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Commer Walk-Thru

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Commer
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
PredecessorCommercial Cars Limited
Founded1905
FounderH C B Underdown, H G Hutchinson
Defunct1979
FateBrand discontinued after acquisition by Chrysler Europe; factory later operated under Renault Trucks
SuccessorDodge (brand), Renault Trucks (factory)
Headquarters
Luton
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom, international markets
ProductsCommercial vehicles, military vehicles, buses, proprietary diesel engines
ParentRootes Group, later Chrysler Europe, then Peugeot (after 1978)

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

History

Commercial Cars Limited, established in September 1905, owned this enterprise. Founding directors included H C B Underdown, a barrister and director at Direct United States Cable Co, alongside H G Hutchinson from Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation. The firm specialized in producing commercial cars, omnibuses, charabancs, fire engines, and various industrial vehicles. By 1920, it was recognized as the pioneering company dedicated exclusively to internal combustion industrial commercial vehicles. To facilitate mass production, a facility was secured in September 1905 on Biscot Road, Biscot, Luton, where large-scale workshops were finalized by late 1906. Commercial Cars became a member of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in August 1906 and gained prominence under the Commer Car name.

At the 1907 Olympia Commercial Motor Show, Commer presented a motor-bus chassis equipped with a 30–36 hp engine alongside an innovative gearbox devised by works manager Mr Linley. This constant mesh gearbox utilized dog clutches for gear selection, improving reliability. That same year, Commer launched the robust E43 lorry, powered by a four-cylinder 33 hp engine with four forward gears and a side chain drive mechanism. The company's first truck, the 3-ton RC model, commenced production in 1907; this line later evolved into the SC and subsequently the YC series, also referred to as the "Barnet" range. The inaugural complete bus was manufactured in 1909. During World War I, production shifted predominantly to military vehicles for the British Army, resulting in over 3,000 units by 1919.

Although Commer underwent financial restructuring in 1920 due to a £75,000 liability to the Treasury arising from Excess Profits Duty on wartime earnings, it was acquired by Humber in 1926. Humber itself became a majority-owned subsidiary of the Rootes Group by 1931.

Following Rootes Group’s acquisition by Chrysler Europe, the Commer brand was gradually discontinued throughout the 1970s. After Peugeot took over Chrysler Europe in 1978, Commer’s factory operated collaboratively with Renault Trucks, continuing production of Dodge commercial vehicles under Renault branding while engaging in some product development activities. Eventually, Dodge manufacturing was phased out in favor of Renault models, with the facility transitioning to focus on Renault truck and bus engine production during the early 1990s.

A number of Commer vehicles are distinguished by their use of the Rootes TS3 engine—a unique two-stroke diesel three-cylinder horizontally opposed piston design famously nicknamed the "Commer Knocker" due to its distinctive noise. Subsequent Commer models incorporated diesel engines sourced from Perkins, Cummins, and occasionally Mercedes-Benz.

Commer N- and LN-series

Introduced in 1935, the N-series trucks served extensively with British armed forces during World War II but ceased production by 1939 without resumption after the war. Both cab-over-engine and bonneted configurations were available, powered by petrol or diesel engines including six-cylinder petrol units of or , as well as Perkins Leopard diesel engines.

The range comprised heavier-duty N-series models alongside lighter LN variants (classified from N1 to N6 based on payload capacity), plus PN-series buses which typically utilized diesel powertrains. The 4/5 ton PLNF5 model appeared in 1938. While LN variants matched N-series payload capabilities, they featured lower maximum gross weights and were intentionally not designed for overloading—a response to widespread British practices of exceeding legal limits at that time. Additionally, LN models adhered to UK speed restrictions for heavy goods vehicles during the 1930s. After launching the 4/5-ton LN5 model, production of the 5½-ton N5 was initially discontinued but 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 styling inspired by American International trucks. These vehicles accommodated payloads between 1½ and six tons and were equipped with six-cylinder petrol or diesel powerplants. In 1955, the QX-series was introduced, offering capacities from two to five tons.

While the Superpoise achieved moderate market presence, it encountered stiff rivalry from well-established manufacturers such as Leyland and Bedford. Production ceased in 1961.

Prior to Chrysler's acquisition of Commer in 1967, the British Dodge 200 series—successor to the Dodge 100 "Kew" model launched in 1958—featured a cab design crafted by Airflow Streamlines of Northampton, the same design firm responsible for the 1955 Superpoise cab. This resulted in shared cab architecture and interchangeable components. For international markets, the Dodge 200 was branded as Fargo or DeSoto.

In 1963, the Dodge range transitioned into the "Dodge 400 series," adopting the American Dodge D series cab style alongside Perkins and Leyland engines. Although primarily intended for export, this series saw brief sales within the UK before being withdrawn by 1965 due to low demand. Its close resemblance to the American model complicates clear differentiation.

Later, Dodge implemented a similar transatlantic combination with the introduction of the Dodge 50 series in 1979, which merged the Dodge B series van cab with a British medium-duty truck chassis.

Buses

Commer's bus production dates back to deliveries made to Widnes in 1909. Post-World War II offerings included the Commando and Avenger models; notably, from 1954 onward, these featured the TS3 engine. The Commando was also utilized as a Royal Air Force Crew Bus after WWII, equipped with a one-and-a-half length observation deck.

Commer 8 cwt

The Commer 8 cwt was a light commercial vehicle from the 1930s designed to compete within the 8 long cwt (410 kg) van category. It housed a 1185 cc four-cylinder engine producing 33 horsepower at 4100 rpm, supported by a fuel tank capacity of 33 liters and a wheelbase measuring 2340 mm.

