Commer Imp Van

Commer

Company type	Private
Industry	Commercial vehicles, military vehicles, diesel engines
Founded	September 1905 (1905-09)
Founder	H C B Underdown (director)
Defunct	1979
Fate	Phased out and replaced by Dodge; manufacturing facility later operated jointly with Renault Trucks
Headquarters	Luton , United Kingdom
Products	Vans, light and medium trucks, heavy-duty lorries, buses, diesel engines
Parent	Humber Limited (from 1926), Rootes Group (from 1931), Chrysler Europe (from 1970s)

Commer was a UK-based manufacturer specializing in commercial and military vehicles from 1905 until 1979. Their product lineup included vans derived from passenger cars, light and medium trucks, heavy-duty lorries, and buses. The company also engineered proprietary diesel engines tailored for their heavy commercial vehicles.

History

Commercial Cars Limited, established in September 1905 with directors such as H C B Underdown—a barrister and director at Direct United States Cable Co.—owned this enterprise. The firm concentrated on producing commercial automobiles, omnibuses, charabancs, fire engines, and industrial vehicles. By 1920, it was recognized as the pioneering company focusing exclusively on internal combustion industrial commercial vehicles. To support mass manufacturing, they acquired land on Biscot Road, Luton in September 1905, where comprehensive workshops were completed by late 1906. Commercial Cars joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in August 1906 and became one of the earliest commercial vehicle producers in the UK, gaining recognition for the Commer Car.

At the Commercial Motor Show held at Olympia in March 1907, Commer showcased a motor-bus chassis equipped with a 30–36 horsepower engine alongside a gearbox designed by works manager Mr Linley that utilized dog clutches for smooth gear transitions. Exhibits included a thirty-seat charabanc and various delivery vans.

In September 1907, Commer launched the E43 lorry featuring a constant mesh gearbox and a four-cylinder engine delivering 33 horsepower at 800 rpm. This truck had an unladen weight close to four tons and employed side chain drive. Production commenced that year on their initial 3-ton truck designated as the RC type, which later evolved into the SC and subsequently the YC series—also referred to as the "Barnet" range. Their first fully assembled bus emerged in 1909. During the First World War, production pivoted to military vehicles for the British Army, resulting in over 3,000 units manufactured by 1919.

Although financial restructuring was attempted in 1920 due to a £75,000 Treasury liability stemming from wartime Excess Profits Duty, Commer was acquired by Humber Limited in 1926. Humber itself became predominantly owned by the Rootes Group in 1931.

In the 1970s, following Rootes Group's acquisition by Chrysler Europe, the Commer marque was phased out and replaced by Dodge. After Peugeot purchased Chrysler Europe in 1978, Commer’s manufacturing facility operated jointly with Renault Trucks. The plant continued producing Dodge commercial vehicles under Renault branding while engaging in some product development before discontinuing Dodge production to concentrate on Renault models. By the early 1990s, manufacturing shifted primarily to Renault truck and bus engines.

Many Commer vehicles were powered by the Rootes Commer TS3 engine—a distinctive two-stroke diesel with three horizontally opposed cylinders—familiarly called the "Commer Knocker" due to its unique sound. Later iterations incorporated diesel engines from Perkins, Cummins, and occasionally Mercedes.

Commer N- and LN-series

Introduced in 1935, the N-series trucks served British military needs during World War II. Production ended in 1939 and did not recommence after the war. This series included both cab-over-engine and bonneted configurations powered by petrol or diesel engines; petrol options included six-cylinder units of or , while Perkins Leopard diesels were also available.

The lineup comprised heavier N-series trucks alongside lighter LN-series models (ranging from N1 to N6 based on payload capacity), plus PN-series buses often fitted with diesel engines. Additionally, the PLNF5—a 4/5 ton vehicle—was introduced in 1938. The LN series matched N-series payload capabilities but had lower maximum gross weights to prevent overloading—a frequent problem within British trucking at the time. Designed to adhere to the 1930s heavy lorry speed restriction of 30 mph, the LN5 replaced the earlier 5.5-ton N5; however, market demand prompted a revival of the N5 model in 1938.

