History

There are pages on other sites, which far more eloquently detail the wonderous history of commer cars, through its three quarters of a century ‘rise and fall’, so i will not offer an historic account here, just a brief and potted history of the commer van we know and love…

January 1960 saw the official launch of commer cars fully forward control ‘1500’ range.

It was advanced for its day both technologically and in its sweepingly curvaceous design. The wrap round windscreen and curved rear glass(on certain side window models), were unusual in commercial vehicles, and the wheels being neatly tucked underneath was certainly a design feature few vehicles could boast. The ‘1500’ title was a reference to the vans payload, although the first vans did have the rootes 1500cc minx engine inbetween the cab seats!

The first years model is identified by such destinctions as no front grill (causing overheating on longer journeys), and the three chrome bands running along the front, inbetween the headlamps.

The title ‘PA’ was introduced, along with a square style front grill (eleviating the previous overheating issue), and the 1500cc engine being uprated to rootes 1600cc powerplant, these changes all took place within a couple of years of the initial launch of the van.

By the end of the sixties the Commer had been modified and renamed the ‘PB’ and was a favorite of contractors and motorcaravan convertors alike, with a friendly ‘smiling’ front grill and the excellent rootes 1725cc engine pulling the load.

In 1971 the postal service had some 4000 commers on its fleet, and the van was also used by numerous other fleet purchasers, including the police force, and emergency services. Motorcaravan convertors such as car campers, autosleepers, dormobile and caravans international (to name but a few) all had the commer on their workshop floors and sales forecourts, and these heady days were the height of the Commer vans popularity.

By the 1980’s Chryslers influence had seen the commer re marketed as the ‘dodge spacevan’ in the Uk, (’Fargo’ in certain parts of europe), with the most noticeable modification being a ’square lined’ black plastic front grill (very 1980’s). By then however sales were dwindling and popularity fi rthe ageing desibn had wained. The design was eventually laid to rest soon after that make-over, although the Commer name was to change ownership a couple more times before finally being retired.