1984 Ford Transit Mk2 Minibus Custom - 10,000 Miles

The second-generation Ford Transit was built from 1977 to 1986 and was known internally as the Transit 1978 ½, but colloquially, it’s the Mk2. The body remained largely the same, as did the mechanicals underneath, however the engines changed, with the most notable shift being to the Pinto petrol engine, taken from the car line-up of the time. It was a tough engine and came fitted to the Transit in 1.6-litre and 2-litre guise. And if you’re wondering how tough, the 2.0 would go on to be the foundation of the mighty Cosworth YBT. 

The vehicle presented here is a 1984 Ford Transit Mk2 Minibus Custom and is unlike any other such example you'd be likely to find in 2025 - 'time warp' condition doesn't do it justice, it really is the ultimate survivor of its type. We are informed by our Ford enthusiast vendor that its original owner ordered the minibus from his local Ford dealership with the factory options of a 2-litre Pinto engine, manual gearbox (with overdrive), a tailgate rear door, front spoiler, wheel covers and opening quarter lights. It was used for a few years, mainly for family holidays, before being put into dry storage having covered just over 10,000 miles. That was back in 1992 where it remained until April 2025 - remarkable!

Our vendor: 'I was fortunate enough to purchase the minibus in May 2024 and kept it in dry storage until I was ready to get it out; it is in unbelievable, unmolested condition and has never been welded  - it was still on the original Michelin tyres, which show no signs of age-related perishing or cracking. When looking through the glovebox I found the handbook and service booklet, along with the business card of the salesman from the original supplying dealership (who I knew as I worked at the same Ford dealership), along with an unopened packet of Polo mints with 8d price on them!

'The minibus only required light recommissioning, which included removal of spark plugs, pouring solution down the bores (leaving to soak for a few days) then gently turning the engine over by hand; the refitment of spark plugs, replacing the am-belt, renewing the anti-freeze, the fitment of a new battery, connecting a separate (temporary) fuel supply and starting - which it did virtually straight away. I then dropped the fuel tank, drained/cleaned it before refitting, whilst also replacing both the rear brake cylinders and carry out a brake fluid change.'

He was invited to display the minibus at T.C. Harrison Ford Transit Centre in Peterborough, where it was placed in their showroom as part of the 60th Anniversary of the Transit and subsequently at Central Ford in Irthlingborough for the same purpose, where it caused a huge amount of interest.

For both the enthusiast and the dedicated collector, the desire to obtain any particular model - especially, it would seem, with a Blue Oval badge - in the most original condition as possible will always be the 'Holy Grail'. The problem with actually achieving this goal is that those classic vehicles were seriously flawed - body structures were never built with any intention to make them last and indeed, many were succumbing to rust issues when just a few years old. However, that was not always the case and we are delighted to present the exception to the rule.