Three days in Istanbul
Ford offered me the chance to take a trip to Turkey for three days, It would seem that someone dropped out at the last moment and this left a space To take a trip round the plant at kocaeli. This Transit Plant is about 60 kilometres from Istanbul and its just amazing not just in size, but also the amount of automation that has been used in the site. Oh ! they also asked me if, while I was there, would I like to do a test drive in the new pre-production Transit van that comes out next year ? Umm let me think!. after about 3 seconds of deep thought I had made up my mind. It far exceeded my expectations and that's not only the plant but also the van.
I am always amazed at the way the designers at Dunton come up with better and better transits every time they update the vehicle.
 More Transits than cars
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| I did see loads of 1979 type face- lift vans while driving to the plant but it was on a coach so I could not get pictures, Still maybe next time. On the last day of the visit Ford arranged a sight seeing trip, but it was optional so I took the time to get some pictures. There were just too many interesting vans around for me to miss. | |||
 Loads of Transits with the small window in the side.It turned out that they were security vans collecting money from business'. |
 The Transit Taxis parked where ever they wanted. This one just outside a cafe |
 This is a road work company it had a load of crew cabs all with red doors |
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 Another security Van |
 Transit Taxis with all sorts of artwork |
 European side window |
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| Ford transits have been made in Turkey since 1979 | |||
 Man jumps out while Transit Taxis is moving |
 Door stays open |
 Transit Taxis breaks and door slams |
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 There were loads of this livery. I think they are couriers |
 Road work company Philip Morris. There are 100's of them every where including the factory waiting for collection. |
 Connects are selling big time. |
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| Over 800 transit are made at the Kocaeli plant every day | |||
 Spot the wheels. Loads of the Transit Taxis have custom wheels on. |
 More wheels on the Transit Taxis |
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 A new cab. I do hope they do not all end up white. |
 Odd shaped Luton transit. |
 Wheels again |
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 Odd shaped back bull bar that stops you opening the rear doors for some reason. |
 The Turkish Tornao |
 Transit Taxi rank |
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| Turkey is the 2nd biggest market for the Transit in the World, The UK is number one | |||
 Have a break have a transit. |
 Nice mini bus |
 Another Transit Taxi rank |
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 Another security Van |
This van seemed to collect you and take you to Mc Donalds
No bus stops that I could see |
 Another Transit Taxi rank |
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| The Smiley Face Transit stopped being made in Southampton in 2000 and they moved onto the new mode. The Turkish plant made the van until July 2003. | |||
 Transit Connect Taxi |
 Delivery company. The guy stopped me as I was taking a picture. He has Transits |
 Another Philip Morris |
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 L@@K AT THIS its a Transit Cab. The driver did not speak a word of English and I was dieing to find out more about this van. |
Transit 15 Turkish variation in the name, I also saw a 12 and a 18. |
Spot the Ford roof spoiler. |
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| Vehicles made at the Kocaeli plant go from the production line straight onto a ship the size of a tower block holding 1,000 vans at a time for delivery around the world. | |||
 We were collected at the hotel in this beast |
the Box is rear air-con |
 Loads of extra bits, yet again the driver did not speak English, and I had no tools with me to remove these amazing custom bits. |
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 Army mini bus |
Paramedic SVO |
 Nice Sweet shop van. A bit of Turkish delight !! |
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 Got told off for taking this picture by a security guard. Then after a few smiles ended up talking to the head man in the bank in broken English for about an hour about Transits. As it turned out his grandson works at the plant and I had a Ford T-shirt on. This is an armoured van with bullet proof glass, used since the 1980's and taken out of service just last year and its in tip top condition and yes! I did ask! but its not for sale. |
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 The council building control officers van complete with red flashing lights. I also did see big transits in this livery but they were all moving. |
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 Had a lift in this one I just had to have a go. The driver had the radio up so loud I couldn't here any body talking. I did see a big accident whilst in this van, two buses smashed into each other with a wing mirror travelling through a car window. |
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 BIG JUMBO small street |
 Old but working hard |
 The milk mans van |
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| Ford have worked with Otosan in Turkey since the 1920's both making and selling vehicles. In the 1980's Transit vans had the Ford logo and the name Otosan on the vans and they were made in a plant inside Istanbul. | |||
 Otosan |
 Otosan Turkish wheel hubs |
 Otosan Ford van logo |
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 This guy was very friendly |
 shopping area Security Van |
 Lots of Transits
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This guy had the van from new in 1979 twin side
loader, back side marker light were factory fitted. I gave him a Transit
badge he gave me a drive in the van amazing people and so friendly. ↓↓↓↓↓ |
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So to sum the three days up I had a great time with
great people and they made me feel as ever like one of the team. The plant
was just amazing, I need to talk to some one about doing a page on it for
you all to see but I need to get that cleared first. I took all the
pictures above in just four hours and with out really trying and two of
the hours were spent talking to Turkish Ford Transit nuts just like me.
Amazing what ever country you go to they all love the Transit van and oh!
did I mention the new Transit ? well that's a whole other story
still to come and as soon as I get permission you will get the facts. Peter Lee |
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