Commer Light Pick-up

Commer

Company type	Private
Industry	Commercial and military vehicles manufacturing
Founded	September 1905 (1905-09)
Founder	H C B Underdown, H G Hutchinson, and other directors
Defunct	1979 (1979)
Fate	Brand gradually disappeared after acquisition by Rootes Group and Chrysler Europe; plant converted to Renault truck and bus engine production
Headquarters	Luton , United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, export markets
Products	Commercial vehicles, military vehicles, diesel engines, buses, vans, trucks

Commer was a UK-based manufacturer specializing in commercial and military vehicles from 1905 until 1979. Its portfolio encompassed car-derived vans, light commercial vehicles, medium to heavy-duty trucks, and buses. The company also engineered its own diesel engines tailored for its larger vehicles.

History

Operating as Commercial Cars Limited, the company was established in September 1905 by a group of directors including barrister H C B Underdown and H G Hutchinson, with the aim of producing commercial automobiles, omnibuses, charabancs, fire engines, and industrial transport solutions. By 1920, it was acknowledged as the pioneering firm dedicated to internal combustion industrial commercial vehicles. To expand manufacturing capabilities, a facility was secured in September 1905 on Biscot Road, Luton, where comprehensive workshops were finalized by late 1906. Commercial Cars became a member of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in August 1906 and gained recognition for the Commer Car.

At the 1907 Olympia Commercial Motor Show, Commer presented a motor-bus chassis equipped with a 30–36 horsepower engine and a novel gearbox featuring dog clutches designed for constant mesh operation. That same year, the "large and powerful" E43 lorry entered the Great Commercial Motor Trials, powered by a four-cylinder 33 hp engine and offering four forward gears.

The initial Commer truck—the 3-ton RC model—entered production in 1907; this design later evolved into the SC and subsequently the YC "Barnet" series. The company produced its first complete bus in 1909. During the First World War, production shifted towards military vehicles for the British Army, with over 3,000 units manufactured by 1919.

In 1920, despite reorganization efforts aimed at addressing wartime excess profits duty liabilities totaling £75,000, Commer was acquired by Humber Limited in 1926. Humber itself became a majority-owned subsidiary of Rootes Group in 1931.

The Commer marque gradually disappeared throughout the 1970s following Rootes' acquisition by Chrysler Europe. After Peugeot took over Chrysler Europe in 1978, the Luton plant operated in collaboration with Renault Trucks. It continued manufacturing Dodge commercial vehicles branded with Renault badges for a period before fully converting to produce Renault truck and bus engines by the early 1990s.

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

Commer N- and LN-series

Introduced in 1935, the N-series trucks served British military forces during World War II. Production stopped in 1939 and was not resumed after the war. The range included both cab-over-engine and bonneted configurations with petrol or diesel powertrains. Petrol variants offered six-cylinder engines displacing or , alongside Perkins Leopard diesel options.

The product line consisted of the N-series alongside the lighter LN models (N1 through N6 denoting tonnage capacity), as well as PN-series buses generally fitted with diesel engines. The PLNF5 model rated at 4/5 tons was launched in 1938. While LN trucks matched N-series payload capacities, they featured lower gross vehicle weight ratings to discourage overloading practices common among British hauliers at the time. Designed to comply with the 1930s speed limit of 30 mph for heavy goods vehicles, the LN range included the 4/5-ton LN5 model which led to discontinuation of the heavier 5½-ton N5; however, strong market demand prompted its reintroduction in 1938.

Commer Superpoise

First appearing in 1939, the Commer Superpoise (Q-series) was available in semi-forward and full-forward control configurations, featuring a sleek front design influenced by the American International style. These trucks offered payload capacities ranging from 1½ to six tons and were equipped with six-cylinder petrol or diesel powertrains. In 1955, a new iteration called the QX-series Superpoise was introduced, providing load capacities between two and five tons.

Although the Superpoise enjoyed moderate market acceptance, it encountered stiff competition from well-established manufacturers such as Leyland and Bedford. Production of the Superpoise ceased in 1961.

