Commer Express Delivery Van

Commer

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Commercial and military vehicle manufacturing
Predecessor	Commercial Cars Limited
Founded	September 1905
Fate	Brand phased out in favor of Dodge branding; operations transitioned to Renault Trucks
Headquarters	Luton , United Kingdom
Products	Vans, light commercial vehicles, medium to heavy-duty trucks, buses, diesel engines
Parent	Rootes Group (from 1931), Chrysler Europe (from 1967)

Commer was a UK-based producer of commercial and military vehicles operating from 1905 until 1979. Its portfolio encompassed car-derived vans, light commercial vehicles, medium to heavy-duty trucks, and buses. Additionally, the company engineered several proprietary diesel engines tailored for heavy-duty applications.

History

The enterprise was established as Commercial Cars Limited in September 1905, with directors such as H C B Underdown—a barrister with diverse industrial interests—among its founders. The firm’s objective was to manufacture commercial automobiles, omnibuses, charabancs, fire engines, and other industrial vehicles. By 1920, it had gained recognition as the pioneering company exclusively focused on internal combustion-powered industrial commercial vehicles. To facilitate mass production, the company secured a site at Biscot Road, Luton, in September 1905, where comprehensive workshops were constructed by late 1906. Commercial Cars joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in August 1906 and ranked among the earliest commercial vehicle producers in Britain.

At the 1907 Olympia Commercial Motor Show, Commer presented a motor-bus chassis equipped with a 30–36 horsepower engine alongside an innovative constant mesh gearbox utilizing dog clutches to enable smoother gear transitions. That same year, their robust E43 lorry competed in the Great Commercial Motor Trials; it featured a four-cylinder 33-horsepower engine, four forward gears, and side chain drive. Production of their inaugural truck model—the 3-ton RC type—commenced in 1907; this design later evolved into the SC and subsequently the YC "Barnet" series. The first fully assembled bus emerged in 1909. During the First World War, manufacturing shifted towards military vehicles for the British Army, resulting in over 3,000 units produced by 1919.

Although restructuring measures were implemented in 1920 to manage financial difficulties—including a £75,000 liability from Excess Profits Duty—the company was acquired by Humber Limited in 1926. Humber itself became a majority-owned subsidiary within the Rootes Group by 1931.

In the decade of the 1970s, following Rootes Group's takeover by Chrysler Europe, the Commer brand was phased out in favor of Dodge branding. After Peugeot acquired Chrysler Europe in 1978, operations at the Commer plant were conducted jointly with Renault Trucks. Production continued under Renault badges for Dodge commercial trucks with minimal product development before fully transitioning to Renault models and concentrating on manufacturing truck and bus engines by the early 1990s.

A number of Commer vans and trucks were powered by the distinctive Rootes Commer TS3 engine—a two-stroke diesel with three cylinders arranged horizontally opposed—familiarly nicknamed the "Commer Knocker" due to its characteristic noise. Subsequent models utilized diesel engines from Perkins, Cummins, and occasionally Mercedes.

Commer N- and LN-series

Introduced in 1935 and deployed by British forces during World War II, the N-series trucks were discontinued in 1939 without resumption after the war. Available in both cab-over-engine and conventional bonneted configurations, these vehicles were powered by petrol or diesel units, including six-cylinder petrol engines of 3181cc or 4086cc capacity and Perkins Leopard diesel engines.

The range included heavier-duty N-series trucks and lighter LN models (designated N1 through N6 based on payload), along with PN-series buses generally equipped with diesel powertrains. The PLNF5 model rated at 4/5 tons was launched in 1938. Although LN trucks matched N-series payload capacities but had lower maximum gross weights—reflecting prevalent British overloading practices—the LN range was designed for compliance with the then-applicable 30 mph speed limit. The LN5 model rated at 4/5 tons was introduced during this period; following its debut, production of the larger 5½-ton N5 model briefly ceased but was reinstated in 1938 due to market demand.

Commer Superpoise

Launched in 1939, the Commer Superpoise (Q-series) presented trucks with semi-forward and full-forward control configurations, showcasing aerodynamic designs influenced by American International models. These vehicles offered payload capacities ranging from 1½ to six tons and were equipped with six-cylinder petrol or diesel powerplants. In 1955, an updated QX-series was introduced, featuring models capable of carrying between two and five tons.

