BEDFORD CARS, VANS, TRUCKS

Bedford working vehicles

 

HOME | AUTOMOTIVE | BLUEPLANET | ELECTRIC CARS | FORMULA E | ENERGY | INSURANCE | INDEX  | SOLAR CARS

 

 

 

Bedford was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), established in 1930 and constructing commercial vehicles.

 

During the war production of civilian vehicles was suspended, as it was with many other firms. The British Army had lost many of its tanks at Dunkirk, and Vauxhall was given the task of building the Churchill, which was completed from drawing board to proving trials in fewer than 3 months. There was other production in the form of MW and OY types, with a modified tractor adapted by Scammell. Bedford brought out the QL 4x4 for military use, the most numerous British marques.

 

 

Nelson Kruschandl's Bedford van, Odel, Lizbeth and Natasha

 

Nelson's Bedford van, Odel, Libby and Natasha



Production resumed after World War Two using the tried and trusted K, M and O types introduced in 1939, and these gave way in 1951 to the new S type and later it's 4x4 relative the R type. This was chosen by the Armed Forces and was to be the standard 4 ton truck for many years, finally being superseded by the MK and MJ types. Another milestone in 1955 was the opening of the Dunstable truck plant, all large commercials being assembled there with some van building continuing at Luton until the transfer to the new Halewood premises. Normal controls were not neglected with the A type appearing in 1953 and followed by the D and J types. These were still being sold for export well into the seventies when all British trucks were virtually all forward control types.

The CA van gave way to the CF, and eventually to the Isuzu inspired Midi range. A subsidiary company IBC Vehicles was formed and operates to the present day, though production now is Vauxhall-badge Renaults the Vivaro and Movano range.

 

The CF vans were classic vehicles to rival the Fords of the day, with just a hint of the parent GM's influence in design - hence the 'A' team. I owned one of the twin wheel jobs with the slant four engine and could tell you a tale or two about this versatile machine. See a picture of my wagon above with my Grandmother, Auntie and cousin Natasha in the foreground.

In 1986 the Bedford van factory in Luton was reorganised as a joint venture with Isuzu. The resulting company IBC Vehicles produced a European version of the Isuzu MU Wizard called the Frontera and a range of Renault-designed vans sold under GM's Vauxhall and Opel brand names.

 

 

Bedford pick-up truck

 

Bedford pick-up truck

 


Recession during the eighties, and foreign imports took their toll and GM announced its closure. The Dunstable plant was sold to AWD, who continued the MJ and TL ranges for a couple of years, chiefly to export markets. With no large contract coming forward from the Ministry of Defence (It went to Leyland) AWD itself was forced to close. The TL range was adopted by Marshall of Cambridge who continued it for a while before introducing their own SPV design.

 

In 1998 GM bought Isuzu out of the IBC partnership. The plant now operates as GMM Luton Vehicles, and produces the Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro, Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar.

 

On vans the Bedford name was discontinued in 1990 in favour of Vauxhall.

 

The Bedford trucks site was sold to David Brown in 1987 and the new trucks business was named AWD Trucks. AWD Trucks went bankrupt in 1992 and was bought by Marshall of Cambridge.

 

Products

 

List of products produced at Bedford / IBC Vehicles Luton

 

 

Bedford 5 ton truck 1932

 

Bedford 5 ton truck 1932

 

 

Bedford models

 

Very approximately in size order

  • Bedford Chevanne (based on Vauxhall Chevette)

  • Bedford HA (based on Vauxhall Viva)

  • Bedford Beagle (estate version of HA; see Vauxhall Viva, above)

  • Bedford Astramax (based on Vauxhall Astra)

  • Bedford Midi

  • Bedford Rascal

  • Bedford Brava

  • Bedford CA

  • Bedford CF

    • Bedford CF 4x4

    • Bedford Blitz

  • Bedford MW

  • Bedford W series

  • Bedford K series

  • Bedford M series

  • Bedford O series

  • Bedford A series

  • Bedford D series

  • Bedford S series

  • Bedford ML (bus)

  • Bedford OB (bus)

  • Bedford J (bus)

  • Bedford SB (bus)

  • Bedford VAS (bus)

  • Bedford TJ

  • Bedford TL

  • Bedford TK

  • Bedford MK

  • Bedford KM

  • Bedford VAL (bus)

  • Bedford VAM (bus)

  • Bedford Y series (buses)

  • Bedford TM

    • Bedford TM 4x4

 

Bedford coach SB 181 ECV

 

Bedford coach

 

 

Vauxhall models (some also sold as Opels and other GM brands)

  • Vauxhall Midi

  • Vauxhall Astramax

  • Vauxhall Brava

  • Vauxhall Rascal

  • Vauxhall Frontera (a 4x4 SUV)

  • Vauxhall Vivaro

 

 

Renault models

  • Renault Trafic (platform-sharing version of Vauxhall & Opel Vivaro, also sold as Nissan Primastar)

 

The Bedford OXA was a British improvised armoured vehicle built during World War II by mounting an armoured body onto a Bedford OXD 1.5 ton truck chassis. 948 units were built in 1940-1941. The vehicle was used by British Home Guard units until 1942.

