Ford R-Series
Series: Other models
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Ford Transit – a chassis for minibus and coach bodies: five-cylinder engine at 3,199 cm³ and 125 kW, 3,500 kg gross weight at 5.98 m length and a 3.95 m wheelbase
Ford is a US vehicle maker whose European commercial-vehicle arm has built the Transit into one of Europe's best-selling van ranges for decades. Alongside panel vans and dropsides, the Transit chassis has also carried numerous minibus and coach bodies from independent body builders.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
For this version the register lists a five-cylinder engine of 3,199 cm³ and 125 kW, a kerb weight of 2,130 kg against a gross vehicle weight of 3,500 kg, plus a length of 5.98 m, a wheelbase of 3.95 m and a width of 2.15 m. This combination of a powerful engine and a gross weight just under 3.5 tonnes marks a chassis sitting right at the threshold of the next licence category.
At a gross weight of exactly 3.5 tonnes, this Transit chassis stayed within the class that can be driven in Europe on an ordinary car licence, making it attractive to operators wanting a capable minibus without an additional entitlement. Such chassis served body builders as the base for coach, shuttle and community-bus bodies with correspondingly high seating capacity.
For a used example in this power class, check the condition of the turbocharger and intercooler, the tightness of the injection system, wear in the clutch and gearbox, and corrosion on the chassis, springs and brake lines. On minibus or coach bodies, also check seat anchorages, emergency exits and the approval of the non-standard body; parts for the drivetrain are widely available through the Ford dealer network.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Ford Transit, Ford Motor Company (manufacturer)
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 2 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Bus in 3D section
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