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The Ford Transit has become a legendary model for Ford, which managed to break numerous sales records with this model. It is also one of the longest-running models, as although the first one rolled out of the factory back in 1965, the Ford Transit is still in production and there is a lot of interest in these vans. Do you have a Ford Transit whose windscreen needs replacing? Then you can find quality, cheap automotive glass with us where even on-site windscreen replacement is offered as standard.
Before we look at our cheap automotive glass, let's take a closer look at this model that has seen many changes over more than 50 years.
Although the Ford Transit first entered the market in 1965, you can easily defend that production started as early as 1953 with the Taunus Transit, the first model under the Transit badge. Indeed, in 1961, the 1.5-litre van was even marketed in Germany as the Ford Taunus Transit, just after the German arm of Ford had divested itself of all truck production.
However, Ford was in big trouble at the time. Its European divisions were nowhere near selling what Detroit was hoping for, so the UK and German Ford were forced to work together to use a unified platform and share knowledge. This would lead to the actual Ford Transit in 1965, which would be put directly on the new platform. The second platform that the two divisions would build together would become the basis of one of Ford's best-selling passenger cars in Europe: the Ford Escort.
The first generation of the Ford Transit would be in production from 1965 to 1977. The idea was to build the Transit exclusively in Langley, but the huge demand for this model made this completely impossible and so the much larger Southampton location (along with Genk and even Amsterdam) was chosen, until 2013, after which all production moved to Turkey.
Funny fact about the first generation of the Ford Transit: the diesel models are longer than the petrol models, because the Perkins diesel engines did not fit under the bonnet of the Transit. Ford Europe subsequently decided to modify the bonnet, after which the diesel version would be called the 'pig nose'. Another fun fact is that the Transit's ample cargo space and light weight made it the ideal van for bank robbers (in 1972, Ford Transits were used in 95% of bank robberies in Britain).
In 1977, Ford came out with a facelift for the Ford Transit that would give the first generation a second life. But, fair is fair, in fact, this was much more than a facelift, as Ford Europe provided the Transit with a new front end (so that all engines would fit under the bonnet) that better matched the passenger cars Ford had marketed in previous years. The total of six versions generated a lot of interest, as this Transit (with short or long wheelbase) could easily be adapted into, for example, a camper, ambulance or van for any craftsman.
It would not be until 1986 that the real second generation of the Transit was launched, which looked considerably more modern, partly because the windscreen and rear window were incorporated much more fluidly into the design. The engines were replaced with stronger, newer engines, and in 1992 came a small-scale facelift that actually changed little about the model.
The 1994 facelift was much bigger in scale: it again came with a new nose, a new dashboard and an 8-valve 2.0-litre engine (just like in the Ford Scorpio), and a lot of options were added, such as power windows, central door locking, airbags and even air conditioning.
In 2000, Ford brought the third generation of the Transit to dealers and this was a completely new design borrowing from the Ford Focus and Ford Ka, both part of the 'New Edge' design. There was much more borrowing, by the way, as the Duratorq turbodiesel from the Ford Mondeo was also included. One of the biggest modifications was a smaller version in the form of the Ford Transit Connect, which in turn would also become a resounding success.
In 2006, the third generation received a facelift in which the rear and headlights were modified, the dashboard featured the new Ford radio and the Ford Ranger's engine would replace the old petrol engine under the bonnet. At the same time, consumption and emissions were significantly reduced so that the new models would comply with directives.
For the first time, the fourth generation of the Ford Transit was not an entirely European adventure, as Ford Europe collaborated with the US division for this model, partly because the fourth generation of the Transit would also come to the North American market (albeit a year later than everywhere else in the world). The Ford Transit had taken on a life of its own by now, with the addition of the Ford Transit Custom and the Transit Courier, making the Transit's versatility on all sides even more apparent. Ford has undeniably set its sights on the Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Express, Fiat Ducato and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with this generation of the Ford Transit.
This can be seen, among other things, in its innovative design, higher load capacity (thanks to special steel, the Transit can carry a lot more) and comfort that is partly due to special suspension and even a 3.2-litre in-line engine block that would be called the Power Stroke diesel engine. An electric motor (198 kW for the E-Transit) was also added to the long list of engines, which Ford intended to appeal to an even wider market.
