VERY EYE CATCHING MK1 TRANSIT VAN, FORMER GERMAN FIRE DEPT VEHICLE, READY TO GO!

1968 Ford Transit Connect Mark 1 Description

You can search the highways, boulevards and turntables of auto exhibits all over and still not come across anything as unique as this 1968 Ford Transit Mk I. After performing its duties overseas for a German fire department, where it logged a scant 12,000 miles, it's back in the States and ready to take its rightful place as the centerpiece of some lucky enthusiast's collection.
It'll make you do a double take right away, simply because you just don't see anything on the road quite like this mix of American and European styling sensibilities. Manufactured in England by Ford, and featuring distinctly American styling cues, this durably useful vehicle turned the tables on the more common trend of foreign cars creating a stir upon reaching American shores. With its rugged look and a noticeably wider track than any of its European counterparts of the era, the Mk I quickly gained a solid foothold as a dependable fleet member for a variety of different public agencies across the pond. Clad in a proper shade of red for a fire department vehicle, a working siren and blue dome light proudly displayed on top, it's spacious and compact at the same time, with an unusually short distance between its front end and the windshield. Its exterior still features a nice shine and no serious mishaps, and you'll find a very sharp edge surrounding the contrasting white front bumper and lower grille from its surrounding steel. It's lived a life as a hardworking vehicle, and proudly wears a few minor bumps and bruises as its badge of honor, although those could be easily remedied if you so choose.
The gray vinyl interior is well suited to this Transit's utilitarian nature. It's a comfortable, yet purpose driven environment that, due to its unusually light usage, remains in very nice condition. Nothing inside the cabin shows much wear and the pair of low-backed bucket seats are still well-padded and very much suited for real world driving. This Mk I began its life with the bucket seats up front and a single bench seat just behind, with its rear area designated for the tools and equipment needed to fight fires, but an additional rear bench seat has been added, and it sits looking clean and securely mounted on the inner wheelhouses to provide additional passenger capacity - you can imagine the smiling nods you'll get as you take this vintage workhorse out on the road with your crew in tow. The dash area is still in very good order, with its generously sized, circle shaped cluster housing very readable gauges inside and the German language designations still in place below their control knobs.
Lift the unusually compact hood and you'll see just how this Transit's unique conformation was achieved. A 2.0 liter V4 - yes, a V4 - sits inside the engine compartment, and its minimal dimension from front to back is a perfect fit that still allows plenty of room on either side. It combines with a 4-speed manual transmission to form an all-original and lightly used drivetrain very capable of propelling this one of a kind vehicle at highway-appropriate speeds without any issue. A number of steps were taken to ensure its future dependability, including the addition of a new battery and tires, as well as the recent replacement of all fluids and its oil filter. This rolling, vintage conversation piece sits on a set of stock 14" black steel rims, outfitted with Travelstar tires.
This 1968 Ford Transit Mk I offers a blend of uniqueness and utility you just don't come across very often. Call today!