 

 

Bedford OXA armoured vehicle

 

Bedford OXA armoured vehicle

 

 

LINKS and REFERENCE

General

 

CA-specific

 

CF-specific

 

Midi-specific

 

 

Bedford CF custom wagon blue van

 

Bedford CF custom wagon blue van

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Abarth

AC

Alfa Romeo

Allard

Alvis

Amphicar

Aprilia

Armstrong Siddeley

Aston Martin

Audi

Austin

Austin Healey

Auto Union

Bedford

Benelli

Bentley

Bertone

Bizzarrini

BMW

Bristol Cars

BSA

Bugatti

Buick

Cadillac

Cagiva

Caterham

Chevrolet

Chrysler

Citroen

Daewoo

Daihatsu

Daimler

Datsun

Davrian

Delahaye

DKW

Dodge

Ducati

Du Pont

Dutton

Facel Vega

Farina

Ferrari

Fiat

Ford

General Motors

Gentry

Gilbern

Gilera

Ginetta

Gordon Keeble

Gregoire

Hanomag

Harley Davidson

Heinkel

Hillman

Honda

Hummer

Husqvarna

Hyundai

Indian

Iso

Isuzu

Jaguar

Jeep

Jensen

Jösse

Kawasaki

KIA

KTM

Lada

Lagonda

Lamborghini

Lancia

Land Rover

Laverda

Lexus

Leyland

Lincoln

Lotus

Marcos

Maserati

Mazda

Mercedes Benz

MG

MGB

Mini

Mitsubishi

Morgan

Morris

Moto Guzzi

MV Augusta

Nissan

Nelson

Norton

Oldsmobile

Opel

Packard

Panhard

Panther

Peerless

Pegaso

Peugeot

Pininfarina

Pontiac

Porsche

Reliant

Renault

Riley

Rolls Royce

Rover

Royal Enfield

Saab

Sachs

Seat

Skoda

Smart

Standard

Steyr-Puch

Studebaker

Suburu

Sunbeam

Suzuki

Swallow

Toyota

Tata

Tatra

Treser

Triumph

TVR

Unipower

Vanden Plas

Vauxhall

Vespa

Volkswagen

Volvo

Wolseley

Yamaha

Yugo

 

 

Please click on the links above to find out about these famous automotive makers.  If your company is not included and you would like to be listed, please let us know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK VEHICLE INSURANCE ONLINE A - Z

 

No matter what car, van or bike you drive, we're all looking for great value and quality in our UK motor insurance?  But who is the best - who is the cheapest and who offers the great service in the event of a claim?

 

See the insurance companies below who claim to offer competitive cover at sensible prices, our guide to the jargon and tips for cutting your quote - Good Luck:-

 

 

1ST QUOTE

4YOUNG DRIVERS.CO.UK

17 TO 40

A QUOTE INSURANCE

AA CAR INSURANCE

ACCEPT DIRECT

ADMIRAL CAR INSURANCE

ADRIAN FLUX - SPECIALIST INSURANCE

ASDA CAR INSURANCE

AUTOTRADER

AXA

BARCLAYS

BELL

BUDGET

CENTRAL DIRECT VEHICLE INSURANCE

CHURCHILL

COMPARE THE MARKET

CONFUSED.COM

CORNHILL DIRECT

DIAL DIRECT

DIAMOND

DIRECT LINE

EAGLE STAR

EASY MONEY INSURANCE

ECARINSURANCE.CO.UK

ELEPHANT.CO.UK

ENDSLEIGH

EQUITY RED STAR MOTOR POLICIES

ESURE

FOOL.CO.UK

FORD CAR INSURANCE

FORTIS

GROUPAMA

HALIFAX ONLINE CAR INSURANCE

HASTINGS DIRECT

HSBC car insurance

INSURANCE NOW.CO.UK

INSURE.CO.UK

ITS4ME

 

 

KWIK FIT

LEGAL & GENERAL

LIVERPOOL VICTORIA

LLOYDS TSB CAR INSURANCE

LOCAL BROKER.CO.UK

MASTER QUOTE

MARKS & SPENCER

MONEY SUPERMARKET.COM

MORE THAN - Sun Alliance

MOTOR QUOTE DIRECT

MOTOWORLD

N.I.G CAR INSURANCE

NORWICH UNION

PEOPLES CHOICE

PERFORMANCE DIRECT

POST OFFICE

PRIVILEGE

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL

PRUDENTIAL

QUOTE DIRECT

RAC

ROYAL & SUN ALLIANCE

SABRE INSURANCE

SAGA

SAINSBURYS BANK

SCREENTRADE CAR INSURANCE

SHEILAS WHEELS

SMARTER MONEY.COM

SONAR DIRECT.CO.UK

SWIFTCOVER

QUICK CAR QUOTE

QUINN DIRECT CAR INSURANCE

QUOTE ZONE CAR INSURANCE

TESCO 

THE INSURANCE CENTRE

TINY QUOTES.CO.UK

VIRGIN

YES INSURANCE.CO.UK

YOUR FINANCE.BIZ

ZURICH

 

Automotive Prehistory Links

CONTACTS

 

 

A taste for adventure capitalists

 

The world's fastest electric land speed record car, a blue bird eco streamliner

 

The world's fastest electric car: 350mph + using energy from nature. Featuring built in battery cartridge exchange, charged using renewable solar energy. Sponsors sought for the 2016 season.

 

 

BLUEPLANET BE3 ELECTRIC  |   EDUCATION   |  ELECTRIC CYCLES  SOLARNAVIGATOR

The content of this website is copyright © 1991 and 2013 Electrick Publications. All rights reserved. The bluebird logo Bluebird electric motors, solar panels and batteries logo, trademark legendand name Bluebird and Blue Max are trademarks.  The BE2 and BE3 vehicle shape and configuration are registered designs ®.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.  Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.