Three pages in this Bedford section, including this page.

This Bedford Commercial Vehicle page is to mark the history of Bedford Commercial Vehicles. It has some articles about the brand, and it's history

Files can be viewed by clicking on the image, or by clicking on the adjacent text.

Here we have some essays by David Bradley, former employee of Bedford Commercial Vehicles

NOTES ON BEDFORD VEHICLE VOLUMES

Issue 3 August 2019

GENERAL. 

The volumes quoted, which include all Vehicles for export, are all from a variety of reliable and reputable sources. The figures only apply to vehicles made and badged BEDFORD, manufactured by Bedford at the Vauxhall or Bedford Plants in Luton or Dunstable respectively, or any of its overseas CKD assembly plants throughout the world. The figures do NOT include similar models badged Vauxhall after 1990, or indeed any trucks built by AWD (except see note 17) or Marshalls. Neither does the list include any fully assembled imported Vehicles (e.g. KB’s) and badged BEDFORD.

All weights are as quoted in the original specification, and are for ‘Payload’ except where the quoted weight is followed by GVW or GCW which means that it is for the design maximum of the Vehicle or combination.

Conversion data as follows:-

1cwt = 1/20th of a Ton = 112 lbs. = 50.8 kg.

1Ton = One ‘Imperial’ Ton = 2240 lbs. = 1016 kg.

1tonne = One ‘Metric’ tonne = 2204 lbs. = 1000kg.

1.     Includes Volume figure for Long (WLG) and Short (WHG) wheelbase Normal Control vehicles.

2.     In 1935 the W models had a Facelift, with the engine being moved forward. This resulted in the cab being moved forward, which allowed for a shorter wheelbase. 2nd Wheelbase is the standard from 1935.

3.     Includes 8 for Export.

4.     Includes 464 for Export.

5.     The X model has a larger engine than the Y. Volume figure includes the combined X and Y version.

6.     Includes Long (WTL) and Short (WTH) wheelbase Semi-forward Control vehicles.

7.     Includes 209 for Export.

8.     Combined volume for all variants of K, M and O, including 856 built in 1939.

9.     Includes 73 built in 1939 and 5514 in total for Export.

10.  Close estimate of total volume.

11.  Figure is for the A22 Mk ll – Mk Vlll Churchill Tank built by Vauxhall/Bedford. Some 130 A20’s were built by Harland and Wolf and were also called Churchill Tanks, often leading to some confusion in the figures.

12.  Includes Volume figure for Truck and Tractor.

13.  Includes some 2100 ‘Green Goddesses’ built in 1955 – 1957.

14.  Close estimate of total volume.

15.  Combined volume for all variants, including the Long (CAL) and Short (CAS) wheelbase  Mk 2’s introduced in 1959.

16.  Close estimate but figures MAY be included in overall TJ volume.

17.  A number of VAL Chassis were bodied for Commercial applications.

18.  Unable to breakout KM’s from ALL TK total.

19.  Volume is for ALL CF’s, combining 422,648 Mk 1’s with 79,116 Mk 2’s. The figure includes some 400 Electric Mk 2 CF’s and about 450 FF 4 x 4’s.

20.  Many Multi-fuel Engines were subsequently changed by the Military for the 330 Diesel Engine.

21.  Close estimate compiled from 2450 YRQ’s, 750 YLQ’s, 135 YMQ’s, and 175 YMP’s.

22.  Close estimate compiled from 3250 YMT’s, 2050 YRT’s, 850 YNT’s.

23.  Close estimate.

24.  Kits made up from HA components and then sent to Export territories to build and install local bodies.

25.  Project intended to be a joint venture with Marshalls of Cambridge, but never materialised.

26.  Some had the 500 cu ins. Engine fitted in the de-rated N/A form, or the Low Blow version. Figure includes 2000 built by AWD at the Bedford Plant in 1988 and badged BEDFORD.

27.  51 BOV Chassis (EOV3’s with set back Front Axles, uprated YNT Rear Axles  and front Cowl), were built, with 50 been bodied by Ikarus and 1 bodied by Wrights of Ballymena as a demonstrator in Lagos, Nigeria.

28.  Rough estimate and includes the Astramax.

29.  Includes Isuzu badged vehicles.

30.  Many similar models were built as a conversion from the YMP Chassis by Tricentrol of Dunstable, but these are not counted - they are in the YMP volume.

