WAY back in 1965, Ford were the first to pack passenger-car kit into a commercial van, setting the ubiquitous Transit on the road to sure-fire success.

The "Tranny" specification humble by today's standards included: a printed circuit in the instrument panel; an optional steering lock; the option of a side-loading door with a step; an alternator as standard in place of the normal generator; and seat belt attachment points.

It was also the first commercial vehicle to offer 5,000-mile service intervals, thanks to hydraulic brakes still unusual at the time good engine accessibility, and a maximum of just four grease points.

Today, the word Transit is synonymous with dependable, carry-all capabilities. And the van's continuing success was assured last year with the smaller Connect range, the saviour of service engineers everywhere.

The medium-sized Transit Connect has already collected a host of awards, and it has been seen as a boon for the likes of washing machine and TV repair people, many of whom found the current Transit too big, and car-derived vans too small.

Short-wheelbase Connects start from £9,582 for the T200, plus VAT, going up to £12,357 plus VAT for the long-wheelbase, high-roof T230 LX version, the latter packing in even more of that precious passenger car 'spec'.

The LX has a driver's armrest and lumbar support, electric front windows, front fog lights, a map-reading light, remote audio controls, and vital for Britain's winter a heated windscreen and heated washer jets.

Engine choices are either a 1.8 litre petrol or 1.8 turbo diesel, the latter with a choice of two power outputs.

The Connect is car-like to drive, remarkably stable, and can corner like a go-kart. There's masses of added safety strengthening in the framework, and up-to-the-minute security. With yawning rear doors and a sliding side door, loading up is made very easy.

With 15,000-mile service intervals and three-year, 100,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty, the Connect - like the latest-generation Transits is a far cry from those humble 1965 origins.

l For trivia fans: The famous van was originally going to be called the V-series. Just before launch, Bill Batty, later to become Ford of Britain chairman, Sir William Batty, reviewed a German specification left-hand-drive model, badged Transit. The name appealed to him, and the rest is history.