Moving a 1972 Transit Camper

[matt21]

For some reason (don't ask) I have purchased a 1972 Ford transit mk1 camper. The high roof variety. Picture below.

The camper sits 150 miles away and has no Mot although failed on something fairly trivial.

Few questions.

What is the rules on driving a car with no mot?
Does anyone know weight and dimensions? - can't find it anywhere. I have a trailer and a Sprinter to tow, but unsure of legality.
Any recommendations for 7.5 ton recovery truck company and approx price?

Thanks!

Matt

[StuntmanMike]

Looks lovely, is it a diesel or a V6, the longer nose.
What did it fail its MOT on?

[egor110]

Love it, what did you go to the auction planning to buy?

[16v stretch]

Looks nice!

Cant help you on whether your sprinter can tow it, but there's loads on info out there for you to figure that out.

Recovery would normally be £30 -50 callout and £1.50 +vat per mile each way. Sometimes it's worth asking at the auction place about any recovery companies who drop things off and calling whoever is nearest to you. You might get lucky with a cheaper quote as it benefits them more than coming back empty. Failing that, post up on shiply or similar for a quote.

[matt21]

It's a 2.3 diesel. I gather a v6 is a typical conversion!

It is very original. Very brown in the back. Very period indeed.

Went to the auction to look at a couple of Jag's came away with nothing, but been in touch with their fella for a couple of weeks and struck a deal.

It failed mot on brakes catching.

I have googled details on this model, but not found any weight or dimension details. The camper says the weight is 30 hundred weight, which is bout 1500kg. I assume this is chassis only.

[StuntmanMike]

I ask about the engine because they were fitted with a V4, but if they had the longer nose it meant they were Diesel or a V6, the Diesel eventually evolved into the York engine ( IIRC).

[StuntmanMike]

matt21 said:

It's a 2.3 diesel. I gather a v6 is a typical conversion!

It is very original. Very brown in the back. Very period indeed.

Went to the auction to look at a couple of Jag's came away with nothing, but been in touch with their fella for a couple of weeks and struck a deal.

It failed mot on brakes catching.

I have googled details on this model, but not found any weight or dimension details. The camper says the weight is 30 hundred weight, which is bout 1500kg. I assume this is chassis only.

Is it a single or double wheel at the back?

[RobinBanks]

Can't you just book it in for an MOT where you live and then drive it back and if you're stopped and asked, you just tell them that it's booked in for an MOT? Take paper proof if necessary.

That's assuming that the failure is not something which would make it irresponsibly unsafe....

[Hasbeen]

I had one of those, that we built with a body to carry 4 horses, although we never put more than 3 in it.

In Oz they had the straight 6 Ford Falcon motor 3.9L, with heaps of torque. With it's original gearing it would climb the side of a house, but cruised at no more than 50 MPH.

With a Zephyr diff centre fitted it was a great little truck, & ran for many years with minimum attention.

[matt21]

I think it is about 2.3 ton. Sound about right?

I could book in for an Mot but don't know where I stand if something goes wrong. The chance of break down is relatively high, and have visions of M1 contra flow chaos. The police would realise I was taking the piss.

[Who me ?]

In van format, the early Transit ( as were most other vans of this size ) were classed as 15cwt. I'd suggest that this was carrying capacity. However, a Google brings up this site ,and this reference to camper versions of the Transit
http://mk1mk2transit.freeforums.net/board/5/camper...