Bread Van
- Edward Ellis
- Feb 17
- 5 min read
A mid-engined, mid-70's, mid-sized pick-up truck with absolutely nothing mediocre about it!
Unless you're reading this and are of an age that vividly remembers the musical might of Queen and ABBA (not via modern reincarnations such as Mama Mia & Bohemian Rhapsody), you may be pretty confused. Well, time for a history lesson as we take a rummage through your Dad's mental archives back to the mid-1970's.
What you see is here is a Commer van. More specifically, Luke's 1974 Commer PB Pickup. Born in the UK in 1905, Commer became renowned for specialising in the manufacture of commercial, military and industrial vehicles - most notably their vans. The Commer brand ran until 1979 when it was replaced by Dodge and later Renault, producing engines for trucks under the Renault brand.
Since then, Commer vehicles are rarely seen unless at specialist classic car shows or rallies. As of the end of last year, it is estimated that there only 952 Commer models remaining registered in the UK. So how did Luke manage to own his very own slice of 70's pie:
"I got the van on my 18th Birthday from my Dad's best friend, Steve. Steve's mum bought the van when it was a couple of years old in the mid-70's. Steve and his family used the van until the early - mid 80s when Steve's mum, Eileen, passed away and he inherited the van.
I used to play in and around it when it was parked on his land as a kid and when I turned 17 - 18 I wanted to get my first project vehicle. Steve gave me a Dodge Spacevan which was an old GPS yellow telecoms van. That was too far gone so he gave me his mother's camper with the only stipulation being that it had to go back on the road regardless of what it looked like etc.
Steve's mum is who the van's named after. Steve died in September 2024. unexpectedly and his small business is what's on the front doors as a mural and I'm flying his flag with it!
...Without Steve and this van I would have ended my own life in 2019 so Steve saved mine."
With a poignant origin story, investing time and countless hours of dedication into creating something truly special was a no-brainer. As such, every nook, cranny and crevice has been meticulously overhauled in the search of automotive perfection; starting with the Commer's beating heart itself.
Fresh off the factory floor in 1974, Luke's van would have been powered by a 1.8l Perkins diesel or 1.7l petrol engine depending on your preferred fuel type. The latter would offer a greater power output with a bone shaking 58bhp available under high compression. Naturally, figures like those were on the low side for Luke who has decided to drop a Mercedes OM695TD 5-cylinder turbo diesel motor right behind the cab.
To get everything working as it should, a six-speed manual box has been swapped in from a Mercedes Sprinter whilst the rear axle with 3:3 ratio gear-set has been swiped from a Volvo 240. For additional lung capacity, the biggest available AEM Dryflow Filter has been paired with a fully custom Charge cooler system to keep things ticking over at temperatures and rates they should be.
"The engine was a huge obstacle to overcome due it's sheer size, width and weight. I had to make everything ancillary wise custom fit as the chassis rails are fairly narrow."
What has been nothing short of an engineering triumph, Luke's bread van now runs anywhere from 375 - 400bhp. So whilst getting the new heart transplanted into the 70's workhorse was no easy feat, it wasn't the most challenging aspect of this project.
"The biggest hurdle to begin with was the amount of welding work that was required. It had about £10,000 worth of welding and that included £2,000's worth of custom made panels. The guy who originally welded it had a huge task and had done a good job."
Like with anything, the tests of time leave their toll on any good body - those carved in metal and others in flesh. Arthritis, weakening the subframe of the human body in the way that rust weathers the metal spine of a vehicle. As we all get older, more frequent and expensive medical intervention is required so this is to be expected on a van that's now notching over 50 years old.
Despite, needing some rather drastic body work repairs conducting to bring the Commer back to it's current show stopping appearance, the pickup has received rave reviews. It's no surprise as it's rarity, modern twist and beautiful presentation make for a real timeless head turner.
"Winning Players Classic Award for Best in Show on the Saturday when the Velands engine was stripped less than 48 hours before has to be my favourite memory with the van. The engine was put back together and sent to Goodwood straight from Kings Lynn. No issues arose at all."
Players Classic is no mean feat. One of the largest most diverse automotive events in the calendar. Pitched up at the picturesque Goodwood circuit with its historic paddocks adorned white and lawns perfectly manicured, the show wafts an air of prestige. For many automotive enthusiasts, winning an award from Players would be equivalent to winning the Euro Millions and normally means you have a build that is pretty much perfect. So what happens next...
"I'm not sure. There's lots I want to do, more Commers I'd like to buy and run along side it, but it doesn't really need much more. In a few years time I think it will need painting again as it's starting to bubble and look tired but it was painted during COVID in 2020 on the cheap."
Who knows, in a few years time Luke may have his dream fleet of old school Commers lead by the pinnacle that is Eileen the pickup. We hope he does as he breathes fresh life into a once popular vehicle brand that has slowly faded from memory.
Spec Sheet:
Power Output: 375 - 400+ BHP
Performance:
Mercedes OM695TD 5-Cylinder Turbo Diesel Engine Swap
Dieselmeken 7.5mm Superpump
Holset HG351WG 8cm Billet w/ Wheels
150 Bar Injectors
Saches SRE M5 Clutch on SMF
Mercedes Sprinter 6-Speed Manual Box w/ CableTec Custom Linkages
Custom Charge Cooler System
AEM Dryflow Filter (Biggest Available)
Custom Exhaust Manifold
DA Performance Engineering Gearbox Brace, Mounts, Alternator Relocation & Inlet Manifold
Billet Prop by Bailey Morris
Suspension:
Volvo 240 Rear Axle w/ 3.3 Ratio Gearset
Stock Rear Leaf Springs Flipped w/ Fiat Ducato Motorhome Shocks
Cut Front Springs w/ Hilux Monroe Shocks
Exterior:
Centreline Racemaster Drag Barrel Alloys (8.5J Front & 10J Rear on Stretched Budgets)
One-Off Lucas PL700's in Gold
Interior:
Full Custom Red Leather Interior
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