Ford Transit Bus

1937 Ford Transit Bus
1937 Ford Transit Bus

NO SIMILARITIES WITH THE 2015 FORD TRANSIT, BUT THE FORD TRANSIT BUS WAS A SMALL BUS PRODUCED BY THE FORD MOTOR CORPORATION FROM 1936 TO 1947.

The engine was originally placed at the front, but a rear-engine version replaced the original design in 1939. Ford constructed the chassis, which were then fitted with bodies constructed by the Union City Body Company of Union City, Indiana. Canadian versions were built from chassis fabricated in Windsor and bodies produced by Brantford Coach & Body, from 1941 to 1943.

Ford Transit Bus Specifications

  • Also called “Crackerbox”
  • Production 1936–1947
  • Body on chassis
  • Front engine (1936–1939)
  • Rear engine (1939–1947)
  • Ford 239 cu in (3,920 cc) “flathead” V-8 engine
  • 3-speed manual transmission
  • Wheelbase 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
  • Length 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
  • Width 96 in (2.4 m)
  • Height 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
  • Curb weight 10,600 lb (4,800 kg)

Several vehicles were exported to The Netherlands and other European countries.

My Dad was a bus driver at the time at the RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram) in Rotterdam. He drove very similar vehicles.

1956 RET Bus 228
1956 – This specific bus (#228) was sold for scrap in 1960.
1960 RET Bus 533
1960 – On his regular route in Hoogvliet.

A small tribute to my Dad.

Partially from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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