Ford Transit SuperVan 3 roars up Goodwood Hillclimb

Ford’s famous Transit SuperVan 3 turned heads on Goodwood Hill last weekend, driven by former Ford racing driver Anthony Reid.
 
Ford SuperVan 3 – a one-off replica 1994 Ford Transit – was developed in the UK more than 20 years ago. It has a top speed of 150mph and is powered by a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 Ford Cosworth engine, which produces 295bhp.
 
Anthony Reid, a former driver for Ford Team Mondeo in the BTCC, finishing in 2nd place with 193 points in 2000. He said: “Over the last 20 years of racing cars, Ford’s SuperVan 3 is by far the craziest vehicle I have ever driven. It’s ludicrously loud, incredibly quick and received masses of attention from the Goodwood crowd.”
 
The Supervan family raised the profile of Ford's famous Transit range yet further.  Supervan 3 is a much-developed version of Supervan 2, the Transit-like body hiding a mid-engined Ford C100 racing chassis.  Although it looks like a load-carrying vehicle, there is absolutely no space for a payload, as the engine and transmission are mounted behind the cabin.  The all-independent suspension and vast racing tyres are out-and-out race car specification, though the driving position is that of a van.
 
History
 
When first built as Supervan 2 in 1984, it was powered by a Ford-Cosworth DFL engine – the long-stroke endurance version of Ford's famous DFV F1 engine.  When the van was re-furbished in 1994 this original power unit was swapped for a 650bhp 3.5-litre Cosworth-developed Ford HB engine.   A few years later it was decided to fit a less powerful Ford-Cosworth Pro Sports 3000 engine, enabling more people to have the opportunity to drive this unique vehicle.

SuperVan 3 Technical details

Construction:
 
Aluminium/composite monocoque chassis with mid-mounted engine driving the rear wheels.  Steel, aluminium and glassfibre body shell.

Engine:
 
Ford-Cosworth V6, 2935cc, twin overhead camshafts per bank, four valves per cylinder.  Tuned to Pro Sports 3000 spec, including dry sump.  Power output approx 295bhp @ 6,800rpm

Transmission:
 
Five speed, longitudinally-mounted Hewland

Suspension:
 
Front and rear – independent, coil springs, wishbones, anti-roll bar.  Rack and pinion steering.

Brakes:
 
279mm (11in) diameter ventilated carbon discs, Brembo four-piston callipers, carbon pads

Performance:
 
Top speed approx 150mph (241kph)