Chrysler’s acquisition of Commer occurred in 1967; however, the British Dodge 200 series—successor to the Dodge 100 "Kew" trucks—had already been launched in 1958. This model featured cabs designed by Airflow Streamlines of Northampton, the same company responsible for the 1955 Superpoise cab design. Consequently, these cabs were nearly identical and shared interchangeable components. For overseas markets, the Dodge 200 was sold under the Fargo or DeSoto names.

In 1963, the Dodge 200 series transitioned into the "Dodge 400 series," adopting the American Dodge D series cab alongside new Perkins and Leyland engines. Primarily intended for export, this model achieved limited success within the UK and ended domestic production by 1965. Its resemblance to American trucks often complicates distinguishing between them.

Later on, Dodge implemented a similar concept with the Dodge 50 series introduced in 1979, combining an American Dodge B series van cab with a British medium-duty truck chassis.

Buses

Commer’s involvement in bus manufacturing dates back to 1909 when it supplied four vehicles to Widnes. Post-World War II offerings included the Commando and Avenger models, with the latter launched on 28 February 1948 and equipped with the TS3 engine starting in 1954. The Commando served as a Crew Bus for the Royal Air Force, featuring a one-and-a-half-length observation deck.

Commer 8 cwt

During the 1930s, the Commer 8 cwt competed within the light commercial vehicle category targeting vans with an 8 long cwt (410 kg) payload. It housed a four-cylinder engine displacing 1185 cc that produced 33 hp at 4100 rpm. The van had a fuel capacity of 33 liters and 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 platform, with parallel Hillman-branded variants also available. Engine displacement increased over time from an initial 1184 cc (Mark III) to a larger 1390 cc (Mark VIII). Production concluded around 1958. In Australia, versions included a coupé utility featuring an additional side window circa 1950.

Commer Express Delivery Van

Produced during the 1950s, the Commer Express Delivery Van competed within the light commercial segment covering payloads from eight to ten cwt. It was based on the Hillman Minx saloon and developed alongside its successive models from Mark III through Mark VIIIB. The 1957 edition provided a cargo area of approximately , supporting a payload close to nine cwt. Power came from a four-cylinder Hillman engine coupled with a four-speed column-shift gearbox. Suspension utilized coil-sprung independent front suspension while braking employed drum brakes on all wheels, with twin-leading-shoe drums at the front.

This vehicle was eventually replaced by the Commer FC van range.

Commer Cob

Introduced in early 1956, the Commer Cob was a seven cwt delivery van based on the Hillman Husky, itself a derivative of the Hillman Minx Mark VIII. Compared to the Express model, it featured reduced length, smaller cargo space, and a more rounded exterior design. In 1958, refreshed Cob and Husky variants were launched using the "Audax" Hillman Minx platform as their foundation.

Commer Imp Van

Launched in September 1965, the Commer Imp Van derived its design from the Hillman Imp saloon. It was renamed the Hillman Imp Van in October 1968, with overall production totaling 18,194 units before ceasing in July 1970. The final iteration of the Hillman Husky estate, introduced in July 1967, shared the same front body panels up to the B-pillar as the Imp Van.

Commer BF

The Commer BF, produced from 1957, was a light to medium-duty van resembling contemporary step-vans in style. Numerous units were custom-built as ice cream vans and ambulances. Various chassis cab models were exported to regions such as Hong Kong, where local modifications transformed them into pickup and box trucks. It offered a notable payload capacity and relatively robust engines for its era. Production concluded in 1966 following the 1961 introduction of the newer Walk-Thru, with the BF remaining a cost-effective option until fully discontinued. The heavier BF variants utilized engines shared with the Superpoise truck range.

Because of Commer’s association with Karrier, a rebadged BF model was marketed by Karrier featuring more fuel-efficient engines.

