The Ford Transit is one of the best-selling commercial vehicles ever made. More than 8 million have rolled off the line since 1965 and it is still Ford's best-selling van today. It has had its ups and downs over the decades, but it has never stopped being the van most people picture when they hear the word "van".
This guide looks back over 50+ years of the Transit, generation by generation, so you can see how it evolved and work out which mark you're looking at. If you've ever asked "what Mk is my Transit?", the year table below will tell you.
Why the Transit became Britain's van
The Transit's success comes down to flexibility. Built by Ford of Britain from day one, it was designed to do everything from hauling goods to carrying passengers, and that range has only widened. Different body styles, sensible running costs and a wide load bay mean it fits almost any trade, which is why it has won International Van of the Year more times than any other model range.
Ford Transit body styles available from the factory:
- Panel van
- Double cab-in-van
- Single chassis cab
- Double chassis cab
- Minibus / passenger carrier
It goes further than trade use. Ford and Westfalia have built factory campervans for over 40 years, and the current Nugget is based on the Transit Custom. For DIY converters the full-size Transit is a favourite too: a big, simple box with three wheelbase lengths and two roof heights to choose from, and more conversion guides online than any other van.
Ford Transit wheelbase options:
- L2 – medium wheelbase
- L3 – long wheelbase
- L4 – long wheelbase extended frame
Roof heights:
- H2 – medium roof
- H3 – high roof (optional on L2 and L3, standard on L4)
Converting a Transit? We supply Ford Transit windows and Transit Custom windows for every generation from the 2000 Mk6 onwards – fixed, opening and privacy glass, delivered next working day.
Ford Transit models by year: every mark at a glance
| Generation | Mark | Years |
|---|---|---|
| First generation | Mk1 | 1965 – 1978 |
| Mk2 | 1978 – 1986 | |
| Second generation | Mk3 | 1986 – 1991 |
| Mk4 | 1991 – 1995 | |
| Mk5 | 1995 – 2000 | |
| Third generation | Mk6 | 2000 – 2006 |
| Mk7 | 2006 – 2014 | |
| Fourth generation | Mk8 | 2014 – present |
A quick note on the numbering: Ford never officially used "Mk" badges. The marks are a long-standing enthusiast and trade convention, but they're used so widely – by parts suppliers, owners' clubs and insurers – that they're the easiest way to identify a Transit.
1965: the birth of the Transit
Ford started Transit production in October 1965 at Langley in Berkshire, replacing the old Thames van. Demand quickly outgrew the factory and assembly moved to Southampton, where Transits were built until 2013. It was the first Ford designed jointly for the whole of Europe, and it has been the UK's best-selling van almost every year since.
First generation Ford Transits (1965 – 1986)
Mk1 Ford Transit (1965 – 1978)
The original Transit was a complete break from the narrow, car-derived vans that came before it. A wider body, a much taller roofline and a flat load floor gave it far more usable space, and it could be had as a van, minibus, pick-up or chassis cab from the start.
The Mk1 was facelifted in 1969 with a new front end featuring recessed headlamps and a grille that stood proud of the body. A rare "bullnose" version was also sold from 1965 to 1971 – its longer nose made room for the Perkins diesel engine.
Mk2 Ford Transit (1978 – 1986)
In 1978 the Mk2 arrived with square headlamps set flush into a new full-width grille, and a large Ford oval replacing the old Transit script badge. It was more of a heavy facelift than a new van, but it looked thoroughly modern for the time.
A 1983 update brought bigger bumpers and a simplified grille with fewer, wider slats. If your van has square lights and a flat front, it's a Mk2.
Second generation Ford Transits (1986 – 2000)
Mk3 Ford Transit (1986 – 1991)
The 1986 Transit was an all-new vehicle and a big step forward in design. The nose was now slanted at the same angle as the windscreen, the headlamps became rectangular and the grille sat forward of the nose rather than being recessed into it. It looked a generation ahead of anything else on the road.
Mk4 Ford Transit (1991 – 1995)
The 1991 facelift brought softer, more rounded headlamps and a revised grille. The changes were small enough that some people still call this a late Mk3, but the trade generally refers to the 1991–95 van as the Mk4.
Mk5 Ford Transit (1995 – 2000)
The last of the second generation launched in 1995 with the elongated oval grille and body-coloured surround that defined mid-90s Fords, along with a new and more powerful engine range. Mechanically and bodily it was still the 1986 van underneath, which is why Mk3, Mk4 and Mk5 share so many panels and glass.
Third generation Ford Transits (2000 – 2014)
Mk6 Ford Transit (2000 – 2006)
The millennium Transit was a clean-sheet design. Lower, wider and far more car-like inside, it came in three wheelbases and was the first Transit offered in both front- and rear-wheel drive. The side glass changed too: rather than small fixed windows, the door glass now wrapped around to meet at the C-pillar, which is why Mk6 and Mk7 windows are so much larger than earlier vans'.
We stock a full range of Mk6 and Mk7 Transit windows, including privacy glass and opening units for camper conversions.
Mk7 Ford Transit (2006 – 2014)
Officially a facelift of the Mk6, the 2006 update was so extensive it looked like a new van. Much larger headlamps, a higher nose and a deeper grille transformed the front, while a redesigned cab and new engines gave it something close to car-like refinement. Body panels and glass are largely shared with the Mk6, so for windows the two are usually treated as one model.
Fourth generation Ford Transits (2014 – present)
Mk8 Ford Transit (2014 – present)
The 2014 Transit moved away from the boxy look altogether, with swept-back headlamps, a sloping bonnet and a far more aerodynamic shape. It also split the range: the smaller Transit Custom took over the one-tonne class, while the "Transit" name was reserved for the two-tonne van.
The Mk8 has been updated several times since – a 2019 facelift brought a new grille, EcoBlue diesels and mild-hybrid options, and the all-electric E-Transit went on sale in 2022. Today's Transit is the most efficient, safest and most connected van Ford has ever built, and it's still the UK's best seller.
Which Transit do you have?
If you're still not sure, the easiest clues are the headlamps and the grille:
- Round headlamps, grille sticking out – Mk1 (1965–78)
- Square headlamps, flat front – Mk2 (1978–86)
- Slanted nose, rectangular lamps – Mk3/Mk4/Mk5 (1986–2000)
- Low, wide, car-like, small lamps – Mk6 (2000–06)
- Same shape but big headlamps and deep grille – Mk7 (2006–14)
- Swept-back lamps, sloping bonnet – Mk8 (2014 on)
Your V5C will also show the year of first registration, which you can match against the table above.
Transit windows from Van Glass
Whether you're converting a Mk6 into a camper or replacing a broken side window on a current Mk8, we carry fixed, opening and privacy glass for every modern Transit and Transit Custom, with fitting kits and bonding adhesive to match. Browse our Ford van windows or get in touch if you can't find what you need – order by 5pm for next working day delivery.