Bedford
From Graces Guide
were manufacturers of commercial vehicles from 1931 to 1992.
Cars
- 1959 Advert on this page for the new look Bedford Van. [1]
- Beagle 1964-73.
Lorries
- 1902 The Vauxhall Iron Works produced marine engines and also petrol-engined cars.
- 1931 Chevrolet trucks designed in the USA were produced by Vauxhall under. the Bedford name.
- 1939 A range from 12cwt to 5ton were available.
- WW2 Production for the war department totalled 250,000 trucks with the 15cwt being the most numerous.
- 1947 Civilian production was resumed.
- 1950 The first of the Big Bedfords was produced - the 7-ton S-type.
- 1960 The TK range was launched.
- 1968 The KM range up to 24 ton gvw were produced.
- 1972 Up to 32 ton gvw produced.
- 1976 The TJ bonnetted range introduced.
- 1983 Control passed to General Motors' Worldwide Truck and Bus Group.
- 1986 Decision made to stop heavy vehicle production.
- 1987 Sold to AWD Ltd who acquired the Dunstable plant but they went to the receivers in 1992.
Buses
See Bedford: Buses
Sources of Information
- British Lorries 1900-1992 by S. W. Stevens-Stratten. Pub. Ian Allen Publishing
- Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris