Well, this review is going to be a bit like a, “Who done it?” as we review an unusual vehicle today. Real barn finds are always a hit, especially when it is a vaunted, valuable car, something well known, but rarely seen. There are a lot of unusual ones that crop up too, the kind that throws you a bit of a curve at first. And here’s just such an example, a 1959 Commer station wagon. It is located in Chicago, Illinois and available here on Hemmings for $2,900, OBO. Thanks to Kyle K. for this most interesting tip!
The panoply of post-WWII British car manufacturers and their various sharing/supply arrangements is a complicated topic, one that requires much research if you don’t have the knowledge base. And I’ll admit it, I don’t, but it makes for great exploring on a case by case basis. Commer was a British builder of commercial vehicles that existed from the early 20th century until the end of the ’70s. Commer built a wide variety of commercial vehicles from delivery vans to six-ton haulers; they even produced a pickup truck. Commer was ultimately acquired by Chrysler UK and PSA ended up eventually acquiring Chrysler’s European operation.
And as I research Commer and dig deeper, I had a flash-back from long ago, yes a Matchbox version of a Commer pickup truck! I actually have one of these squirreled away somewhere though I haven’t seen it in years.
The seller refers to this vehicle as a station wagon while Commer defined it as an Express Delivery Van. It could really go either way as the side windows are more in keeping with a station wagon theme but the lack of seating steers it back towards a delivery van. Any way you cut it, it has one spartan interior; two seats, minimal dash, driver’s side only sun visor and what looks like a plywood storage box on the driver side rear. And that’s it. The rubber floor mat in the driver’s compartment looks tattered but it’s not possible to get a good look at the floors.
The exterior of this Commer is rough in appearance. While basically straight, there is rust in various places and of course, the obvious issue of the excessively peeling paint. This wagon appears to have been more than one color in its past with perhaps the last coat of paint applied with a brush. Some vehicles with really worn finishes have a “worn” or “tough” appearance about themselves, I wouldn’t say that’s the case here – it really needs help. Obviously, one wouldn’t be able to secure patch panels from NPD, so knock-it-out metal fabrication is going to be needed to ameliorate this Commer’s various body woes. There are no images of the underside of this wagon, I would be concerned about overall structural integrity. The seller states that there is rust in the front fenders but I can spy it in other places too like the quarters, rocker panels and rear doors. Finally, the roof has something odd going on as the surface rust is identified by a specific outline – it reminds me of what you find when a vinyl roof covering is removed revealing an underlying chemical experiment that has occurred. This Commer resembles a compact ambulance in the above image.
The engine room on this Commer really threw me off. The engine is a 1.5-liter diesel, in-line, four-cylinder unit, an unusual find according to research, in a Commer commercial vehicle of this size. This 40 HP diesel can be identified by its BMC sticker affixed to the valve cover. These diesels were manufactured by an Indian company for BMC, BMC being the British Motor Corporation. The seller claims that the engine starts and runs and all electrical components operate (except the left side headlight). Gear changing is handled by a four-speed manual, floor shifted transmission. Interestingly, research indicates that the Express Delivery Van would have been equipped with a column-mounted shift lever (quad on the column?) but that’s clearly not the case with this example.
So, here’s the big question, what would you do with this Commer Delivery Van? The seller claims that this Commer is one of only one or two examples in the U.S. but I’m not sure how that can be known or validated. It obviously needs a lot of work and continuing as a delivery van for a small business would be a logical way to go, but at what cost and how much effort? Yes, it’s rare but rarity, in this case, does not translate into value. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has knowledge around Commer and can shed some more light on this one-time common British truck builder.
Interesting.
With just a strip/prep and repaint for all the sheet metal, this would wind up as a very unique little ride.
Diesel? I’d have never guessed that at all based on the vintage, etc.
Strange and unusual can equate to desirability, especially if the item is small, and complete, and the buy-in seems reasonable.
