Commer Superpoise

Commer

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automotive
Founded	September 1905 (1905-09)
Founder	H C B Underdown (board member)
Defunct	1979
Fate	Brand phased out and replaced with Dodge after Chrysler Europe takeover; later operations absorbed by Peugeot and Renault Trucks
Headquarters	Luton , United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, export markets
Products	Commercial vehicles, military vehicles, buses, proprietary diesel engines
Parent	Humber Limited (1926–1931), Rootes Group (1931–1967), Chrysler Europe (1967–1978), Peugeot (post-1978)

Commer was a British company producing commercial and military vehicles from 1905 until 1979. Its lineup featured car-based vans, light commercial vehicles, medium to heavy-duty trucks, and buses. Additionally, the firm engineered some proprietary diesel engine designs tailored for heavy-duty commercial applications.

History

The enterprise operated under the name Commercial Cars Limited, established in September 1905 by a board that included H C B Underdown, with the objective of manufacturing commercial automobiles, omnibuses, charabancs, fire engines, and industrial machinery. To support mass production, a facility was secured in 1905 on Biscot Road, Luton, where comprehensive workshops were finalized by late 1906. Commercial Cars joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in August 1906 and became one of the earliest commercial vehicle makers in the UK, focusing on the Commer Car model.

At the 1907 Olympia Commercial Motor Show, Commer showcased a motor-bus chassis equipped with a 30–36 horsepower engine and an advanced constant mesh gearbox utilizing dog clutches. That same year marked the debut of their first truck, the 3-ton RC model, which was subsequently updated into the SC and YC series (also referred to as "Barnet" trucks). The company's inaugural complete bus was produced in 1909. During the First World War, Commer redirected manufacturing efforts toward military vehicles, producing over 3,000 units by 1919.

Although financial restructuring was attempted in 1920 due to a £75,000 liability from Excess Profits Duty related to wartime earnings, Commer was acquired by Humber Limited in 1926. Humber itself became a 60-percent-owned subsidiary of the Rootes Group in 1931.

In the 1970s, after Rootes was taken over by Chrysler Europe, the Commer brand was phased out and replaced with Dodge. Following Peugeot's acquisition of Chrysler Europe in 1978, operations at the factory were shared with Renault Trucks. The plant continued producing limited Dodge trucks under Renault branding before fully transitioning to Renault models and concentrating on manufacturing truck and bus engines by the early 1990s.

A number of Commer vehicles featured the Rootes TS3 engine—a distinctive two-stroke diesel three-cylinder horizontally opposed piston design nicknamed the "Commer Knocker" due to its unique sound. Later vehicles incorporated diesel powerplants from Perkins Engines, Cummins, and occasionally Mercedes-Benz.

Commer N- and LN-series

Launched in 1935, the N-series trucks saw service with British forces during World War II. Production ceased in 1939 and did not restart after the war. Both cab-over-engine and bonneted configurations were offered, powered by petrol or diesel engines including six-cylinder petrol units of or , as well as Perkins Leopard diesel engines.

The series comprised heavier N models (N1 through N6) alongside lighter LN variants designed to comply with legal weight limits and speed restrictions imposed on UK roads during the 1930s. The LN trucks were not engineered for overloading, consistent with industry norms at that time. Introduced in 1938, the 4/5-ton LN5 briefly replaced the 5½-ton N5 model, which was later reinstated due to customer demand.

Commer Superpoise

Introduced in 1939, the Commer Superpoise (Q-series) offered both semi-forward and full-forward control configurations, featuring a contemporary American-influenced front design. These trucks accommodated payloads ranging from 1½ to six tons and were equipped with six-cylinder petrol or diesel powerplants. In 1955, an updated QX-series covering 2 to 5 tons was launched.

Although the Superpoise achieved moderate success, it faced stiff competition from well-established brands such as Leyland and Bedford, which limited its market impact. Production of the Superpoise ended in 1961.

Following Chrysler's acquisition of Commer in 1967, the earlier British Dodge 200 series trucks (originating in 1958) shared cab designs with the Superpoise, both crafted by Airflow Streamlines of Northampton. These Dodge 200 models were sold internationally under the Fargo or DeSoto names.

By 1963, the Dodge range evolved into the "400 series," adopting American Dodge D series cabs along with Perkins and Leyland engines. Designed mainly for export markets, UK production ceased by 1965 after limited commercial success. The strong resemblance between the Dodge 400 and its American counterpart made distinguishing them challenging.

This strategy of merging American cab designs with European chassis was later applied in the Dodge 50 series (1979), which combined the Dodge B series van cab with a British medium-duty truck chassis.

Buses

Commer's bus manufacturing dates back to delivering four units to Widnes in 1909. Post-World War II models included the Commando and Avenger, introduced on 28 February 1948. From 1954 onward, the Avenger was equipped with the TS3 engine. The Commando also served as a Royal Air Force Crew Bus after WWII, featuring a one-and-a-half length observation deck.

Commer 8 cwt

The Commer 8 cwt was a light commercial vehicle designed during the 1930s to serve the 8 long cwt (410 kg) van segment. It housed a four-cylinder 1185 cc engine that produced 33 horsepower at 4100 rpm, had a fuel tank 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 versions also offered under Hillman badging. Engine sizes progressed from an initial 1184 cc four-cylinder in the Mark III to a larger 1390 cc unit by the Mark VIII iteration. Production concluded around 1958. In Australia circa 1950, a coupé utility variant was produced featuring an additional side window.

