X-Nico

5 unusual facts about Bedford Vehicles


Among Giants

Around the time of the film's release, the Bedford van converted for use as a camper van - dubbed "the shagging wagon" in the film - was stolen and burnt out in Sheffield.

Delaine Buses

From the 1930s to the 1990s, the majority of vehicles in the Delaine fleet were of Bedford or Leyland manufacture.

Dundry

In the 1940s and 1950s the Ball family of Dundry ran the "Dundry Pioneer" bus service from Dundry Chapel via Dundry Church and the Hairpin Corner into Prince Street in central Bristol with Bedford buses.

Hopkinsons

When Hopkinsons purchased the business in 1978 it consisted of Bedfords.

Peakhurst Bus Company

Saints had a majority shareholding in bodybuilder Coachmaster and from the late 1950s purchased Albion Aberdonians, Atkinson Alphas and Bedford VAM70s.


Civil Defence Ireland

Many of the vehicles have all-terrain capabilities such as Land Rover Defender field ambulances, Bedford and Iveco four-wheel drive lorries and Bandvagn 206 personnel carriers.

Hindustan Motors

Hindustan and General Motors have had several tie-ups in the post independence era to produce Bedford Trucks, Vauxhall Motors (1980 to 1990), Allison Transmissions and off-road equipment.

Isuzu Wizard

It was built starting in 1989 at the former Bedford Vehicles factory in Luton, England; it would become known as the IBC factory (Isuzu Bedford Company).

New Zealand Railways Department

Bedford Vehicles Supplied a record 1260 Bedford SB chassis (largest fleet of Bedford SB buses in the world).

Opel Combo

The Bedford/Vauxhall Astramax (Opel Kadett Combo in mainland Europe) was a very popular choice with drivers, and on the television show Lovejoy, it was used as a minor action vehicle.


see also

Tillingbourne Bus Company

As well as a large number of Bedford vehicles, which continued to be bought new until the late 1980s, the fleet also included the AEC Reliance, Leyland Leopard, Leyland Tiger and Volvo B10M models, and the first two Dennis Lancet single-deckers to be built.