Commer Light Pick-up

Manufactured during the 1950s, the Commer Light Pick-Up was derived from the Hillman Minx saloon platform, with versions also marketed under the Hillman badge. Engine displacements progressed from an initial 1184 cc four-cylinder in the Mark III model up to a 1390 cc unit by Mark VIII. Production concluded around 1958. An Australian variant produced circa 1950 included a coupé utility version featuring an additional side window.

Commer Express Delivery Van

Produced throughout the 1950s, the Commer Express Delivery Van competed in the light commercial segment between 8 and 10 cwt vans. Its design was based on the Hillman Minx saloon, evolving alongside that model through versions ranging from Mark III to Mark VIIIB. The 1957 iteration offered a load compartment and approximately a 9 cwt payload capacity, powered by a four-cylinder Hillman engine mated to a four-speed column-shift gearbox. The suspension featured coil-sprung independent front suspension with drum brakes on all wheels, including twin-leading-shoe units at the front.

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

Commer Cob

Introduced at the start of 1956, the Commer Cob was a 7 cwt delivery vehicle derived from the Hillman Husky, which itself originated from the Hillman Minx Mark VIII. While it bore similarities to the Express, the Cob was more compact, featuring a reduced cargo space and a softer, more rounded exterior design. In 1958, refreshed versions of both the Cob and Husky were released, based on the "Audax" Hillman Minx platform.

Commer Imp Van

Debuting in September 1965, the Commer Imp Van was built upon the Hillman Imp saloon chassis. In October 1968, it was rebranded as the Hillman Imp Van, with total production reaching 18,194 units before its discontinuation in July 1970. The final iteration of the Hillman Husky estate car, which appeared in July 1967, was based on this Imp Van and shared body panels forward of the B-pillar.

Commer BF

Produced from 1957 onwards, the Commer BF served as a light to medium-duty van with styling akin 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 underwent local modifications to become pickups and box trucks. The BF offered a respectable payload capacity and relatively robust engines for its time. Although production ceased in 1966 following the launch of the newer Walk-Thru model in 1961, the BF continued as a budget-friendly option until then. Heavier-duty versions of the BF utilized engines shared with the Superpoise truck lineup.

Owing to Commer's association with Karrier, a rebadged BF variant was marketed by Karrier featuring more fuel-efficient powertrains.

Commer Walk-Thru

Launched 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, available with either petrol or diesel engines. Production extended to Spain through Santana Motors starting in 1964. A limited production run took place at Todd Motors in New Zealand during 1970; however, it did not achieve commercial success there. The Walk-Thru underwent modernization and was subsequently sold under the Dodge brand (within Renault/Chrysler ownership) until it was replaced by the 50 Series in the late 1970s.

Commer FC/PA/PB/Spacevan

The Commer FC debuted in 1960 offering various body styles including a van variant. Following updates, it was renamed PB in 1967 and later rebranded as SpaceVan in 1974. These forward-control vans were also sold under Dodge and Fargo badges until these were discontinued in 1976. Their narrow front track resulted from suspension components derived from Humber passenger cars. Engine options ranged from Hillman-based units starting at through , with an additional Perkins diesel available.

After Chrysler UK's financial intervention in 1976, an enhanced Spacevan model appeared in 1977 featuring updated aesthetics and interior refinements while retaining its existing mechanical components. Although considered outdated by its production end in 1983—following Commer's acquisition by Peugeot—the Spacevan remained widely used within the UK, particularly by Post Office Telecommunications, later succeeded by British Telecom. Engine choices included two petrol variants of 1.7 litres (offering either 37 kW low compression or 42 kW high compression) alongside a 31 kW diesel engine; all were mated to a four-speed manual gearbox with no automatic transmission option available.

Military Vehicles

During the Second World War, Commer manufactured a variety of military vehicles, some of which remained operational well into the 1980s. British soldiers, including the noted humorist Frank Muir, were known for jokingly describing breakdowns with the phrase "The Commer has come to a full stop."

Engines

Commer engineered its own series of low-profile diesel engines tailored for heavy-duty commercial trucks and buses, specifically designed for installation beneath the floor.

TS3

The TS3 was an innovative two-stroke diesel engine featuring three cylinders, each containing two pistons that created the combustion chamber between their crowns and the cylinder walls. Developed exclusively for Commer trucks, it produced 105 horsepower and employed rocker arms to transfer motion to a single crankshaft—an unusual configuration among two-stroke engines.

TS4

The TS4 represented a four-cylinder evolution of the TS3. Pre-production units underwent extensive testing, covering 1.2 million miles without faults. Despite this success, production ceased due to strategic realignments following Chrysler’s partnership with Cummins in the UK.

Motorsport

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

Karrier

Commer took over Karrier in 1934, folding it into the Rootes Group. Among Karrier's notable offerings were the Cob tractor and the "mechanical horse," introduced in 1930. The brand also produced municipal vehicles such as refuse trucks, street sweepers, and trolley buses. Several railway companies continued placing repeat orders for the Cob following its acquisition.

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

Today, the Karrier brand name is owned by Peugeot.

Scale Models and Die-Cast Replicas

  • Lesney Products' "Matchbox" Series featured No. 47b (1963–1969), a Commer BF "Ice Cream Canteen" painted in Lyons Maid colors, approximately 00 scale.
  • The same series included No. 62b (1963–1969), representing a Commer BF "TV Service Van" with Rentaset livery, also around 00 scale.
  • Meccano's Dinky Toys produced No. 430 (1954–1964), a Commer Breakdown Vehicle (Superpoise), roughly O scale (1:44).
  • Corgi released various Commer models from 1956 to 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

External Links

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