Fully restored government ‘spy van’ to go on display at 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show
A blue Ford Transit used by the government for surveillance operations will be displayed complete with period-correct camera and monitoring equipment
A former government ‘spy van’ has been fully restored for display at the forthcoming Consumer Vehicle Show.
The blue 1988 Ford Transit used to be owned by HM Revenue and Customs and was used by the agency to monitor tax avoiders.
It has now been restored to its original glory and is due to go on display at the Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham NEC between April 25 and 27.
Paperwork with the vehicle shows that it operated in south-east, north-west, north-east England as well as Scotland, covering just 6,000 miles between 2003 and 2013. The mileage now reads 48,000.
After seeing service with government, it was bought by James Davis, director of commercial vehicles at Manheim Auctions, in 2014. It then underwent restoration at C Walton Ltd in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, and had period-correct cameras, microphones and other monitoring equipment fitted to give the interior an authentic feel.
The Ford Transit is one of the most iconic and highest-selling vans ever made. Introduced in 1965, more than eight million examples have been sold – this particular van was initially restored to celebrate the model’s 50th birthday.
On May 22, the ‘spy van’ Transit will go up for auction with no reserve to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.
