They served the British Army for over 70 years with great distinction. I served 9 years in the RCT, drove Bedford RL, MK, MJ. Fantastic off road performance, very reliable too.
Their fixed cabs caused more back problems than enough , taking a 466/500 cylinder head out was a real ball ache and the radiator was also a bitch , especially when the water pump bearings died and the fan went through it . then there was those freaking lousy wedge brakes and freakin anchor lock handbrake !
I drove Bedford MK/Js and TMs in the military early 90’s. These models were still going strong in the 2000’s working as ancillary vehicles on UK opencast coal sites.
The truck for anyone under 5ft 5inch tall. That narrow cab was a nightmare if you were 6ft or so ( like my dad who was 6ft 3 inch) ! He was glad to see the back of it . His next truck was a Scania and it was a world apart in driver comfort and style .
I drove TK and MK's slow, yes, not that comfortable, yes but they took a helluva lot of punishment and hard work and still came back for more, don't see that too much now. Happy days
Wow what was great they just don't make promotional films like that anymore.... I real snapshot of Britain in 1973.... Those Bedford trucks where real workhorses the company I was working for at the time had a huge fleet of the things..... 🇬🇧👍
You can _still_ see J and K Bedfords on the road in Australia - 1980 was the last year for the K, 1975 for the J. Tells me that although they're kinda slow, they must be a decent rig.
It took the Scandinavians to show us what an archaic pile of un driver friendly crap we were driving in the late 60’s early 70’s.Not specifically Bedfords I may add.
Shame Bedford Trucks went out of business in 1986, but with falling sales, a staid product range that didn't move with the times much apart from a few cosmetic changes here and there and no real changes to diesel engines apart from adding turbos, it was on a slide to oblivion. Also the Conservative Government of the day gave a contract to Leyland Trucks over Bedford Vehicles for military vehicle supply, GM in Detroit was watching carefully and on the back of that decision, decided to discontinue Bedford products and stop all production of Bedford Coach Truck And Van vehicles in Luton.
The 80s range wasn't much different, the TM range from 1974 and a few Isuzu models padded out the range alongside the revised TL and CF facelift but nothing too drastic
@@sutherlandA1 It became a mere shadow of itself, badging Isuzu vehicles i.e. Isuzu Amiga van aka Bedford Midi, Isuzu pick-up aka Bedford Brava pick-up, Suzuki Supercarry aka Bedford Rascal.
It's the same with the mighty Ford Motor Co & Dodge , no lorry's from Ford ( the odd Iveco badged trucks from Spain) & Transit van production switched from Southampton to Turkey in 2006 & as for Dodge UK ; disappeared in 1983 by RVI , though some vans & the Commando truck had dual Dodge /Renault branding. At least for a while in the 80s Volvo were making Bus chassis in the UK.
1973 in england? Where are the fork lift trucks? As a kid in the 1970s in the netherlands i remember factories in the city centre. But with fork lift trucks running in and out.
But sales of Bedford CF's didn't beat the Ford Transit one bit hence why it topped the van top ten sales chart for years. From Calor Gas deliveries to builders vans for transporting equipment materials and tools, the Ford Transit was quite aptly 'the van for all reasons'.
The music is catchy. They should have hired a singer, just ditched the truck concept completely. People might have bought the music. The trucks not so much.
the worst fire appliances i ever drove useless and slow no power steering or full air brakes 60 mph on a good day show it a picture of a hill and your down to 40mph Strathclyde got rid of dodge v12 perkins for this rubbish we all hated them ahhhhh
They served the British Army for over 70 years with great distinction. I served 9 years in the RCT, drove Bedford RL, MK, MJ. Fantastic off road performance, very reliable too.
I did my apprenticeship at A Bedford dealer ... was the best times of my young life, great memories, sad to see them dissolve away.
I grew up I the 60s & 70s. I had a lovely little HA Bedford. Things were simpler back then.
I watched this with a cup of tea and a jam doughnut. I was very contented doing this.
I have nothing going on.😔
Love Bedford lorries, good solid, reliable commercial and I speak from experience
They used to be everywhere, passed my HGV in one ! A hard motor to drive by today's standards, but I do miss them.
Simple engineering, with no frills.
Their fixed cabs caused more back problems than enough , taking a 466/500 cylinder head out was a real ball ache and the radiator was also a bitch , especially when the water pump bearings died and the fan went through it . then there was those freaking lousy wedge brakes and freakin anchor lock handbrake !
