MEET THE OWNER – ANDY CARTER AND HIS DODGE SPACEVAN

Certain automotive sounds belong to the past, from the engine note of a Morris 1100 to the transmission whine of a Vauxhall Viva HB. Others may recall the distinctive snarl of a 'Spacevan', as it variously delivered pints of silver top, investigated the failure of a telephone box or checked for non-licensed television sets. But now, Andy Carter's 1977 example is one of the few on the road.

The original 1500 FC debuted in 1960 as the replacement for the Express. By the mid-1960s, they were the vehicle of choice for dairies, grocers, builders and especially the public sector. In 1966, a year after the debut of Ford Transit, the Commer's most formidable rival, the GPO placed a £400,000 order for 600 Post Office Telephones PAs.

By 1974 the range was collectively known as the 'Spacevan', and 1976 saw the demise of the Commer badge, with all of Chrysler UK's commercial vehicles now wearing the Dodge logo. In 1977 the line-up featured a new black radiator grille, and Commercial Motor reported on a £1.25m Post Office order for 1,185 examples. When Peugeot acquired Chrysler's European operations in 1978, they intended Spacevan production to end in 1981, but the demands of British Telecom meant the final model would not leave the factory until 1983

And looking at Andy's Dodge, it is easy to understand its popularity with official bodies. As its name suggests, the Spacevan offered a vast 200 cubic feet load area while the engineering is utterly straightforward. Your friendly local dealer would also draw your attention to the electric windscreen washers and two-speed wipers. Better still, the 'Hi-Line' offered the sheer luxury of reclining seats with "hessian patterned upholstery".

In addition, Dodge's sales team would extoll the virtues of a track narrower at the front than at the rear. The Rootes Group initially claimed the 1500FC was highly manoeuvrable in urban streets, although many operators regarded the handling as "entertaining". Another Spacevan quirk not to everyone's taste was a handbrake that operated on the front wheels.

Andy came by his Dodge in 2015, and in his words:

I was attracted by its 1,725cc petrol engine, the easy-to-get parts, plus the fact that it is 'Historic ', which means free tax and cheaper insurance. It was also rare, unusual, and with a good load-carrying capacity. I can also get a Microcar in the back, unlike a VW T1 or T2 with the engine in the rear.

Today, the smart appearance of YLY 555 S results from Andy spending years on a complete restoration. "I had to completely strip it down and turn it onto its side to do the underneath first". The result certainly lives up to the brochure's promise – "It's all part of Dodgemanship; we put more in, so you get more out".

With Thanks To: Andy Carter