Shitest vans

[barefoot]

I once saw two blokes and a small cow in a minivan.

It was very full and going very slowly.

[cms206]

It's a matter of perception, isn't it Tom? I've driven way more miles than I care to remember in a huge variety of vans. I'll concede that the Sprinter is a vast, even unrecognisable improvement over the wedgy shit that preceded it, but that wouldn't be difficult. What does seem to be beyond MB is the task of making a van that is actually fit for purpose. Therefore they are perfect for the fictional task in question. I stand by my original nomination.

 

 

 

 

 

I stand by it because there isn't enough money in the world, or even Jeremy Clarkson's bank account, to make me drive one again.

Off topic but...

 

Never yet driven a nice Sprinter, or Vito for that matter. Arse-clenchingly twitchy and unpredictable even in the dry, with the added bonus of being cripplingly uncomfortable - whoever designed that throttle pedal in the 06-on Sprinter and 03-on Vito needs to be made to spend the rest of their lifes having their right leg ruined by spending a minimum of 12 hours a day driving one. I'm quite sure there is a sweet spot, but my gaffer is 5ft 6in and can't find it, and I'm 6ft 3in and can't find it either.

 

That said I still maintain that the most comfortable van I ever drove was my old works hack P-reg Iveco TurboDaily 35.10 so I suspect my arguement is invalid.

[eddyramrod]

No Andy, it isn't.  I used to drive the same generation of Daily and they were a pretty darn good van.   Showed up the contemporary Sprinter in every conceivable way!  However... then we got the next generation (new body, basically still with us after a few facelifts) which was just bloody lovely.  Had I never owned a petrol CF that Daily (2000-2006) would be my all-time favourite.  My present 2013 Transit (last of the old model) is pretty damn good though.

Tom, absolutely; eye of the beholder etc.

[willswitchengage]

Totally agree. Want. 

 

The flickr comments shed little light on it - the most conclusive response is that it was sadly a one off custom!

[Junkman]

 

 

This one is in the early throes of restoration (documented on the blue forum). Interesting reading and a van I'd not heard of previously.

 

For God's sake, I hope they don't paint it!

[D Spares & Tyres]

Going back to old merc vans, I just remembered the 308 had a plastic thing under the throttle pedal to restrict it. Nearly always remembered to put it back after returning the van....☺

[sierraman]

Like the escort trolley fetcher. Never seen one before.

[LabRat]

How about a rover 25 commerce?

 

 

Grim facelift and povvo 1.4 kettle are optional extras...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sierraman]

Didn't they do a Alfa version of the Talbot Express? Any pics of this?

[wuvvum]

[3VOM]

Didn't they do a Alfa version of the Talbot Express? Any pics of this?

Talbot Express = Citroen C25 = Renault J5 (IIRC) = Fiat Ducato (!) Don't remember hearing of an Alfa version.

[Guest Old_Fart]

When I was a lad, back in the early 13th century, we ued to go camping in a 1962 Atlas Van, bet no one remembers them.

 

 

 

It had an galactic  miliage on it, even when we got it.

 

Later on i got a 1256 Bedford 6cwt van, cos I also fell for the story they were cheaper to insure. Mine had a naked woman painted on the bonnet, which made me a target for every police car that went past.

 

The worst vehicle i ever owned was a Y reg Yugo 320. Apart from the obvious flaw that there was NO INTERLOCK on the gear box, which means there was nothing to stop you changing from 4th gear into reverse at 60 mph, the vehicle actually fell in half on day on the driveway. I thought the steering had become odd, and the car had started to wander on its own.,It was because a crack was working its way across the nearside inner wing next to the door hinges, across the floor and up the other inner wing. This meant when you steered left or right, the rear half of the car followed the front half in the same way a trailer follows a car.

[HH-R]

How about a rover 25 commerce?

 

 

Grim facelift and povvo 1.4 kettle are optional extras...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

NOW you're talking!

[Guest vancurious]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. There are some truly worrying vehicles in this thread. Which is what it's all about, really!

[catsinthewelder]

I saw this had resurfaced and assumed it was caused by this thread http://autoshite.com/topic/22229-the-ultimate-as-camper/

 

As it wasn't

 

[Volksy]

How about these:

 

Moar spanish shite:

 

Siata 850 - Rebadged rebodied Fiat 600/850. 

 

Sava/Pegaso J4 - Updated (?) Austin J4

 

Pegaso Ekus - Look familiar??

 

[cros]

When I was a lad, back in the early 13th century, we ued to go camping in a 1962 Atlas Van, bet no one remembers them.

 

 

 

It had an galactic  miliage on it, even when we got it.

 

Later on i got a 1256 Bedford 6cwt van, cos I also fell for the story they were cheaper to insure. Mine had a naked woman painted on the bonnet, which made me a target for every police car that went past.

 

The worst vehicle i ever owned was a Y reg Yugo 320. Apart from the obvious flaw that there was NO INTERLOCK on the gear box, which means there was nothing to stop you changing from 4th gear into reverse at 60 mph, the vehicle actually fell in half on day on the driveway. I thought the steering had become odd, and the car had started to wander on its own.,It was because a crack was working its way across the nearside inner wing next to the door hinges, across the floor and up the other inner wing. This meant when you steered left or right, the rear half of the car followed the front half in the same way a trailer follows a car.

948cc engine must have been exciting in the original Atlas van. Triumph TR4 engine came later. I think the cab was used on a few small tractor units with a Scammell badge, unlikely though it may sound.

[Richard]

1960's Scammell Scarab 4 by Colin Pickett, on Flickr

 

Scammell Scarab 4 by Colin Pickett, on Flickr

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I always thought the early 80's Mazda with normal front wheels but smaller twin wheels on the back was a bit strange. Presumably they had to have 2 spares.

 

Whilst looking for a picture,I found this

Felt it my duty to share.

[cros]

They did have 2 spares and a bit of room left over.

[cros]

1960's Scammell Scarab 4 by Colin Pickett, on Flickr

 

Scammell Scarab 4 by Colin Pickett, on Flickr

I think the engine is in unit with the rear axle, must have done wonders for the ride. Not their finest.

[willswitchengage]

SLIDING DOORS!

 

 

 

[D Spares & Tyres]

Commer PB. Just awful in every way.

I've always fancied one of those

 

Are they that bad really? Better or worse than an old VW camper you reckon?

[eddyramrod]

They're not a VW, therefore automatically better.  I drove a bay pickup for years (same job as the 307D).  No wonder I left.