Say hello to the World Rally Transit – the fastest service van in the business…
No-one really needed a reason for making it – the Transit was a great publicity machine, put together by Paul Wilson’s Ford Press garage team. Every Martini decal and every visual detail was right. It looked the part and, at a pinch, it could even have worked for its living with Ford’s M-Sport team.
With a claimed top speed of 130mph it could keep up with the latest Mondeo ST200 on most main roads. 130mph? Really? You’d better believe it….
![World Rally Transit](https://www.fastcar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/World-Rally-Transit-02.jpg)
The interior was up to rally car standards, complete with rollcage, Sparco seats, and a Momo steering wheel.
The World Rally Transit was based on a standard high-roof 138in turbodiesel model, with a front-mounted engine and rear drive.
However, although the 2.4-litre engine had been tweaked to 165bhp, there were 8x18in rally-type alloy wheels, and the very Focus WRC-style cabin featured snugly-moulded Sparco rally seats, a roll cage and a small Momo sports wheel. The suspension was lowered, springs and dampers were up-rated, and there was also a deep front splitter to make it look mean.
![World Rally Transit](https://www.fastcar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/World-Rally-Transit-01.jpg)
It’s not your average white van, man. The WRT features a heavily modified 165bhp TDCi engine.
It was fully road legal of course – but not for the modest. And why the number ‘5’ on the doors? That was the permanent competition number carried by Colin McRae’s M-Sport Focus WRC in the 2000 season.
And where is it now? Still under Ford’s control, still in the Heritage Collection, and still in great demand.
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