Commer Superpoise

Launched in 1939, the Commer Superpoise Q-series offered both semi-forward and full-forward control configurations, featuring an aerodynamic design influenced by American International trucks. These vehicles accommodated payloads ranging from 1.5 to 6 tons and were equipped with six-cylinder engines available in petrol or diesel variants. In 1955, the range expanded with the introduction of the QX-series, catering to 2 to 5-ton capacities.

Although the Superpoise gained moderate market traction, it contended with strong rivals such as Leyland and Bedford, leading to the cessation of its production in 1961.

Prior to Chrysler’s takeover of Commer in 1967, the British Dodge 200 series—introduced in 1958 as the successor to the Dodge 100 "Kew"—featured a cab designed by Airflow Streamlines of Northampton, the same design house responsible for the 1955 Superpoise cabs. This resulted in closely related cab designs and shared components. For international markets, the Dodge 200 was marketed under the Fargo or DeSoto brands.

The Dodge 200 evolved into the "Dodge 400 series" in 1963, adopting the American Dodge D series cab along with Perkins and Leyland engines. Although mainly intended for export, it was briefly sold in the UK before being withdrawn by 1965 due to limited demand. Its resemblance to American counterparts makes distinguishing the models challenging.

This strategy was later revisited with the Dodge 50 series in 1979, which combined an American Dodge B series van cab with a British medium-duty truck chassis.

Buses

Commer’s bus production dates back to 1909 when four vehicles were supplied to Widnes. Post-World War II, they introduced the Commando model, followed by the Avenger on 28 February 1948, which incorporated the TS3 engine starting in 1954. The Commando also served as a Royal Air Force Crew Bus after the war, featuring a one-and-a-half length observation deck.

Commer 8 cwt

During the 1930s, Commer manufactured the 8 cwt light commercial vehicle targeting the 8 long cwt (410 kg) van segment. It housed a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1185 cc that produced 33 hp at 4100 rpm. The vehicle included a fuel tank capacity of 33 liters and rode on a wheelbase measuring 2340 mm.

Commer Light Pick-up

Produced throughout the 1950s and based on the Hillman Minx saloon, the Commer Light Pick-Up came in several versions: Mark III powered by an 1184 cc engine, Mark VI with a 1265 cc unit, and Mark VIII equipped with a 1390 cc engine. Production ceased around 1958. Australian variants from approximately 1950 included a coupé utility model featuring an additional side window.

Commer Express Delivery Van

The Commer Express Delivery Van was a light commercial vehicle from the 1950s designed for the 8–10 cwt van market segment. It was derived from the Hillman Minx saloon and evolved alongside it through models designated Mark III to Mark VIIIB. The version released in 1957 offered a load area and could carry about 9 cwt payload. It was powered by a four-cylinder Hillman engine paired with a four-speed column-shift gearbox. The suspension featured coil-sprung independent front wheels and drum brakes on all wheels, including twin-leading-shoe units at the front.

This model was ultimately succeeded by the Commer FC van series.

Commer Cob

The Commer Cob debuted in early 1956 as a compact 7 cwt delivery van based on the Hillman Husky, itself derived from the Hillman Minx Mark VIII. Sharing similarities with the Express, it was shorter with reduced cargo space and sported a more rounded body style. In 1958, refreshed Cob and Husky versions were introduced based on the "Audax" platform of the Hillman Minx.

Commer Imp Van

Introduced in September 1965, the Commer Imp Van was derived from the Hillman Imp saloon. It was rebranded as the Hillman Imp Van in October 1968, with total production reaching 18,194 units before its discontinuation in July 1970. The last iteration of the Hillman Husky estate car, launched in July 1967, shared the same front body panels up to the B-pillar with the Imp Van.

Commer BF

The Commer BF was a light to medium duty van manufactured from 1957, characterized by a design reminiscent of 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 local coachbuilders converted them into pickups and box trucks. It offered a considerable payload capacity and relatively robust engines for its era. Production ceased in 1966 following the introduction of the newer Walk-Thru model in 1961, with the BF serving as a more affordable option until fully withdrawn. More heavy-duty BF variants utilized engines shared with the Superpoise truck range.

Because of Commer’s connection with Karrier, a rebadged version of the BF was also marketed under the Karrier name, equipped with more fuel-efficient engines.

