Ford Supervan

''Supervan''

Ford GT40 Cooper Monaco 540 N.m The Supervan first appeared at the Easter 1971 meeting at Brands Hatch. Commonly rumoured to be based on a GT40 chassis, the build in fact used a modified Cooper Monaco spaceframe. Its mid-engined 400 bhp Ford V8 gave a standard pressed-steel Mark 1 Transit bodyshell a claimed top speed of around 150 mph. The vehicle had been built for Ford by Terry Drury Racing.{{Cite book |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417182122/http://www.rebelvanners.co.uk/SUPERVANS.htm |archive-date=2011-04-17 |url-status=unfit

In 1978 the Transit was redesigned as the Mark II, with a much different appearance, making the original Supervan unsuitable for promoting the 'New' Transit.

The Supervan was rebuilt by Andy Browne in 2024.

''Supervan 2''

Ford C100 540 N.m In 1984 a new Supervan 2 was constructed. The bodyshell was a fibreglass replica of the Mark 2 Transit, although slightly lowered and fitted with a front airdam, large side air inlets and a high-mounted rear spoiler. The chassis was a Ford C100 Group C car, fitted with a Cosworth DFL engine. It was built by Auto Racing Technology of Wollaston Northants. Supervan 2's debut was at Donington Park for the first British truck racing Grand Prix. During tests at Silverstone, it was timed at 174 mph.

*Supervan 2'''s promotional lifespan was even shorter than the first *Supervan''. Just over a year later, the Mark 3 Transit was released, with a very different outline.

''Supervan 3''

2935 cc Ford-Cosworth Pro Sports 3000 V6 (Refurbished) 353 N.m (Original) 295 bhp 384 N.m (Refurbished) In 1994, to promote the new Mark 3 Transit Facelift, Supervan 2 was rebuilt as Supervan 3. This was the first time that Supervan had been used to promote a new model, rather than a model already nearing its end of life. A seven-eighths scale reduced replica of the new bodyshell was fitted, together with a new engine, a Cosworth HB. The work was carried out by DRL Engineering of Suffolk. This version also had the longest promotional lifespan, appearing in public until 2001. With several liveries in Ford's blue and white over the years, its final appearance was in Royal Mail red, celebrating Ford's new contract to supply their vans, taking over from a long arrangement with Leyland DAF Vans.

In 2004 a refurbishment was announced. The engine was replaced with a more practical Ford-Cosworth Pro Sports 3000 V6 engine, and the 1984 Ford Motorsport blue and white livery was restored. This work was carried out by Sporting and Historic Car Engineers of Bicester.{{Cite web

In 2007 it was suggested that Supervan 3's chassis might be rebuilt into a C100 and used for historic sports car racing.

''SuperVan 4''

Sebastian Toddenroth (Lead Interior Designer) Sebastian Wacker (Lead CAD/CGI) 1600.0 N.m At the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Ford Pro Electric SuperVan was introduced as a collaboration between Ford Performance and STARD. The first all-electric Ford SuperVan (and the fourth so far) achieves the highest-performance of any Ford van ever, with four electric motors, a 50kWh liquid-cooled battery and a bespoke control system to produce approximately 1400.0 kW. This enables it to accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under 2 seconds. The purpose-built chassis includes components from the recently unveiled electric Ford Transit Custom – the first fully electric version of the Ford Transit. The Ford Pro Electric SuperVan was designed by Ford Exterior Lead Designer Ernesto Rupar and Ford Lead Interior Designer Sebastian Toddenroth.

''SuperVan 4.2 Electric''

Sebastian Toddenroth 2950.0 lb.ft In 2023, the SuperVan 4 was rebuilt as the SuperVan 4.2, once again in partnership with STARD, with the goal of competing at the 101st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The SuperVan 4.2 was designed specifically for hill climbing, and features large front and rear spoilers, and a revised 3-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain with a total power output of 1,500 kW (2040 hp). Other changes from the SuperVan 4 include a new livery, an upgraded 600 kW regenerative braking system, a rebuilt frame, weight reduction, and a new high performance Li-Po NCM battery.

On June 25, 2023, the Ford SuperVan 4.2 competed at the 101st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, driven by Romain Dumas, finishing 1st in its division (Pikes Peak Open) and 2nd overall, with a time of 8:47.682.

On 25 February 2024 it set a lap time of 1:56.28 at Bathurst's Mount Panorama Circuit, faster than all V8 vehicles, and all else, except F1 promotional laps.

On 14 July 2024 it finished 1st at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb Shootout with a time of 0:43.98, driven by Romain Dumas. Dumas repeated this feat finishing 1st in 2025 with a time of 43.22.

In the December of 2024 it ran a 1:05.3 at the Top Gear test track.

References

References

1. "Ford Marks ‘Transit Day’ with Three Generations of Supervan {{!}} Great Britain {{!}} Ford Media Center".
2. "1,972-HP Ford Pro Electric SuperVan is an E-Transit Custom Gone Wild".
3. (23 June 2022). "HERE'S HOW TO ACCELERATE A BUSINESS: 2,000 PS, WILD-STYLED FORD PRO ELECTRIC SUPERVAN PACKS A HIGH-VOLTAGE PUNCH". Ford Motor Company Europe. Released.
4. (21 June 2023). "Ford SuperVan 4.2 Races to the Clouds With Refined EV Power & Aerodynamics for 101st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb". Ford Motor Company.
5. (25 February 2024). "Ford Performance Transit Electric Supervan 4.2 "Bathurst"Technical Specification".
6. (June 25, 2023). "2023 Official Overall Results". The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
7. (25 February 2024). "Ford SuperVan smashes Bathurst record on latest attempt".
8. (2024-07-14). "2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed - Hillclimb Shootout Timing". Timing Solutions Ltd..
9. "2025 Festival of Speed Timed Shoot-Out results {{!}} GRR".
10. Rix, Jack. (18 December 2024). "Watch the 2,000bhp Ford Supervan 4.2 race around the Top Gear track: can you guess the time?".