The fourth generation was also when production of the Transit would leave Britain. From then on, the Transit was built in Turkey.
The sales success of the Ford Transit is enormous. More than 10 million models have been produced and sold and tens of thousands are still being sold every month, which means that the sales success is not solely due to the long production period.
However, the Ford Transit's success has always been limited in the Netherlands, although its nearly 10,000 units (from 1983 to the time of writing) is still a fine score for a model that cannot be used as a family car or passenger car. To paint a better picture, the Ford Transit sold about as many units in the Netherlands as the Ford Puma, Ford S-Max, Ford B-Max and Ford Ecosport. So not a resounding sales success on Dutch soil, but still a model that has received a lot of appreciation. At the same time, this is still a very popular model, even on the second-hand market where many people try to find a bargain and then convert the Transit in the garage into a camper van or one of the many other possibilities possible with the Transit.
To show just how big of a transition the Transit has actually been, we have posted a number of Ford's promotional videos for the Transit below where it is not only interesting to see the picture quality, but also how Ford's marketing machine works. Starting with this gem from 1981:
When we then juxtapose the advert from 2000, it is clear that, almost 20 years later, Ford is still betting on the versatility of the model 'winning hearts':
Then jumping forward another 20-plus years, we come to the 2024 advert for the custom version of the Ford Transit. Once again, that versatility again comes strongly to the fore, but this time with much more focus on comfort, gadgets and useful features, partly to maintain that huge market share of the Transit.
Damage to a car is always annoying, especially since replacement parts as well as the hourly rate of a car mechanic usually add up to high costs. With windscreen damage, however, there is by no means always reason to panic, as most people continue to drive with a chippeed windscreen for quite some time, especially when it does not obstruct their view of the road.
When there is a branched crack or a chip with a diameter of at least 20 millimetres and this is in the driver's field of vision, the story becomes different. The windscreen of your Ford Transit will then have to be replaced, as the car will not pass inspection with this windscreen damage. The windscreen damage is simply too dangerous: incoming light (from the sun or headlights of your oncoming traffic, for example) can be reflected in unpredictable ways. In addition, windscreen damage at this location with this magnitude distracts while driving and, for this reason too, your car should be rejected at the inspection.
You already have a new windscreen for the Ford Transit for € 299, but with a model that has been in production for more than 50 years, it is especially important to find the right windscreen for the model you have. The price on the page changes immediately when you select a windscreen and indicate whether you want the windscreen delivered and fitted as well.
Our windscreens are significantly cheaper than those offered by your Ford dealer, and there is an explanation for this. This is because the car windows are identical in terms of quality, but there is a slight difference in the automotive glass we have and the car windows offered by your dealer. This is because the Ford dealer only has automotive glass with a brand logo. That logo makes the automotive glass exclusive, but does nothing else for the glass. Since our replacement car windows have no brand logo, the price-quality ratio of our automotive glass is many times better. The difference in price is so great that our new car windows are often even cheaper than second-hand car windows for your Ford Transit.
Do you want to replace the windscreen of your Ford Transit yourself but are not sure how to go about it? Then by all means don't start. Windscreen replacement is work for the professionals and it is a job that needs to be done precisely to avoid damage to the car, the new window and yourself. To make things easier, we work with certified installation partners who replace windscreens on location throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. So you do not have to go to a garage yourself, our partners come to you to replace the Ford Transit windscreen, regardless of whether your car is in your own driveway or, for example, in the car park of the company where you work.
Do you have experience with windscreen replacement or know someone who can replace the windscreen of your Ford Transit for you? Then you can also order the new windscreens from us excluding fitting.
Does your Ford Transit's windscreen need replacing or do you have your eye on a used Transit with windscreen damage? If so, opt especially for after market windscreens which are the best value for money and can always be replaced on-site by an expert. Can't find the right windscreen for your Ford Transit or want one of our experts to look at it with you? Then be sure to contact us so we can help you further in person as soon as possible.
