Commer#Commer FC.2FPA.2FPB.2FSpacevan

Commer FC -PA

Commer became known primarily as a manufacturer of vans for the British Post Office, especially with the 1960 in many body styles featured Commer FC -PA.

This there was also a panel van and minibus with original 1500 cc petrol engine. With revisions to the Commer FC -PA 1967 to FC -PB and SpaceVan 1974. Until 1976 he was offered as a Commer or Fargo. After that, it marketed as a Dodge Chrysler Europe Spacevan.

Commer / Fargo FC-PA/PB, Spacevan 1960-1976, 1977-1983 Dodge Spacevan

In the model it was Cabover vans with narrow front track. This was a legacy of the technical relationship with the Humber cars. First was for the factory except as a van / minibus as flatbed, RV and chassis available for bodies vans only a four-cylinder petrol engine from the Hillman Minx 1500 cc displacement and four-speed manual transmission available. The engine was later enlarged to 1600 cc. The handbrake worked on the front drum brakes.

After a revision of the model series 1967 FC -PB was and had in 1968 a four-cylinder petrol engine with 1725 cc capacity. To select the diesel engine Perkins 4108th The engine with 1725 cc stood was in the 1970s with a three -speed automatic transmission ( Borg Warner Model 35 ) available. As of 1974, the four-speed gearbox was also available with overdrive. The test of a camper version yielded a maximum speed of 70 mph (113 km / h) and acceleration from 0-50 mph (km / h ) in 25 seconds with the 1725 cc petrol engine 1974. Thus, the Commer FC was slower than the models BMC 250 BMC J4 and JU competitor BLMC. The testers felt, however, that the van was at its absolute limit at 70 mph and recommended to readers, more than 65 mph (105 km / h) to drive.

The van was less popular than about the Bedford CA or the Ford Transit even with fleet operators. One of the reasons for this may be similar to those models BMC 250 JU and J4, the design with the engine between the seats on the axle. This limits access to the engine and an engine change is complex. The only way to expand the engine without the front axle was to remove the windshield and herauszubugsieren the engine through the passenger door.

After Chrysler Europe was experiencing financial difficulties, the company received financial support from the British government. But had the Spacevan, which was praised for its good braking, good cornering and reasonable price are revised in performance, comfort and speed and producing. The revised Spacevan was thus 1977 is now introduced as a Dodge Spacevan. Although he had basically the same mechanics, but numerous changes in the form, a new interior detail, a new instrument panel and offered enhanced driving comfort through better insulation of the body and engine insulation. The 1.7 - liter petrol engine offered now 37 kW ( low compression) or 42 kW ( with high compression ), while the diesel engine provided 31 kW of power.

Following the sale of Chrysler Europe in 1978 at PSA, the new owner decided to close the model and introduce a model of the PSA Group. But after new contracts with the Post Office templates phone, you changed this opinion. The Post Office was almost exclusively responsible for ensuring that the legacy Spacevan was in production at all for so long. The British Telecom, founded in October 1981 took over the purchase commitment, so that the last Spacevan was constructed in 1983 and in the 1980s a familiar sight in the United Kingdom remained, at a time when all erstwhile competing models long been replaced by successor and out of the everyday streetscape had disappeared. In 1984, as a successor to the PSA then developed together with Fiat Peugeot J5 exclusively in the United Kingdom under the name Talbot Express one.

Dodge Spacevan 1980

Dodge Spacevan Post Office in 1983