Bedford

See also Utility Vehicles and Corgi Majors for more Bedfords

The early types of Bedford CA vehicles with a split screen have two distinct castings. The most obvious difference is the top of the radiator grille which is either straight or more curved.

403 Bedford CA Van Mk I 'Daily Express'

July 1956 - 1960

One of the very first launch range in July 1956.

403M Bedford CA Van Mk I 'KLG Plugs'

July 1956 - 1960

Another from the 1956 launch group.

404 and 404M Bedford CA Dormobile Mk I

July 1956 - 62 (404)

July 1956 - 1960 (404M)

Another pair from the 1956 launch group.

404 is available in two main colours:

dark metallic cerise
cream

Rare examples can be found in pale blue/ turquoise, the 405M colour but with no friction motor and a tin 404 base.

404M is believed to be available only in shades of pale blue / turquoise.

The 404 in cream shown here has a good example of the straight grille. See 408 for a curved grille.

404 Bedford CA Dormobile MkII

February 1959 - 1961

Issued with a single front screen, revised front end and a ribbed roof.

Available in pale blue and pale yellow. Late editions have shaped fixed wheels.

The usual model has a pale yellow body and pale blue roof.

The half-and-half edition is much scarcer. It is only known with a pale blue upper and pale yellow lower.

405 and 405M Bedford CA Fire Tender

July 1956 - 1960

July 1956 - 1959 (205M)

Issued in the initial 1956 launch. The little van had a ladder on the roof and either Fire Dept or ATS transfers.

405 available in green and a scarce red. 405M is always red.

There are silver and black ladders available

408 Bedford CA Van Mk I and Mk II AA Services

July 1957 - 1960 (Mk I)

January 1960 - 1963 (Mk II)

Mk I was issued in July 1957 and MK II with the single screen in late 1959 (date unknown).

The 408 illustrated here is a good example of the curved grille. See 404 for an example with a straight grille.

Late editions of the Mk II type have shaped fixed wheels.

412 Bedford CA Ambulance

November 1957 - 1960

January 1960 - 1960 (assumed)

Revised sometime in late 1959 to MkII single screen form.

The Mk II edition may have been issued with shaped wheels but I am not aware of any. The MK II edition is scarce anyway so one with shaped wheels would be quite a find.

414 Bedford CA Military Ambulance

January 1961 - 1963

This is the 412 model in MKII format in khaki and with Military Ambulance stickers on the doors and roof.

This is available with both smooth and shaped wheels.

421 Bedford CA Van MkII 'Evening Standard'

June 1960 - 1963

Available with silver and black split half-and-half or with just a silver roof.

Late editions have fixed shaped wheels.

421 Bedford Ca Van Mk II 'Avro Bode'

This was not available to the general public but a special edition produced for the Avro Bode organisation. Only 650 were produced, thought to be in 1961.