I drove Bedford MK/Js and TMs in the military early 90’s. These models were still going strong in the 2000’s working as ancillary vehicles on UK opencast coal sites.
Just bought a 1976 MK ex UK military. Absolutely hilarious to drive. My first truck. So yep you are correct. Still going strong😆
The truck for anyone under 5ft 5inch tall. That narrow cab was a nightmare if you were 6ft or so ( like my dad who was 6ft 3 inch) ! He was glad to see the back of it . His next truck was a Scania and it was a world apart in driver comfort and style .
I drove TK and MK's slow, yes, not that comfortable, yes but they took a helluva lot of punishment and hard work and still came back for more, don't see that too much now. Happy days
Wow what was great they just don't make promotional films like that anymore.... I real snapshot of Britain in 1973.... Those Bedford trucks where real workhorses the company I was working for at the time had a huge fleet of the things..... 🇬🇧👍
Just 13 years later Bedford were finished.
So sad.
Lack of future technology doomed Bedford and losing the MOD contact to Leyland DAF........ wrongly too.
Such a shame
You can _still_ see J and K Bedfords on the road in Australia - 1980 was the last year for the K, 1975 for the J. Tells me that although they're kinda slow, they must be a decent rig.
I worked on all those models as s mechanic 330 466 500 cf Van's sliding door reality bring back the memories tipperary south of ireland
Love the Bedford CF and in 75 the TM heavy duty was launched.
It took the Scandinavians to show us what an archaic pile of un driver friendly crap we were driving in the late 60’s early 70’s.Not specifically Bedfords I may add.
Shame Bedford Trucks went out of business in 1986, but with falling sales, a staid product range that didn't move with the times much apart from a few cosmetic changes here and there and no real changes to diesel engines apart from adding turbos, it was on a slide to oblivion.
Also the Conservative Government of the day gave a contract to Leyland Trucks over Bedford Vehicles for military vehicle supply, GM in Detroit was watching carefully and on the back of that decision, decided to discontinue Bedford products and stop all production of Bedford Coach Truck And Van vehicles in Luton.
The 80s range wasn't much different, the TM range from 1974 and a few Isuzu models padded out the range alongside the revised TL and CF facelift but nothing too drastic
@@sutherlandA1 It became a mere shadow of itself, badging Isuzu vehicles i.e. Isuzu Amiga van aka Bedford Midi, Isuzu pick-up aka Bedford Brava pick-up, Suzuki Supercarry aka Bedford Rascal.
It's the same with the mighty Ford Motor Co & Dodge , no lorry's from Ford ( the odd Iveco badged trucks from Spain) & Transit van production switched from Southampton to Turkey in 2006 & as for Dodge UK ; disappeared in 1983 by RVI , though some vans & the Commando truck had dual Dodge /Renault branding. At least for a while in the 80s Volvo were making Bus chassis in the UK.
Workhorses , shame they dropped making them, we now have sprinters that break if go through a puddle! 🤦♂️
Do a days work with no fuss...
Wee HA Van,They were everywhere....
Basically 1950s technology. No wonder the demise of the British truck.
Interesting video.
thanks but the RL and Stype are top of the pops for me,
1973 in england? Where are the fork lift trucks? As a kid in the 1970s in the netherlands i remember factories in the city centre. But with fork lift trucks running in and out.
Gearbox out in 15 mins on the TL
Why was one of the featured trucks LHD?
Also it might interest you to know that the Ford Transit outsold the Bedford CF van and was a more popular choice with business operators.
@Carl Napp The MK1 Transit was heap of crap, fitted with a useless engine & handled like a pig. It wasn't nicknamed Transhit for nothing
But sales of Bedford CF's didn't beat the Ford Transit one bit hence why it topped the van top ten sales chart for years. From Calor Gas deliveries to builders vans for transporting equipment materials and tools, the Ford Transit was quite aptly 'the van for all reasons'.
1:32 love the fat hubs. The lighter ones have a super skinny hub.
Hola, u por qué el motor Bedford 350 se rompía, cuál está el problema de la falla
The music is catchy. They should have hired a singer, just ditched the truck concept completely. People might have bought the music. The trucks not so much.
the worst fire appliances i ever drove useless and slow no power steering or full air brakes 60 mph on a good day show it a picture of a hill and your down to 40mph Strathclyde got rid of dodge v12 perkins for this rubbish we all hated them ahhhhh