Notes on the W Series

Engine

With the introduction of the 2 Ton WHG and WLG models, as well as the WHB Bus Chassis in April 1931, came the RAC Rated '27hp' 6 Cylinder Petrol Engine, in itself a derivative of the U.S. 'Stove Bolt Six' Engine. It had a Bore of 3 5/16 ins (3.3125" or 84.1mm), and a Stroke of 3 3/4 ins (3.75" or 95.3mm), and with an updraught Zenith U Type Carburettor, produced 44 bhp at 2400 rpm.

In November 1933, with the introduction of the 3 Ton WTH and WTL models, the '27hp' Engine now had a Zenith Downdraught 34 VIM Carburettor fitted, and together with improved breathing and combustion design, produced 64 bhp at 2800 rpm.

In July 1938, the '27hp' Engine was increased in capacity to 3519 cc or 214 cu ins., by increasing the Bore to 3 3/8ins (3.375" or 86mm) and the Stroke to 4ins (4.00" or 102mm), giving it a nominal RAC Rating of 28hp (27.34hp) or a true 72bhp at 3000 rpm.

Wheelbase

In October 1935, the Engine, Cab and Radiators of the 30 cwt 30 cwt and 2 Ton models were moved forward and the wheelbases reduced as shown in the chart. At this time, a 'Stone Guard and Grill was introduced on all models.

Bonnet

In July 1938, coincident with the introduction of the new '28hp' Engine, a new Bonnet was introduced which resembled the 'bull nose grill' as fitted to the later K, M, and O Types. This was fitted to all models.

Wheels

In May 1933, the Disc Wheels on the VXC and VYC Models were changed to Wire Spoke types with Hub Caps, which the replacement BXC and BYC Models followed.

Engine (CC) Numbered Footnotes

(1) & (2) Regarding the VXC and VYC, The 'X' denotes the large engine option 194 cu ins capacity as fitted to the Truck at the time. The 'Y' denotes the smaller engine as fitted to the Vauxhall Cadet VY car.

(3) & (4) Regarding the ASXC and  ASXC Models, again the 'X' denotes the larger engine option as fitted to the Vauxhall Light Six Fourteen Car and the 'Y' Option as fitted to the Vauxhall Light Six Twelve car.

(5) & (6) Similarly, on the BXC and BYC Models, the larger engine (denoted as 'X') was the 27 hp engine as fitted to the W series Trucks at the time, with the smaller 'Y' engine coming from the Vauxhall Big Six Cars.

David Brown and AWD

The Dunstable site and associated and business was sold in 1987 to AWD Ltd, a company owned by David John Bowes Brown. The AWD name was used as GM would only allow the use of the Bedford name for military trucks. David John Bowes Brown was the designer in 1973 of the then DJB D250 Articulated Dump Truck, built in Peterlee, England, by DJB Engineering Ltd. DJB was renamed Artix in 1985 when the trucks were rebadged as Caterpillar.Artix itself was sold to Caterpillar in 1996.

AWD continued with the TL and TM range. The AWD Bedford TK (a rebadged and modernised version of the Bedford TK/MK range) was also produced and supplied to the British military. Due to cheaper competition and the virtual collapse of the UK market in which AWD competed in 1989/90, the company went into receivership in 1992. The AWD brand was bought by dealer network Marshall of Cambridge, while the Dunstable site was to be redeveloped by the receiver.

Marshall of Cambridge

Marshall continued with the military Marshall Bedford and the TL from 1992 until 1997. All cabs were made by Motor Panels Limited for Marshall.

While GENOTO manufactured 35 percent of the parts that make up the truck it produced in the 1970s, it made a great contribution to the development of the sub-industry by procuring 45 percent from the local supplier industry. It also played an important role in increasing the quality of automotive sub-industry parts.

Reaching the highest point in truck production in 1977-78, GENOTO was able to meet 23 percent of Turkey's truck needs with the BEDFORD trucks it produced.

In parallel with the truck production, a strong marketing (dealership) organization was established in the country, and thanks to the prevalence of the Service and Spare Parts organization, BEDFORD trucks have become a reliable vehicle that customers seek.

GENOTO, which produces more than 30 thousand trucks, is one of the cornerstones of the Turkish automotive industry. 

Hatchers of Fromlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk made various roof caps, from company sign display boards to signs with concealed sheet stowage behind.

The following are from various Commercial Motor magazine articles.

Hatcher's Illuminated sheet rack - 1976

There are many films and documents held by Imperial War Museum, which have not yet been digitised, or marked for digitising. They include;

Unprocessed film of the Bedford 4 ton under trials by Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment
https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/25918

This webpage is in support of the Facebook group Bedford MK and MJ 4t 4x4 Military Truck Group

 www.facebook.com/groups/230538804424234

It is a growing community of support and sharing