TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant BT has signed one of the biggest yet fleet orders for almost 6,000 Ford Transits over the next two years, worth in excess of £110 million at current showroom prices. The contract is for about 4,000 vans and 2,000 chassis cabs and the new deal sees Ford retain a significant chunk of BT fleet business.

The vans will be mostly short wheelbase Transit 120 models with Ford's 70bhp diesel engine. The chassis cabs will be Transit 190s with twin rear wheels and 76bhp diesel engines. Most will be fitted by BT's bodybuilders with fully-equipped moulded box bodies. Since 1986 BT has bought more than 35,000 Transits. Operating Transits over a five-year replacement cycle it runs 20,000 models in a fleet of 37,000 commercial vehicles.