A van can be anything from a humble and reliable workhorse to a counter cultural icon. What sets the van apart in space. Vans are light transport vehicles capable of carrying far more than a conventional car. There have been plenty of iconic vans released over the years. So, let’s take a look at some of the top four greatest vans that have ever been produced, has your favorite made it?
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is perhaps the ultimate practical van. First released in 1965, the Transit instantly proved to be more reliable and useful than any of its competitors in the European and British markets it was aimed at. Older examples, such as those available at dealerships offering used vans Widnes, are still reliable hundreds of thousands of miles into their working lives. Transit van is the world’s best-selling van, with over 8 million units sold. Each model has retained good cargo-carrying abilities, easy maintenance, and good performance. The performance of the Transit was so good in comparison to rivals that it was used in 95 percent of all bank robberies in the UK, according to a report by the Metropolitan police in 1972.
Citroen Type H
The Citroen Type H is a rather absurd-looking creature. Appearing to be a cross between a garden shed and a pig, these corrugated commercial vans were a common sight in rural France. Since their release during the early post-war years, the Type H has gained a considerable cult following due to its unusual looks and rugged manufacture. Designed to get France moving after the disastrous war years, the Citroen was cheap, cheerful, and endearing. It remains a classic.
VW Type 2 Transporter
Possibly the most iconic van ever created, the VW Type 2 Transporter is noisy, prone to breakdowns, and extremely slow. However, this didn’t stop the Transporter – better known as the VW Camper Van – from becoming an automotive cultural behemoth. The VW camper was first conceived in the 1950s but found widespread popularity during the 1960s. It became a memetic visual token representing the youthful drive towards physical, spiritual, and intellectual freedom that dominated popular culture during the post-war years.
Although Volkswagen has produced many follow-ons Transported vans, Type 2 is the aesthetically definitive model. The rear-engined rambler could quite happily house a group of friends on a road trip or a small family and had cute looks in absurd abundance.
Mitsubishi Delica L300
The Mitsubishi Delica was named by contracting the English words delivery car. You might expect a vehicle with these mundane origins to be a run-of-the-mill light transport vehicle. You would be wrong. The Delica L300 is an off-road beast of a van favored by adventurers around the world. It has high clearance, lots of storage space, and 4 wheel drive. Some enthusiasts modify their Delicas into ‘battlevans’, with extra bumpers, spoilers, and safety gear designed for long-term off-road use. The L300 is considered to be the best of the many Delica iterations released by Mitsubishi.