While the Superpoise achieved moderate market acceptance, it faced stiff rivalry from well-established manufacturers such as Leyland and Bedford. Production of this line ceased in 1961.

Prior to Chrysler’s acquisition of Commer in 1967, the British Dodge 200 series—successor to the Dodge 100 "Kew"—was launched in 1958. Its cab design, created by Airflow Streamlines of Northampton (the same company responsible for the 1955 Superpoise cab), resulted in similar styling and shared components. For overseas markets, this model was marketed under the Fargo or DeSoto brands.

The Dodge 200 series remained in production until 1963 before transitioning into the Dodge 400 series, which incorporated the American Dodge D series cab along with new Perkins and Leyland engines. Although primarily intended for export sales, it was also available in the UK; however, it struggled to gain domestic traction and UK production ended by 1965. Given its strong resemblance to the American counterpart, distinguishing between the two can be challenging.

This strategy was replicated later with the Dodge 50 series introduced in 1979, which combined the American Dodge B series van cab with a British-designed chassis for medium-duty trucks.

Buses

Commer’s bus manufacturing dates back to 1909 when it delivered four vehicles to Widnes. Following World War II, models such as the Commando and Avenger—introduced on 28 February 1948—featured the TS3 engine starting from 1954. The Commando notably served as a Royal Air Force Crew Bus equipped with a one-and-a-half length observation deck after the war.

Commer 8 cwt

During the 1930s, the Commer 8 cwt competed within the light commercial vehicle segment targeting payloads of approximately 8 long cwt (410 kg). It was powered by a four-cylinder engine displacing 1185 cc that delivered 33 hp at 4100 rpm. The vehicle had a fuel capacity of 33 liters and rode on a wheelbase measuring 2340 mm.

Commer Light Pick-up

Manufactured throughout the 1950s, the Commer Light Pick-Up was derived from the Hillman Minx saloon, with a similarly styled version also available under the Hillman badge. Engine options evolved over time, beginning with an 1184 cc four-cylinder unit in the Mark III and progressing to a larger 1390 cc engine by the Mark VIII iteration. Production concluded around 1958. Around 1950, Australian production included a coupé utility variant featuring an additional side window.

Commer Express Delivery Van

The Commer Express Delivery Van was a light commercial vehicle produced during the 1950s that competed within the 8–10 cwt van category. It shared its platform with the Hillman Minx saloon and evolved concurrently through versions from Mark III to Mark VIIIB. The 1957 model offered a cargo area with a payload capacity close to 9 cwt, powered by a four-cylinder Hillman engine paired with a four-speed column-shift gearbox. Suspension consisted of coil-sprung independent front wheels, while braking employed drum brakes on all wheels—with twin-leading-shoe units on the front axle.

The Express Delivery Van was eventually replaced by the Commer FC range of vans.

Commer Cob

The Commer Cob, introduced in early 1956, was a 7 cwt delivery vehicle derived from the Hillman Husky, which itself originated from the Hillman Minx Mark VIII. It shared similarities with the Express model but featured a more compact size, reduced cargo space, and a softer, rounded aesthetic. In 1958, both the Cob and Husky were refreshed with new versions based on the "Audax" iteration of the Hillman Minx.

Commer Imp Van

Debuting in September 1965, the Commer Imp Van was constructed on the platform of the Hillman Imp saloon. By October 1968, it was rebranded as the Hillman Imp Van. Production totaled 18,194 units before ceasing in July 1970. The final model of the Hillman Husky estate car, launched in July 1967, was based on this Imp Van chassis and shared body panels up to the B-pillar.

Commer BF

Manufactured starting in 1957, the Commer BF was a light to medium-duty van that bore resemblance to contemporary step-vans. Numerous units were custom-built as ice cream vans and ambulances. Various chassis cab configurations were exported to regions such as Hong Kong, where they were adapted into pickup trucks and box vans. The BF offered a substantial payload capacity and relatively robust engines for its time. Production ceased in 1966 following the introduction of the Commer Walk-Thru in 1961, with the BF positioned as a more affordable option. The heavier-duty variants of the BF shared powertrains with the Superpoise truck range.

Owing to Commer's affiliation with Karrier, a rebadged version of the BF was marketed by Karrier featuring more fuel-efficient engines.

