 - sits inside the engine compartment, and its minimal dimension
from front to back is a perfect fit that still allows plenty of
room on either side. It combines with a 4-speed manual transmission
to form an all-original and lightly used drivetrain very capable of
propelling this one of a kind vehicle at highway-appropriate speeds
without any issue. A number of steps were taken to ensure its
future dependability, including the addition of a new battery and
tires, as well as the recent replacement of all fluids and its oil
filter. This rolling, vintage conversation piece sits on a set of
stock 14" black steel rims, outfitted with Travelstar tires.
This 1968 Ford Transit Mk I offers a blend of uniqueness and
utility you just don't come across very often. Call today!