Was the Ford Transit really the first Transit van?

Ford is currently celebrating 60 years of its iconic Transit van, but is there a mistake in the timeline? We met the forgotten German-built precursor that technically carried the famous badge first.

This year, Ford is celebrating 60 years of its iconic Transit van, and we got involved in the party at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2025. Strolling through the nostalgia-heavy range of commercial vehicles, from 1965’s retro Mk 1 Transit, to current models such as the rally inspired Transit Custom MS-RT, and all the way back again to a 1964 Ford Taunus Transit, the brand’s heritage was on full display. 

But wait. 1964?  Some quick maths reveals that’s more than 60 years ago now, which begs the question: was there a Ford Transit before the Ford Transit? 

The forgotten Transit

The answer is yes, sort of. It may not have been an official inclusion in the Transit line, but the German-built FK 1000 van — first introduced in 1953 — was renamed the Ford Taunus Transit from 1961, ushering in the iconic van title for the first time.

So, what is the Taunus? Looks wise, it’s almost impossible not to compare it with another icon of the same era: the VW T2 Transporter.

Instead of a distinctive dinnerplate emblem, here you’ll find some expansive yet restrained Taunus Transit lettering, sat atop a large industrial-styled grille, which gives a far more commercial look than the classic campervan. That said, the bug-eyed lights, curved bumpers, mildly wrap-around windscreen, and overall smooth rectangular silhouette are very reminiscent of its fellow van. We reckon that’s not a bad design comparison to have though, and is most definitely a product of its time too.

A vintage workhorse

Also a product of the time period, are the power figures. The FK 1000 (the number representing its 1000 kg load capacity) was powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine upon release, churning out a not-so-hefty 38 bhp. However, in 1955, the engine capacity was enlarged to 1.5 litres to give what we imagine must have been a welcome performance boost.

And, by the time the 1964 Taunus — which we got to look at first-hand — had hit the market, the van had settled on a four-speed manual gearbox, running 55 bhp through its RWD setup to achieve a top speed of 62 mph. Not exactly a Ford Supervan, but considering the boxy shape, the performance wasn’t too shabby at all.

But, by this point, the writing was on the wall for the Taunus Transit. After the manufacturing of more than 250,000 vehicles, production of the little German van was brought to a halt. The model was replaced with the Mk1 Transit — kicking off the Transit’s history, with the iconic title being passed from generation to generation, right up to present day.

So, whether you count the Taunus as part of the one true bloodline or simply see it as a footnote in the lineage’s iconic history, there was technically a Ford Transit before the Mk1. And with that, there’s only one thing left to say: Happy 64th 60th birthday to the Ford Transit!