The factory itself was built for Cunliffe-Owen, an aircraft component manufacturer at the start of the 1930's.
In 1939, the factory opened for production with a key role soon becoming the manufacturing of key components for the Spitfire Aircraft.
The factory soon became a target for enemies during World War 2, and in 1940 was bombed by the Germans as it was seen to be vital to Britain and it's war effort.
Between 1949 and 1951, the factory was acquired in two stages by Briggs Motor Bodies, a company that supplied Ford with bodies for their vans.
In 1953 Ford took over Briggs, and in doing so, inherited their factories, including the Southampton plant.
There began the Ford Transit and Southampton link.
Ford introduced the Ford Transit van in 1965, at a price of £542. In the first year, £3.5 million worth of Transit vans were sold! At this time the body of the Ford Transit was made at Southampton, but the assembly took place at a plant in Berkshire.
In 1972, a welcomed investment of £5 million was given to the Southampton plant for an expansion plan to enable the plant to make the entire Transit van - making Southampton the home of the Transit Van.
Now, in 2010, the 6,000,000th transit van has been produced, and Southampton still remains "The Home of the Transit".
