The van's size and versatility has made it popular with everyone from builders to undertakers. Throughout the decades the vehicle has helped transport a wide variety of items, from elephants at Regents Park Zoo to a model dinosaur that was being moved from Kent to a natural history park in Scotland in 1973. The iconic Ford Transit van has been used as an ambulance, a police van, and even an ice cream van. Here we explore some of the popular and not so popular uses of a Ford Transit.

• Transporting elephants at Regents Park Zoo London

  

• Moving a model dinosaur

  

• Delivery the daily milk

  

• Catching criminals

  

• Dare devil stunts

  Steve Matthews used his Transit to leap over 15 old cars in 1985. The only modifications included removing the windows and gaffer taping the doors and bonnet.

  

• Providing refreshments

  

• Transporting people to the other side of the world

  Hughes Overland actually ran a Transit minibus service from London to Australia. A mere 10 weeks and 10,000 miles later, and you were there! 

  

• Floating on water

  Ford engineers built a floating Transit to take part in the Maldon raft race in Essex, UK. 

  

• Breaking the caravan towing record

  This Transit took the world caravan towing record in 1985 at a speedy 170mph.

  

• Transporting Spurs

  Professional footballers in the 1960s didn't enjoy the luxury lifestyle of those today. This is how Spurs got about back then – Jimmy Greaves (in the yellow top on the left) and friends show off their humble team Transit. 

  

• Saving lives

  

• Getting the job done

  Ultimately the Ford Transit has been a dependable workhorse for the nation's businesses for the past 50 years.