The Talbot Express was the British name for the Peugeot J5 van, sold from 1986 to 1994. It was the last Talbot-badged motor vehicle to be produced and quietly succeeded the outdated Dodge Spacevan in the range.
Talbot Express at a glance
| Maker | Sevel, for PSA and Fiat |
|---|---|
| Sold as | Peugeot J5, Citroën C25, Fiat Ducato, Talbot Express |
| Market | United Kingdom only |
| Production | 1986–1994 |
| Class | light commercial vehicle, 2.5 tonnes |
| Layout | front-wheel drive, transverse engine |
| Replaced | Dodge Spacevan |
| Bodied as | van, pick-up, minibus, camper conversion |
| Predecessor of | Peugeot Boxer |
There is no separate English article on the Talbot Express; it is described in the Fiat Ducato article. Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Talbot Express
The van was the result of the collaboration between Fiat and PSA Peugeot Citroën that began in 1978 and produced the Sevel family of light commercial vehicles from 1981. The vehicles were built at the Sevel Val di Sangro plant at Atessa in central Italy and at Sevel Campania in Pomigliano d’Arco near Naples, together with the closely related Alfa Romeo AR6, Citroën C25 and Peugeot J5. The Fiat version was the Ducato; the Peugeot J5 was sold in the United Kingdom as the Talbot Express.
The Express was the last Talbot-badged vehicle: it succeeded the Dodge Spacevan, an outdated model, and remained on sale until 1994, long after the Talbot passenger car range had gone. The J5 itself was produced from October 1981 to 1993 with a 2.5-tonne capacity, and its powertrains matched those of the Citroën C25: a transversely mounted petrol engine from the Peugeot 504 and a diesel from the Citroën CX, both coupled to a Citroën gearbox. In February 1982 the range was extended with a pick-up and a minibus, and in 1991 a Series 2 arrived with a new front grille and headlights.
The Sevel van was widely used as a base for camper conversions — in Europe about two-thirds of motorhomes were built on the Ducato platform — and the Express carried British coachbuilt campers in the same way. The J5 sold reasonably well in France but had little success outside it, overshadowed by the Fiat Ducato and its stronger dealer network. It was replaced in 1994 by the Peugeot Boxer, based on the second-generation Fiat Ducato.
Design and features
- Shared Sevel design: one body sold as Fiat, Citroën, Peugeot and Talbot.
- British-only Talbot: the Express badge was used solely in the United Kingdom.
- Long life: sold until 1994, years after the Talbot car range ended.
- Camper base: a popular platform for coachbuilt motorhomes.
Talbot Express versions
- Panel van: the standard commercial body.
- Pick-up and minibus: added to the J5 range in February 1982.
- Camper conversions: coachbuilt motorhomes on the same chassis.
- Series 2: the 1991 update with a new grille and headlights.
The Express was the last Talbot, after cars such as the Talbot Samba and Talbot Horizon. More cars are in the Talbot collection.
Sources
- Fiat Ducato, English Wikipedia: Sevel origins, J5 and Talbot Express, production
