Commer Express Delivery van: why so rare?

[Jukebag]

Anyone know why Commer Express Delivery Vans from the 1950s (not the camper vans) seem to have become very rare among the classic vans and cars that are still in relatively good numbers today?. They were similar to a Ford Thames van and somewhat similar to a Morris Minor, but where those two are still knocking about (particularly the Minor), the Commer Express vans have pretty much vanished off the face of the earth.

I don't know how popular or common they were back in the 50s and 60s, but my dad owned two during the 60s and knew one or two other people who owned one.

It's ashame very few of them have survived and haven't been preserved by enthusiasts.

Found this one for sale:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C829591

[TonyRPH]

I had never heard or seen that one before.

When I hear the words 'Commer van' this is the first image that enters my mind.

I seem to recall seeing loads of these around in the late 70's.

[Nigel Worc's]

TonyRPH said:

I had never heard or seen that one before.

When I hear the words 'Commer van' this is the first image that enters my mind.

I seem to recall seeing loads of these around in the late 70's.

We had one of those as a school minibus, bench seats, everything people would have fits about now .

[Riley Blue]

I borrowed one of those once, when I braked sharply the back end left the ground!

[FlaminiaGT]

I went to France in early/mid 70’s all 5 of us made it back, but not the Commer

[lowdrag]

Commer was part of the Rootes combine and for commercial vehicles they used the name Commer. If you look up a Hillman Husky you'll see the estate version of the same thing.

[imagineifyeswill]

Ive been interested in vehicles since I was a child in the sixties and although I have come across these Commers before I really cant remember them being very common even back then.

[Jimmy Recard]

Bloody hell Flaminia, were you all in the van!?

[FlaminiaGT]

Yes all 5 were in the van stopped in traffic when the lorry behind slammed in the back of us on a wet road. I was found on the verge next to the tree concussed, both older brothers manage to walk away from the van, but both parents ended up trapped under the lorry in front. It took 3-4 hours to cut my dad out. All 3 kids were unharmed, dad had shattered leg/knee & broken arm and mum had broken leg and shattered coccyx. All made a full recovery apart from my dad’s knee, which is twice the size of the other 40 years on.

[swooshiain]

FlaminiaGT said:

Yes all 5 were in the van stopped in traffic when the lorry behind slammed in the back of us on a wet road. I was found on the verge next to the tree concussed, both older brothers manage to walk away from the van, but both parents ended up trapped under the lorry in front. It took 3-4 hours to cut my dad out. All 3 kids were unharmed, dad had shattered leg/knee & broken arm and mum had broken leg and shattered coccyx. All made a full recovery apart from my dad’s knee, which is twice the size of the other 40 years on.

That is truly astounding - a day to buy lottery tickets if ever there was one!

[aeropilot]

FlaminiaGT said:

I went to France in early/mid 70’s all 5 of us made it back, but not the Commer

[nicanary]

lowdrag said:

Commer was part of the Rootes combine and for commercial vehicles they used the name Commer. If you look up a Hillman Husky you'll see the estate version of the same thing.

To be pedantic, I think the Commer is based on a Minx chassis. The Husky had a shorter version ofthe chassis and this was used later as the basis for the Alpine.

[hidetheelephants]

lowdrag said:

Commer was part of the Rootes combine and for commercial vehicles they used the name Commer. If you look up a Hillman Husky you'll see the estate version of the same thing.

Wasn't there also a low rent version called the Commer Cob? They're rare because commercial vehicles get dog's abuse and survivors are much rarer than the cars they're based on.

[RDMcG]

RDMcG said:

Yes there was definitely a Commer Cob.

[P5BNij]

There are a couple of Commers rotting away beside the Midland Mainline, one is very close to Knighton Junction just south of Leicester station, tucked into the undergrowth behind a small one man band garage, the other is further south near the sight of East Langton station, not far from Markey Harborough.

[david.h]

When hitch hiking back from Carinthia (S. Austria!) in Summer 1957 I was given a lift in a Commer van. It was based an a Minx Mk 4(or earlier) side valve estate. A real slug when loaded up with a farmer's "stuff". But it was lift!
Highlight of the trip was a lift in an Alfa 1900 from Munich to Heidelberg on the Autobahn. It sat at +/-150kmh all the way...was I impressed!
David

[lowdrag]

Yup, the Cob was based on the later 1960's Minx range, as the frontal styling shows, but the Husky version was from the 1950s.

[Allan L]

nicanary said:

lowdrag said:

Commer was part of the Rootes combine and for commercial vehicles they used the name Commer. If you look up a Hillman Husky you'll see the estate version of the same thing.

To be pedantic, I think the Commer is based on a Minx chassis. The Husky had a shorter version ofthe chassis and this was used later as the basis for the Alpine.

Yes and the Commer referred to still had the sidevalve engine whereas the Husky used the early version of the ohv engine. Both had the normal Rootes Group rubber steering as I recall, but I can't remember if both had the column gearchange but I think they did.

[Old Merc]

Allan L said:

nicanary said:

lowdrag said:

Commer was part of the Rootes combine and for commercial vehicles they used the name Commer. If you look up a Hillman Husky you'll see the estate version of the same thing.

To be pedantic, I think the Commer is based on a Minx chassis. The Husky had a shorter version ofthe chassis and this was used later as the basis for the Alpine.

Yes and the Commer referred to still had the sidevalve engine whereas the Husky used the early version of the ohv engine. Both had the normal Rootes Group rubber steering as I recall, but I can't remember if both had the column gearchange but I think they did.

That brings back memories for me.I started working life as a Rootes Apprentice mechanic.During my time I learned to drive and past my test in a Hillman Husky.

[RDMcG]

Allan L said:

Yes and the Commer referred to still had the sidevalve engine whereas the Husky used the early version of the ohv engine. Both had the normal Rootes Group rubber steering as I recall, but I can't remember if both had the column gearchange but I think they did.

Yes..column gear change in any one I have seen. Strangely, in those days a conventional floor mounted change was often regarded as old fashioned compared to the wonderful column change which left more space in the car. It was of course a fairly vague experience...I drove a few of them in my youngest days..at around 12 or so.My uncle had a Husky in Ireland...I can even recall the number plate ZY 877.