Commer Walk-Thru

The Walk-Thru model was launched in 1961 as a successor to the BF lineup, available in , 2-ton, and 3-ton van and chassis-cab formats powered by either diesel or petrol engines. From 1964 onward, production also took place in Spain through Santana Motors. A limited batch was produced by Todd Motors in New Zealand during 1970; however, it did not achieve commercial success there. Later updates saw the Walk-Thru sold under the Dodge brand (part of Renault/Chrysler) until it was eventually replaced by the Dodge 50 Series during the late 1970s.

Commer FC/PA/PB/Spacevan

The Commer FC was introduced in 1960 offering various body configurations, including a van variant. It underwent an upgrade and was renamed PB in 1967 before adopting the SpaceVan nameplate in 1974. These forward-control vans were also marketed under Dodge and Fargo badges until these brands were discontinued in 1976. Their narrow front track derived from Humber car suspension components influenced their handling characteristics. Engine options progressed from Hillman-based units of to , eventually expanding to include Perkins diesel variants.

After Chrysler UK's financial rescue in 1976, enhancements were made to address previous criticisms regarding power output and comfort while maintaining well-regarded braking and handling qualities. The refreshed model introduced in 1977 featured both exterior styling tweaks and interior improvements. Although production concluded in 1982—by which time Peugeot had acquired Commer—the Spacevan remained prevalent within UK commercial fleets, especially among Post Office Telecommunications, later succeeded by British Telecom. Engine choices at that stage included two petrol units of 1.7 litres (offering either 37 kW low compression or 42 kW high compression) alongside a 31 kW diesel engine, all mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The final Spacevan rolled off production lines in 1983.

Military vehicles

During the Second World War, Commer developed a variety of military vehicles, some of which remained operational well into the 1980s. British Army servicemen, including the noted humorist Frank Muir, often remarked on their mechanical reliability issues, coining the phrase "The Commer has come to a full stop" to describe breakdowns.

Engines

Commer designed and manufactured its own diesel engines tailored for heavy-duty commercial trucks and buses. These engines featured a compact profile, optimized for installation beneath vehicle floors within the cab area.

TS3

The TS3 was an innovative two-stroke diesel engine with three cylinders, each housing two pistons that together formed the combustion chamber. Created specifically for Commer trucks, it produced 105 horsepower and utilized rocker arms to transmit motion to a single crankshaft—a distinctive configuration in diesel engine design.

TS4

An evolution of the TS3, the TS4 featured four cylinders. Prototype versions underwent extensive testing, covering 1.2 million miles to validate their robustness. Despite this, production was halted due to strategic decisions following Chrysler's collaboration with Cummins in the UK.

Motorsport

In the 1950s, the Scottish racing outfit Ecurie Ecosse employed a double-deck transporter based on a Commer chassis to support their racing activities.

Karrier

Commer took ownership of Karrier in 1934, bringing it under the Rootes Group umbrella. Notable products included the Cob tractor and the "mechanical horse," initially launched by Karrier in 1930, along with municipal vehicles such as refuse trucks, street sweepers, and trolleybuses. The Cob enjoyed continued demand from major railway companies at the time of acquisition.

By the early 1960s, manufacturing operations for Commer, Dodge (UK), and Karrier were centralized at Dunstable.

Currently, the Karrier brand is held by Peugeot.

Scale models and die-cast

• Lesney Products' "Matchbox" Series No. 47b (1963–1969): Commer BF "Ice Cream Canteen" in Lyons Maid colors, approximately 00 scale.
• Lesney Products' "Matchbox" Series No. 62b (1963–1969): Commer BF "TV Service Van" featuring Rentaset livery, roughly 00 scale.
• Meccano Dinky Toys No. 430 (1954–1964): Commer Breakdown Vehicle (Superpoise), around O scale (1:44).
• Various Commer-based models from Corgi (1956–1971), including delivery vans, dropside lorries, and a mobile camera van with accessories, all approximately O scale (1:44).
• Oxford Diecast produces multiple Commer vehicle replicas in both OO scale and N scale.

See also

• Dodge 50 series
• Dodge 500 trucks

External links

• Rootes-Chrysler information site
• Location of former Commer factory – now owned by Renault
• Oxford Diecast – collection of Commer models