Bedford D5 LC2 - 58

Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was

a brand of vehicle produced by Vauxhall Motors, which

was ultimately owned by General Motors (GM).

Established in 1930 and constructing commercial vehicles, Bedford Vehicles was a leading  international truck brand, with substantial export sales of light, medium, and heavy trucks  throughout the world. It was GM Europe's most profitable venture for several years. Bedford's core heavy trucks business was divested by GM as AWD Ltd in 1987, whilst the  Bedford brand continued to be used on light commercial vehicles and car-derived vans based  on Vauxhall/Opel, Isuzu and Suzuki designs. The brand was retired in 1991, subsequent GM  Europe light commercials would be branded as either Vauxhall or Opel depending on market.

1950s

1952 saw the launch of the Bedford CA light commercial, a range of vans and pick-ups similar  in concept and size to (although pre-dating) the Ford Transit of 1965. These were semi-  forward control, having a short bonnet with the rear of the engine protruding into the cab.  Engines were the Vauxhall-based 1,508 cubic centimetres (92.0 cu in) OHV in-line four petrol  engine, with the option of a Perkins 4/99 or 4/108 diesel engine later on. Performance was  adequate for the time, a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) being attainable  with the petrol engine, and offering fuel economy of 25 miles per imperial gallon (11 L/100  km; 21 mpg-US). The van initially featured a three-speed column gearchange, changing later  on to a four-speed column change. The CA was a huge seller both at home and in various overseas markets. The standard panel  van was available in short- and long-wheelbase forms, and was also sold as chassis cab /  chassis cowl, and became a popular basis for ice-cream vans, ambulances and camper vans.  Known affectionately as "the Tilley", the CA enjoyed a very long production span, with only  minor tweaks throughout its life, including the replacement of the two piece windscreen of  earlier models with a single sheet, Production ended in 1969.  The CA was replaced by the CF, a completely unrelated vehicle using new overhead camshaft  (OHC) engines, which was to have a much harder time proving itself thanks to the Ford  Transit. Perhaps the major event of the 1950s, was the transfer of all non car based commercial  vehicle manufacture to the former Vauxhall shadow factory at Boscombe Road, Dunstable.  Bedford Dunstable Plant, dating originally from 1942, was extensively rebuilt and extended  between 1955 and 1957, when all production lines were said to be over a mile long.  Subsequently, all commercial vehicle manufacture would be concentrated here, with only  vans and car based commercials remaining at the Luton plant. Production of the Bedford  commercial vehicle range would remain here until production ceased in the 1980s.  The 1950s also saw the launch of the popular S type trucks, the so-called Big Bedfords, which  brought Bedford into the 7 ton range. The S series was immortalised in RL form – a four-  wheel drive, high ground clearance version, as the "Green Goddess" emergency fire tender,  used by the Auxiliary Fire Service until 1968, then until 2004 over 1000 were held in reserve  by the Home Office for use in the event of fire-service industrial action or other serious  emergencies. They were disposed of by the Home Office in 2005. Several have found new  homes in African countries that lack a developed fire-fighting service, such as Kenya. The C  series of 1957 was a forward-control derivative of the S series, and outwardly very similar to  it.  These vehicles were available in rigid and tractor units, with either petrol or diesel engines.  The UK military were a huge customer for Bedford RLs using a 4.9 litre straight six petrol  engine. Many RLs found their way into the armed forces of Commonwealth countries and  later into civilian use.  Alongside the S series trucks, the SB bus was released in 1950, and immediately became a big  seller in India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, as well as in the UK. The SB  chassis was also used as a basis for specialised vehicles, such as mobile libraries, fire  engines, and civil defence control units. The largest fleet of SB buses in the world belonged  to New Zealand Railways road Services, with 1280 SB buses built between 1954 and 1981.  The Bedford TK range replaced the S type in 1959, but the RL continued in production until  1969, when it was replaced by the M type, which used the basic cab of the TK and the  mechanicals of the RL with minimal changes.  The pre-war K, M and O types continued in production alongside the heavier S types until  1953. Vauxhall had already gone for a transatlantic styling with its E Model Wyvern and Velox  saloons, and Bedford followed suit with its mid-range of trucks in 1953. Designated as the TA  series, the new range were mechanically very similar to their predecessors, but featured a  new Chevrolet-inspired cab. The 'T' designation meant "truck", so the range is generally  referred to as the A series. Numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5; as in A2, etc., identified the weight  rating. A factory-fitted Perkins diesel engine was an option. The TA (A) series was updated in  1957, and became the TJ, or J series.  The Bedford TJ normal control light truck was introduced in 1958, available with either  petrol or diesel engines. Although never a big seller in the home market (with the exception  of the GPO), it was a big export earner in developing countries, due to its basic layout and  specification, and remained in production (for export markets only) until production of  Bedford vehicles ceased.

1958

The collections Bedford has been driven only ~8.000 kilometres. It served as a water tank supply of a firesquad before restoration.