Commer FC

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Commer / Dodge
Commer FC-PA
Commer FC-PA
FC / PA / PB / Spacevan
Manufacturer: Commer
Production period: 1960-1983
Previous model: none
Successor: Talbot Express
Technical specifications
Designs: Box vans , minibuses , flatbed trucks
Engines:
Otto engines : 1.5–1.7 liter
diesel engine
Length: 4318 mm
Width: 1905 mm

Commer was best known as a manufacturer of vans for the British Post Office, especially with the Commer FC-PA, which was presented in many body styles in 1960 . This was also originally available as a panel van and minibus with a 1500 cm³ gasoline engine. With revisions, the Commer FC-PA became the FC-PB in 1967 and the SpaceVan 1974. Until 1976, it was offered as Commer or Fargo . Chrysler Europe then marketed it as the Dodge Spacevan.

Commer / Fargo FC-PA / PB, Spacevan 1960-1976, Dodge Spacevan 1977-1983

In the model it was Frontlenker -Lieferwagen narrow front track. This was a legacy of the technical kinship with the Humber cars. First was for the factory except as a panel van / minibus as flatbed , RV and chassis deliverable for bodies vans only a four-cylinder gasoline engine from the Hillman Minx 1500 cc engine and four-speed manual transmission available. The engine was later enlarged to 1600 cm³. The handbrake worked on the front drum brakes.

Commer FC interior 1964

After a model revision, the series became the FC-PB in 1967 and from 1968 had a four-cylinder petrol engine with a displacement of 1725 cm³. The diesel engine Perkins 4108 was now also available. The 1725 cm³ engine was available with a three-speed automatic transmission ( BorgWarner Model 35) in the 1970s . From 1974 the four-speed transmission was also available with overdrive . The 1974 test of a motorhome version showed a maximum speed of 70 mph (113 km / h) and an acceleration of 0-50 mph (80 km / h) in 25 seconds with the 1725 cc gasoline engine. This made the Commer FC slower than the models BMC 250 JU and BMC J4 from competitor BLMC . However, the testers felt that the van was at its absolute limit at 70 mph and recommended that readers drive a maximum of 65 mph (105 km / h).

The van was also less popular with fleet operators than the Bedford CA or the Ford Transit . As with the models BMC 250 JU and J4, one of the reasons for this may be the construction with the motor between the seats above the axle. This restricts access to the engine and changing the engine is time-consuming. The only way to remove the engine without the front axle was to remove the windshield and maneuver the engine out through the passenger door.

After Chrysler Europe got into financial difficulties, the company received financial support from the UK government. For this, the Spacevan, which was praised for its good braking behavior, good cornering and reasonable price, had to be revised in terms of performance, comfort and top speed and continued to be produced. The revised Spacevan was introduced in 1977 as the Dodge Spacevan. Although it had basically the same mechanics, but numerous changes in shape, a new interior, a new dashboard and offered more driving comfort through better insulation of the body and engine insulation. The 1.7-liter gasoline engine now offered 37 kW (with low compression) or 42 kW (with high compression), while the diesel engine produced 31 kW.

After Chrysler Europe was sold to PSA in 1978 , the new owner decided to discontinue the model range and introduce a model from the PSA group. But after new orders with the Post Office Telephone were received, this opinion changed. The Post Office was almost entirely responsible for ensuring that the outdated Spacevan was still in production for that long. British Telecom , founded in October 1981, took on the purchase obligation, so the last Spacevan was built in 1983 and remained a familiar sight in the United Kingdom in the 1980s , at a time when all of the former competing models had long since been replaced by successors and were out of the ordinary disappeared. In 1984 PSA introduced the Peugeot J5, which was developed together with Fiat, exclusively in the United Kingdom under the name Talbot Express .

  • Commer FC motorhome 1976

  • Dodge Spacevan 1980

  • Dodge Spacevan Post Office 1983

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Easy living, hard driving: Commer Auto0-sleeper C20 two berth ". Autocar. 141 (nbr 4074): page 26. date 23 November 1974

Web links

Commons : Commer FC / PA / PB / Spacevan  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : Dodge Spacevan  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files