You learn something new every day. I was reasonably familiar with BMC gas engines. My dad’s Metropolitan had one; my MGB had one and I’ve worked on them for friends and customers. But having also devoted a major part of my life to diesel engine service a BMC diesel slipped completely through the cracks. Those look like Lucas/CAV injectors so I have no doubt that the injection pump comes from the same source. The size is roughly the same as a 108 Perkins, which I’ve had a lot to do with. A little washing machine motor with barely enough power to pull a limp ‘noodle’ out of a pail of lard. You’ll need a 4 speed just to get it moving. Of course, being a diesel this really has my interest piqued. I would be interested in this vehicle, especially because it’s diesel-powered, and nobody else would have one. Kind of like the limited-production ’56 Plymouth that had a Perkins diesel. It would be a blast to drive one of these around and listen to the sound of those precombustion chambers.
Is the engine a transplant ???? These were built by Rootes , Hillman based , and had their own two stroke engines…. and it would surprise me if any were built with these Indian sourced BMC products…. which could also explain the transmission shifter location..
20k to finish … I think a 445/545 Volvo would be a better investment. Rare does not always equal Value …
That’s definitely not a 2-stroke engine. It looks pretty much like a run-of-the-mill light-duty 4-stroke engine with a Lucas/CAV fuel system. I looked up some information and found that this engine was used extensively as a power unit, with quite a large number in marine applications.
The engine looks like a BMC B series diesel. Commer made a very interesting 3-cylinder, 2-stroke Diesel engine with 6 opposed pistons operating rockers that turned the crankshaft. They were nicknamed “knockers” and powered many British medium sized trucks in the 60s.
@geomechs
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. I know it’s a BMC B Diesel from India… These Commer Vans were built with 2 stroke engines..
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. That is why I said it was a transplant and not original
Rootes Group was acquired by Chrysler,not the other way round,
You are right, I got it backwards; now fixed. Thx.
The vehicle has high potential. Looks very similar to a 1959 Hilman Husky wagon that I once had years ago. I had transplanted a drive-line from a Sunbeam Alpine, and the vehicle was indestructible. Made in Scottland- I had heard –it was actually the first production mono-cock bodied vehicle before the MGBGT.
If it were on the west coast- I would by this little Commer! Transport is quite expensive.
Very much part of post war UK. I had forgotten about these curiosities. I also think the engine is non-original.
There’s not huge historical or monetary value in the van, so why not rod it?
Ref the windows. These are not factory. It was a tax dodge to buy a van and then put windows in it
The car version was a Hillman Minx. My mother had one in Rhodesia with 4 speed column change. O.K. on the flat, not so good on the ups as it had a small 4 cylinder side valve petrol engine.
This looks very much like an overgrown Hillman Husky, right down to the underfloor pocket for the spare tire (or tyre, if you will). Poignant to me, because I had one pretty good Husky and a couple not so, and if I stumbled across a good one I’d be suddenly in a lot of trouble at home … Lucky for me it’s NOT a Husky, and while it’s a more useful size if you’re looking to do some rough car-camping, it’s ‘way TOO rough as it sits, and needs more work and money than it could possibly repay.
The ‘guesses’ about the engine are all over the place ! I know most Commers you might see in the US., Canada and even Europe are RVs … tiny motorhomes. At vintage meets here in the US you might see pop top Commers or even with raised roofs. Underpowered but tidy,well designed and economical !
Yes, alas- projects abound! I already have too many myself. I have to be realistic. But, for my own similar projects here ( 1972 OTAS Scorpione, and 59 MGA coupe) I have purchased a Sand feed Siphon for my high pressure water blaster washer. This will make quick work of stripping old paint. I am proceeding this summer with “Strip and Prime”– that is a major job for both!