Commer Walk-Thru

The Commer Walk-Thru debuted in 1961 as a successor to the BF, available in -ton, 2-ton, and 3-ton van and cab-chassis configurations powered by petrol or diesel engines. From 1964, production extended to Spain through Santana Motors. Todd Motors in New Zealand manufactured a limited series in 1970; however, it did not achieve commercial success there. The Walk-Thru underwent modernization and was later sold under the Dodge brand (Renault/Chrysler) until it was replaced by the Dodge 50 Series during the late 1970s.

Commer FC/PA/PB/Spacevan

Introduced in 1960, the Commer FC came in various body formats, including a van version. Following several updates, it was rebranded as PB in 1967 and later as the SpaceVan in 1974. Also marketed under Dodge and Fargo badges until those brands were discontinued in 1976, these forward-control vans utilized narrow front tracks derived from suspension components adapted from Humber passenger cars. Engine options progressed from the Hillman-based 4-cylinder units in the PA series to larger displacement engines in subsequent models; all featured cast-iron cylinder heads. A Perkins 4108 diesel engine was also offered.

After Chrysler UK received government financial support in 1976, an enhanced SpaceVan model was launched in 1977 featuring updated styling and interior refinements while retaining its mechanical layout. Although production ended in 1982—by then under Peugeot ownership—the SpaceVan remained widely used across the UK, largely due to extensive deployment by Post Office Telecommunications, which continued placing orders until British Telecom assumed control in October 1981. At that point, engine choices included two petrol variants of 1.7 litres (a low compression unit producing 37 kW and a high compression version delivering 42 kW) alongside a small diesel rated at 31 kW; all were coupled with four-speed manual gearboxes. The final SpaceVan rolled off production lines in 1983.

Military vehicles

Commer manufactured military vehicles throughout the Second World War, with certain models remaining operational well into the 1980s. British Army personnel, including the noted humorist Frank Muir, praised their dependability, famously describing any malfunction as "The Commer has come to a full stop."

Engines

For its heavy-duty commercial trucks and buses, Commer engineered and produced its own diesel engines. These compact power units were specifically designed for installation beneath vehicle floors within the cab.

TS3

The TS3 was an innovative two-stroke diesel engine with three cylinders, each containing paired pistons that created the combustion chamber between them and the cylinder walls. Developed exclusively for Commer trucks, it generated 105 horsepower and utilized rocker arms to transmit power to a single crankshaft—a design that was quite rare during that era.

TS4

Building on the TS3, the TS4 featured four cylinders. Its pre-production models accumulated a total of 1.2 million miles without failure before being discontinued to prevent competition with Chrysler’s partnership with Cummins in the UK.

Motorsport

During the 1950s, the Scottish racing outfit Ecurie Ecosse operated a Commer-based double-decker car transporter.

Karrier

In 1934, Commer acquired Karrier, incorporating it into the Rootes Group. Notable products from Karrier included the Cob tractor and the "mechanical horse," introduced in 1930, as well as municipal vehicles such as refuse collectors, street sweepers, and trolley buses. The Cob was supplied extensively to major railway companies and maintained ongoing orders at the time of acquisition.

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

Today, Peugeot holds ownership of the Karrier brand.

Scale models and die-cast

• Lesney Products' "Matchbox" Series featured No. 47b (1963–1969), a Commer BF "Ice Cream Canteen" in Lyons Maid colors, roughly 00 scale.
• Lesney's "Matchbox" No. 62b (1963–1969) represented a Commer BF "TV Service Van" with Rentaset livery, approximately 00 scale.
• Meccano Dinky Toys produced No. 430 (1954–64), a Commer Breakdown Vehicle (Superpoise), around O scale (1:44).
• Corgi manufactured various Commer replicas from 1956 to 1971, including delivery vans, dropside trucks, and a mobile camera van at about O scale (1:44).
• Oxford Diecast offers multiple Commer vehicle models in both OO scale and N scale.

See also

• Dodge 50 series
• Dodge 500 trucks

External links

• Rootes-Chrysler information portal
• Site of former Commer factory, now owned by Renault
• Oxford Diecast – Collection of Commer models