{"id":902,"date":"2025-07-16T11:05:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T11:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=902"},"modified":"2025-07-16T11:05:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T11:05:28","slug":"when-the-mclaren-f1-designer-made-a-ford-transit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=902","title":{"rendered":"When the McLaren F1 designer made a Ford Transit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Car designer Peter Stevens, famed for the\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.autocar.co.uk\/car-review\/mclaren\/f1-1992-1998\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:McLaren F1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"30\">McLaren F1<\/a>, is revealing the inspiration behind one of his latest projects: \u201cI was working away from home in Coventry and staying in a very basic hotel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;There wasn\u2019t even a chair in my room. So, one evening, I\u2019m sitting on my bed eating a takeaway and feeling quite depressed when I thought:\u00a0I know, I\u2019ll buy a camper van with all mod cons, park it in the car park of the firm I\u2019m working\u00a0at and sleep in that instead!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">We\u2019ve all got to kip somewhere, of course, but Stevens \u2013 the designer of all-time classics including the F1,\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.autocar.co.uk\/car-review\/new-car-reviews\/jaguar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jaguar;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"31\">Jaguar<\/a>\u00a0XJR-15,\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.autocar.co.uk\/car-review\/lotus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Lotus;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"32\">Lotus<\/a>\u00a0Elan \u2018M100\u2019, Lotus \u2018X180\u2019 Esprit and the 1999 Le\u00a0Mans-winning\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.autocar.co.uk\/car-review\/bmw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:BMW;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"33\">BMW<\/a> V12 LMR \u2013 putting his\u00a0head down in a client\u2019s car park?<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cThere are\u00a0some people who like being designers and some who like designing,\u201d he explains. \u201cI\u2019m the latter.\u00a0I certainly don\u2019t expect special treatment. In\u00a0any case, living in the motorhome gave me\u00a0ideas for the project I was working on.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Kg50pXKKx__NSuiy7eQ7Ig--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzNg--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/autocar_articles_778\/48acbdf7c6a9cdf94e58fdda44b9bed4\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"596\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"9\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">That project was designing the interior of a Mk1 Ford Transit, an event vehicle commissioned by eBay to promote the availability of new and used car parts on its website and which it has dubbed the eBay Lounge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The former German fire service Transit was registered in 1975 and restored and converted last year by the Envisage Group, based in Coventry. It had worked with Stevens in the past and thought the legendary designer the obvious choice to remodel the van\u2019s interior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">This year marks the<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.autocar.co.uk\/car-review\/ford\/transit-custom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ford Transit\u2019s;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"34\">\u00a0Ford Transit\u2019s<\/a> 60th anniversary, and while eBay might have been tempted to commission an attention-grabbing tribute, instead it has respected the donor vehicle\u2019s original design and specification.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The eBay Lounge is still powered by its original 1.7-litre V4 petrol engine, for example, albeit modified to burn E5 fuel, and has the four-speed gearbox it left the factory with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The only major change, apart from Stevens\u2019 redesigned event space, has been its conversion from left- to right-hand drive and the addition of a pop-up roof.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/g0jH.7QjMF._OfXfRoGkKw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/autocar_articles_778\/88bbe7f2dec57b183ebea61bf7e71045\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"11\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cDuring the early discussions, we agreed it would have no silly 21in wheels or be lowered,\u201d says Stevens. \u201cInstead, we said it must respect the original design and specification and not spoil it with a sad caravan interior.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">On that point, Stevens was able to draw on the experience of his motorhome. \u201cThat vehicle showed me what I don\u2019t like in a caravan interior,\u201d he says. So in place of pastel shades and floral fabrics, Stevens has chosen dark wood for the cabinets, a brushed steel sink with a smoked glass cover, a cool-looking counter-top fridge and a tough, uncarpeted floor, all from eBay sellers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Also from eBay are a Bentley alloy wheel table, passenger and driver seats that can turn 180deg and a pair of \u2018old timer\u2019 retro sports seats for use outside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Stevens\u2019 favourite item is the Classic JLR retro radio sourced from the Jaguar Classic Parts store on eBay. Envisage also went shopping for parts on the website, sourcing everything from Mk1 Transit headlights to drivetrain and suspension components from the official eBay Ford store. Fuel pipes, brake lines and electrical and other parts also came from eBay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">In his spare time, Stevens, 82, still races\u00a0and enjoys driving his collection of cars, which includes a 2CV van, a\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.autocar.co.uk\/car-review\/ford\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ford;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"35\">Ford<\/a>\u00a0Model A roadster pick-up and a 1932 3.2-litre \u2018Alexander Special\u2019 hot rod.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">He rides shotgun with me as I take the Transit for a few circuits of the track at Bicester Heritage. I\u2019m impressed by his composure as I wrestle with the old commercial\u2019s woolly steering and wand-like gear selector.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">After a few laps, I\u2019m getting the hang of it but the mushy brakes can still generate a few surprises. Either there\u2019s nothing in the cabinets or whatever is there is stowed securely, but there are few rattles from the back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">It\u2019s a pukka job and Stevens is pleased to have his name attached to it: \u201cWhether it\u2019s a supercar or\u00a0a camper van, I just love designing!\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/SeYVEoDHvUq00QQ4doWL7Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/autocar_articles_778\/9579795c5c3c250a5586b8359bd95112\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"13\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">]]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Car designer Peter Stevens, famed for the\u00a0McLaren F1, is revealing the inspiration behind one of his latest projects:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-autos","category-life-autos"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=902"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":904,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902\/revisions\/904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}