Commer Express Delivery Van

The Commer Express Delivery Van competed in the light commercial sector during the 1950s within the 8–10 cwt van category. Its design was based on the Hillman Minx saloon and evolved alongside it through versions ranging from Mark III to Mark VIIIB. The model released in 1957 offered a load compartment and carried approximately a 9 cwt payload, powered by a four-cylinder Hillman engine coupled with a four-speed column-mounted gearbox. Suspension included coil-sprung independent front setup and drum brakes on all wheels, with twin-leading-shoe brakes at the front.

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

Commer Cob

Launched in early 1956, the Commer Cob was a compact 7 cwt delivery van based on the Hillman Husky, itself derived from the Hillman Minx Mark VIII. It resembled the Express but was shorter, had a smaller payload capacity, and featured a more rounded body style. The Cob received an update in 1958 alongside Husky models, adopting the "Audax" Hillman Minx chassis platform.

Commer Imp Van

Introduced in September 1965, the Commer Imp Van was derived from the Hillman Imp saloon model. In October 1968, it was rebranded as the Hillman Imp Van, with a total production count of 18,194 units before production ceased in July 1970. The final iteration of the Hillman Husky estate, launched in July 1967, shared its body panels ahead of the B-pillar with the Imp Van.

Commer BF

The Commer BF, produced from 1957 onwards, 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. Several chassis cab variants were exported to regions such as Hong Kong, where they were modified locally into pickup trucks and box vans. It offered a substantial payload capacity and relatively robust engines for its era. Production concluded in 1966 following the launch of the newer Walk-Thru model in 1961, with the BF positioned as a more affordable choice. Heavier-duty BF versions utilized engines shared with the Superpoise truck range.

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

Commer Walk-Thru

Released in 1961 as a successor to the BF, the Commer Walk-Thru was offered in -ton, 2-ton, and 3-ton configurations across van and cab-chassis formats, equipped with either diesel or petrol powertrains. Production also took place in Spain under Santana Motors starting from 1964. Todd Motors in New Zealand manufactured a small batch in 1970; however, it did not achieve commercial success there. The Walk-Thru underwent modernization and was subsequently sold under the Dodge brand (owned by Renault/Chrysler) until it was replaced by the Dodge 50 Series during the late 1970s.

Commer FC/PA/PB/Spacevan

Debuting in 1960, the Commer FC came in various body styles including a van version. After undergoing updates, it was renamed PB in 1967 and later marketed as the SpaceVan from 1974 onwards. These forward-control vans were also sold under Dodge and Fargo badges until those names were discontinued in 1976. They featured narrow front tracks derived from their Humber car-based suspension systems. Initially powered by Hillman-based engines (PA series), later models employed and from 1968 onward utilized powerplants—all equipped with cast-iron cylinder heads. A Perkins 4108 diesel engine option was also available.

Following Chrysler UK’s government bailout in 1976, an enhanced Spacevan was introduced in 1977 featuring cosmetic updates and improved interior appointments. Although considered outdated by its production end in 1982—by which time ownership had transferred to Peugeot—the Spacevan remained widely used within the UK, notably by Post Office Telecommunications, later taken over by British Telecom. Engine choices at that stage included two versions of a 1.7-litre petrol engine (a low compression variant producing 37 kW and a high compression variant delivering 42 kW) alongside a small diesel unit rated at 31 kW; all were mated to four-speed manual gearboxes. The final Spacevan rolled off production lines in 1983.

Military vehicles

During World War II, Commer manufactured military vehicles that continued to see service well into the 1980s. British humorist Frank Muir famously described a breakdown by stating "The Commer has come to a full stop," underscoring its notable presence within military operations.

Engines

Commer engineered its own range of diesel engines tailored for heavy-duty commercial vehicles and buses, characterized by their compact, low-profile design suitable for installation beneath the cab.

TS3

The TS3 was an innovative two-stroke diesel engine featuring three cylinders, each containing paired pistons that created the combustion chamber between the piston crowns and cylinder walls. Specifically designed for Commer trucks, it produced 105 horsepower and employed rocker arms to transfer power to a single crankshaft—a distinctive configuration rarely seen in two-stroke engines.

TS4

Evolving from the TS3, the TS4 was a four-cylinder variant. Pre-production models collectively accumulated 1.2 million miles of trouble-free operation before discontinuation occurred due to Chrysler’s strategic focus on its joint venture with Cummins in the United Kingdom.

Motorsport

During the 1950s, the Scottish racing outfit Ecurie Ecosse utilized a Commer-based double-decker transporter for their team logistics.

Karrier

Karrier became part of Commer's portfolio in 1934 and subsequently integrated into the Rootes Group. Notable products included the Cob tractor and the "mechanical horse," which Karrier introduced in 1930. The brand also specialized in municipal vehicles such as refuse collectors, street sweepers, and trolley buses. At the time of acquisition, orders for the Cob continued from major railway companies.

In the early 1960s, manufacturing operations were centralized at Dunstable, merging Commer, Dodge (UK), and Karrier production facilities.

The Karrier brand is currently owned 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).
• Corgi produced a variety of Commer-based models between 1956 and 1971, including delivery vans, dropside lorries, and a mobile camera van complete with accessories, all approximately O scale (1:44).
• Oxford Diecast offers multiple Commer vehicle replicas in both OO scale and N scale.

See also

• Dodge 50 series
• Dodge 500 trucks

External links

• Rootes-Chrysler history resource
• Location of former Commer factory now owned by Renault
• Oxford Diecast – Commer model collection