The History of the Ford E Series II Van

School bus conversions are just one of the many uses to which the E-series is put.

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Ford’s E-series debuted in 1961, and as of November 2011 is still in production. The van is widely referred to as the Econoline. Initially a compact, the line at time of publication features only full-size vans; it is built on a chassis that is also used for F-series pickup truck production. The E-series has been the best-selling full-size van line every year since 1980, representing almost 80 percent of all U.S. van sales in 2010.

Related Searches: E-Series Generations

Based on the compact Ford Falcon, the first incarnation of the E-series was produced from 1961 to 1967. The second generation, available from 1968 to 1974, ushered in some startling new philosophies and was a game-changer for manufacturers and purchasers alike. The series III was made between 1975 and 1991 and the generation four design, which replaced it in 1992, is still in production. The E-150 is the lightest-duty Series IV offered, followed by E-250 and E-350 models. The regular body boasts 236 cubic feet of interior space, and the extended body version 275 cubic feet.

Series II Design Innovation

With the introduction of the series II, Ford made one crucial change that has led to their dominance ever since of the C-Class motor-home platform; it shifted the engine forward from between the driver’s and passenger’s seats to a location almost entirely forward of the dash. This resulted in the Big Three -- Chrysler, General Motors and Ford -- all phasing out the flat-nosed vans that had dominated the preceding decades, ushering in the vans with short hoods that are still the norm today.

Other Identifying Factors

The Series II was also revolutionary in that it was built with full-size truck components, rather than being based on a compact car. The 1968 also introduced a Twin I-Beam front suspension, a design that has remained standard on all E-series vehicles to date. The series II saw the vehicle offered for the first time with a V8 option.

The Future

A special 50th Anniversary edition was produced for the 2011 model year, but the marque is unlikely to win any more awards for longevity: The E-Series has been eclipsed by the success of the Ford Transit manufactured in and for Europe, which is slated to replace the Econoline in 2014. It is rumored that as production is scaled down the vans will no longer be available for individual purchase, but rather will be sold only to fleet consumers and businesses that modify them into their numerous incarnations, a process properly called “upfitting,” such as RVs, minibuses and airport shuttles.

ReferencesCarSeek.com: Ford E-Series Passenger VanEdmunds: Ford Econoline Cargo ReviewPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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