Those on the thread drawing the link to Hillman are correct. It was based on the Hillman Husky and should have a Hillman 4 cyl gas with column shift. This was most likely a repowering project. I love the history and the lineage to Rootes Motor Group. This car so reminds me of my 1967 Volvo P210 that if I had the room to add this to my collection, I would. Also love any good diesel, original or not! I do have a 1958 Hillman Minx convertible that has what would have been the original powertrain
no 4 cylinder…. these had a 2 stroke when they were built
Ken, I think this wd be based on the larger estate version rather than the short-wheelbase Husky. Judging from the side view, something like an extra two feet between the door frame and the rear wheel well.
I’ve seen photos of the larger wagon when I was looking for Huskys, because both cars were fairly common as “beach cars” when well-off families were at their vacation homes on the East Coast. I would guess that being kept near the ocean did not do their bodies any good, so a lot of’er would have wound up looking kinda like this one.
Not only that but it’s based on the earlier generation “Mark” Minx, by ’59 the sedan, wagon and Husky (and its’ smaller Commer Cob van derivative) had moved on to the Loewy-designed (and ’53 Stude-like) “Series” or Audax body style.
What´s this thing about 2 strokes? It´s true that Commer built a two stroke diesel but it was a truck engine, most famously used in the Ecurie Ecosse Race Transporter (every rich kid´s favourite Corgi Toy)
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ecurie-ecosse-transporter-goodwood-revival-2010-33751996.html
But diesels and two-strokes were very unacceptable to the English middle class (“non-U” was the phrase). Diesels outside trucks, buses and London cabs only became popular in the 1980s. I´m sure this would have been petrol, maybe sidevalve. I don´t know but doubt that Rootes would offer a diesel in vans until the 60s, and am guessing that it would be a bought-in Perkins.
Hillman Husky platform went on to be Sunbeam Alpine and Tigger, so there´s the Shelby link.
@Martin Horrocks “What´s this thing about 2 strokes? I”
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answer.These vans originally CAME with 2 stroke engines.
Apparently, they were acceptable to some of the market.
This Commer is really rare, but much rarer is the Pickup version of this Commer!
I own one here in Austria, not Australia, where they are more common.
This Pickup is a wonderful car with a petrol engine. Not very quick, but good to drive. An eye catching car wherever you go.
I think in Europe there are just a view around. Some in Australia and Asia.
Take a look at the net and you will find not very many fotos.
Bought mine in UK and I’m so happy to found it after searching for years!
Rare. Yup. Being an avid Matchbox collector since 1966 I’ve not even seen the #50 Commer pick up truck, much less the full size version. I’m sure if I’d picked up one of the numerous reference books on Lesney, I’d have spotted the toy.
When in I was in school in the late 60’s and early 70s here in Australia my mates Dad had one a Commer van a derivative of the Hillman, Rootes group who built them made a diesel but it was a heavy vehicle engine TS3 two stroke called a Knocker because of the noise they made when running when I was in NZ in the early eighties there was quite a few getting around there to
Why worry about what engine, it will probably end up with an LS! LOL!! Bring it to Ca., it will be a great surf wagon! Gasser material, street rod, would be different.
That engine is definitely not a two stroke, it’s got a rocker cover, so it’s obviously got valves. As has been stated the Commer 2 stroke (knocker), was a 3 cylinder truck engine designated TS3. For Tilling Stevens 3 cylinder. A TS4 was developed but was dropped because Chrysler bought Rootes group, and Chrysler used the Cummins 185 diesel. A POS motor. They also renamed the Commer to be Dodge DF3.
Price in the Hemmings listing shows $4950, not $2900. Gear shift lever and knob look identical to early smoothcase Spridgets. Wonder if that is what has been fitted here? I see no evidence of a column shift housing/bezel/hole…..Cool rig, certainly looks like a fat-fendered Volvo wagon which a clarinet student of my father’s once owned.
like many others my 1st take wuz “Hillman”, but I’m a 67 y/o USAer.
A 4 stroke diesel of this size (WB & displacement) would B just right but will not use a RHD in this enviornmet. May B if rural. If so I’d turbo