Resurrecting a Legend: The Return of the Original Ford Supervan

Originally powered by a roaring 7.0-liter V8 engine from the GT40 and stripped down to its bare essentials, the Supervan was a bold statement of what the Transit platform could become in the hands of skilled engineers with a few spare parts. As the 60th anniversary of the iconic Transit nameplate approaches, the original Supervan has been rediscovered and is now undergoing a meticulous restoration.

This ambitious project is being spearheaded by Andy Brown, a former Ford Apprentice with a deep connection to the Supervan. Brown first acquired the remains of the van in 1973, after its original builders, Terry Drury Racing, had retired it from its motorsport endeavors. However, Brown's time with the van was short-lived, and he eventually had to part ways with it. But fate had other plans.

“One day, I received a call from someone claiming they had found the remains of the Supervan,” Brown recalls. “I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard that before probably at least twenty. But when I went to check it out, I ran my hand under the sills and instantly knew it was the van I once owned. It wasn’t a van anymore just a floor pan, a bit of bulkhead, and some parts of a cut-up chassis.”

With this rediscovery, Brown embarked on the painstaking task of restoring the Supervan to its former glory. Using original parts wherever possible, the van is being rebuilt on its mid-engined layout atop a Cooper Monaco chassis, with components like the exhaust manifold being shared with the GT40. Though the van’s original bodywork is little more than a memory, its essence is being revived in this faithful reconstruction.

As the Supervan nears completion, it stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of innovative engineering and the passion of those who refuse to let history fade away. The restored Supervan will not only honor the past but also remind us of the boundless possibilities that arise when creativity and engineering prowess come together.