Commer Walk-Thru

Launched in 1961 to succeed the BF, the Commer Walk-Thru came in -ton, 2-ton, and 3-ton variants available as vans or cab-chassis models, powered by either petrol or diesel engines. Production extended to Spain through Santana Motors starting in 1964. Todd Motors in New Zealand briefly assembled these vans in 1970; however, they did not achieve commercial success there. After undergoing modernization, the Walk-Thru was sold under the Dodge brand during Renault/Chrysler ownership until it was replaced by the 50 Series in the late 1970s.

Commer FC/PA/PB/Spacevan

Debuting in 1960, the Commer FC was offered with various body styles including a van version. Subsequent upgraded models evolved into the PB series in 1967 and later the SpaceVan in 1974. These forward-control vans were also sold under Dodge and Fargo badges until those marques were discontinued in 1976. Their narrow front track was a consequence of suspension components borrowed from Humber passenger cars. The PA series initially featured Hillman-based engines, while later iterations incorporated larger petrol engines and from 1968 onward included Perkins diesel powerplants.

Following Chrysler’s financial rescue of its UK operations in 1976, an enhanced Spacevan appeared in 1977 featuring cosmetic refinements and upgraded interiors. Although considered outdated by production’s end in 1982—after Peugeot acquired Commer—the Spacevan remained widely used across Britain, notably by Post Office Telecommunications, later known as British Telecom. By that time, engine options comprised two 1.7-litre petrol variants (a low compression unit delivering 37 kW and a high compression version producing 42 kW) alongside a 31 kW diesel engine, all mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The final Spacevan rolled off the production line in 1983.

Military vehicles

During World War II, Commer produced a range of military vehicles, some of which remained operational well into the 1980s. British Army personnel, including the humorist Frank Muir, often remarked on the vehicles' reliability issues, famously describing a breakdown with the phrase "The Commer has come to a full stop."

Engines

Commer engineered and built its own diesel engines tailored for heavy-duty commercial trucks and buses. These engines were designed as low-profile units, allowing installation beneath the vehicle’s cab floor.

TS3

The TS3 was an innovative two-stroke diesel engine characterized by three cylinders, each containing paired pistons that created the combustion chamber between themselves and the cylinder walls. Specifically developed for Commer trucks, it produced 105 horsepower and utilized rocker arms to transfer motion to a single crankshaft—a rare configuration among two-stroke engines.

TS4

Derived from the TS3, the TS4 featured four cylinders. Prototype models collectively covered 1.2 million miles without faults during testing phases but were ultimately discontinued due to strategic decisions linked to Chrysler’s partnership with Cummins in the UK.

Motorsport

In the 1950s, the Scottish racing outfit Ecurie Ecosse operated a transporter based on Commer’s double-deck design to support their motorsport activities.

Karrier

Karrier became part of Commer's portfolio following its 1934 acquisition and was integrated into the Rootes Group. Notable products included the Cob tractor and the "mechanical horse," originally launched by Karrier in 1930, alongside various municipal vehicles such as refuse trucks, street sweepers, and trolleybuses. The Cob model was notably supplied to major railway companies with ongoing repeat orders at the time of acquisition.

By the early 1960s, manufacturing was centralized in Dunstable, uniting operations from Commer, Dodge (UK), and Karrier.

Today, the Karrier brand is owned by Peugeot.

Scale models and die-cast

• Lesney Products' "Matchbox" Series; No. 47b (1963–1969), featuring the Commer BF "Ice Cream Canteen" in Lyons Maid colors, approximately 00 scale.
• Lesney "Matchbox" Series; No. 62b (1963–1969), presenting the Commer BF "TV Service Van" with Rentaset livery, roughly 00 scale.
• Meccano Dinky Toys; No. 430 (1954–1964), representing a Commer Breakdown Vehicle (Superpoise), around O scale (1:44).
• Corgi produced multiple Commer replicas between 1956 and 1971, including delivery vans, dropside trucks, and a mobile camera van complete with accessories, all approximately O scale (1:44).
• Oxford Diecast offers several Commer vehicle miniatures in both OO scale and N scale formats.

See also

• Dodge 50 series
• Dodge 500 trucks

External links

• Rootes-Chrysler historical resource
• Location of former Commer factory—currently owned by Renault
• Oxford Diecast - Collection of Commer models