The Dodge Spacevan is the final version of the Commer FC, a forward-control commercial vehicle produced by Commer from 1960 to 1976. After Chrysler bought the Rootes Group it was also sold under the Dodge, DeSoto and Fargo names, and from 1976 onwards only as the Dodge SpaceVan, which stayed in production until 1983.
Dodge Spacevan at a glance
| Maker | Commer, later Chrysler Europe and Dodge |
|---|---|
| Original model | Commer FC, introduced in 1960 |
| Names | Commer FC, Commer PB (1967), Commer SpaceVan (1974), Dodge SpaceVan |
| Production | 1960-1983; Dodge-only from 1976 |
| Engines | 1,500 and 1,600 cc petrol; 1,725 cc from 1968; Perkins 4108 diesel |
| Later engines | 1.7 L petrol with 50 or 58 hp; 1.8 L Perkins diesel with 42 hp |
| Gearbox | four-speed manual; rare three-speed automatic |
| Layout | forward control with a narrow front track |
| Built in | United Kingdom and New Zealand |
| Successor | Talbot Express and Dodge 50 Series |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Commer FC, the van sold as the Dodge Spacevan.
History of the Dodge Spacevan
Commer became known in later years as a maker of vans for the British Post Office, especially the Commer FC, introduced in 1960 in many body styles including a 1,500 cc van. After engine and interior upgrades it was renamed the PB in 1967 and the SpaceVan in 1974. Following the merger of the Rootes Group with Chrysler to form Chrysler Europe, the SpaceVan was sold as a Dodge and a Fargo until 1976, when both the Commer and Fargo names were dropped. These were rounded-front forward-control vans with a narrow front track, a legacy of their Humber-derived suspension.
The van used first the Hillman-derived 1,500 cc four in the PA series, then a 1,600 cc unit and from 1968 the 1,725 cc engine in the PB, in each case with a cast-iron head. A Perkins 4108 diesel was also available. The 1,725 cc engine could be had in the 1970s with a Borg Warner Model 35 three-speed automatic with a dashboard selector, an unpopular option of which few were built. The four-speed manual was based on the gearboxes of the contemporary Hillman Minx and later Rootes Arrow cars such as the Hillman Hunter. An unusual feature was that the handbrake operated on the front drum brakes.
The forward-control layout restricted access to the engine and made engine changes labour-intensive: without dropping the suspension subframe, the engine had to be craned out through the passenger door. That was one reason the van was less popular with fleet operators than the Bedford and Ford Transit. A 1974 road test of a motor caravan version with the 1,725 cc engine recorded a maximum speed of 70 mph and a 0-50 mph time of 25 seconds, and the testers warned that at 70 mph the van was plainly at its limit and that 65 mph was a more realistic maximum.
One condition of the 1976 government bailout of Chrysler’s British operations was reportedly a commitment to upgrade the Spacevan, which was praised for its brakes, cornering and price but criticised for power, comfort and top speed. A revised Spacevan arrived in 1977 with the same mechanicals but numerous cosmetic changes and a new interior. Although outdated by its end, it remained a familiar sight in Britain thanks to its role with Post Office Telecommunications, whose contract was almost solely responsible for keeping it in production after Commer was acquired by Peugeot. By then there were three engines: two 1.7-litre petrol units of 50 and 58 hp and a 1.8-litre Perkins diesel of 42 hp, with a four-speed manual and no automatic. The last Spacevan was built in 1983, and under PSA management it was succeeded by the Talbot Express, a rebadged Peugeot J5, while Renault Trucks offered the larger Dodge 50 Series.
Design and features
- Long life: a 1960 design still being sold as a Dodge in 1983.
- Post Office favourite: the British telecom contract kept the van in production.
- Front-wheel handbrake: an unusual arrangement on the front drum brakes.
- Forward control: a narrow front track and difficult engine access.
Dodge Spacevan versions
- Commer FC and PB (1960-1974): the original Commer versions.
- Dodge SpaceVan (1976-1983): the final Dodge-badged model.
- Revised Spacevan (1977): the updated version after the bailout conditions.
- New Zealand assembly: panel van, minibus and chassis-cab bodies built by Todd Motors.
The Spacevan was replaced by the Dodge 50 Series and sat below the larger Dodge 100 Commando in the British range. More Dodge commercial vehicles are in the Dodge collection.
Sources
- Commer FC, English Wikipedia: history, engines, Post Office role, end of production
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