Bedford CF
Encyclopedia
The Bedford CF was a model of light commercial vehicle
produced by Bedford Vehicles
for almost twenty years from the late 1960s.
In Germany and certain other continental markets, the CF was sold through Opel dealers as the Opel Bedford Blitz from 1973 on.
Introduced November 1969 to replace the 17 year old Bedford CA
, the CF van
variants soon became some of the most popular light commercial vehicles on British roads.
The CF could be specified with a sliding door in the side panel directly behind the passenger door, and it was generally with this layout that the van was also commonly used as a base vehicle for a caravanette.
The engine was the well-proven Slant Four
engine which was introduced for the Vauxhall FD Victor models in 1967. Apart from an increased engine capacity from 1598 cc to 1759 cc units and from 1975 cc to 2279 cc in 1972, the power units remained unchanged. A four cylinder 1760 cc Perkins diesel engine
could be specified for an extra GB£130 (1969), while a larger 2523 cc version was used for heavier versions. In 1977, a 2064 cc overhead valve
(OHV) diesel engine from Opel
replaced the outdated Perkins units.
In Australasia
n markets, the CF could be optioned with Holden six-cylinder units, in 2850 cc and 3310 cc forms.
This was as an answer to the rival Ford Transit range, which in Australia used six-cylinder engines from the Ford Falcon
vehicles.
The Bedford used the same basic suspension lay-out as the Vauxhall Victor, though married to greater wheel arch clearances and calibrated for greater weight carrying capacity. The front independent suspension featured a double wishbone layout with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers, while the rear wheels were suspended by a combination involving a live axle and traditional long single-leaf springs.
Several different manual transmission
s were used, namely the Vauxhall three-speed, four-speed, Bedford four-speed, ZF four-speed, ZF five-speed, and the General Motors automatic. The Laycock type of overdrive was available to order or on the later Vauxhall four-speed models.
There were three CF1 body styles. A standard panel van which was intended to rival the Ford Transit
; the special van body (essentially a self-contained cab with a general-purpose chassis onto which a wide range of custom-built bodies or beds could be built), and the Dormobile (caravanette).
23D diesel engine with 45.5 kW.
Units exported to Germany (Bedford Blitz) received a smaller, 1998 cc diesel, producing 60 PS. The 1.8 and 2.3 litre petrol units remained the same.
(The CF1 "facelift" is often confused with being a CF2 because it's difficult to tell them apart from the exterior.)
The diesel engines remained the 2.3 (with the 2.0 available in continental Europe) but the old Vauxhall slant fours were replaced by a 1979 cc, 58 kW version of General Motors' corporate cam-in-head four cylinder..
New transmissions were also available:
• 4-speed GM all-synchromesh gearbox on short wheelbase models;
• ZF 5-speed overdrive all-synchromesh gearbox standard on all long wheelbase models and optional on others;
• GM automatic transmission optional on most models;
• Choice of axle ratios on nearly all models.
And new efficient brakes:
• Front disc brakes with self-adjusting rear drums on CF2/230 to CF2/280;
• Self-adjusting drums all around on CF2/350 models;
• Load-sensing valve standard on all models.
In 1985 the CF2 was sold side by side in UK with the rebadged Bedford Midi.
By then the CF's replacement was put on hold and then ultimately dropped when Bedford decided that rebadging other GM owned brands was much cheaper. The last CF2's were sold in the UK in 1987 and marked the end of original Bedford designed vehicles.
, Chloride Group
and the UK Government
on a 5 year grant scheme. The batteries where housed in a compartment below the floor and the traction came from a motor placed at the rear with a step down reduction gearbox coupled to the CF's standard differential, but turned through 180'
The motor control system was housed under the bonnet and a small diesel heater provided cabin heating. The system also featured regenerative braking, however this could be turned off as it was found that in wet conditions the motor could lock the rear wheels similar to applying the handbreak. Most where sold to government agencies, the Royal Mail
and local authorities. However with a price tag much higher than a standard CF, and battery technolgy at the time not advancing the government scheme wound down in 1987, and the model was withdrawn and spares for it soon dried up.
. Along with the Transit, the CF was usefully wider than competitor vehicles from Austin-Morris
, Rootes
and Volkswagen. It was also the most common caravanette. CFs were popular with customisers throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
also had a fleet of CFs. They were used by builders and builders' merchants, as well as by courier services and the Post Office
. They were also a popular caravanette due to their space and reasonable fuel consumption. They were used as ice cream van
s in Britain.
Video clips
Images
Light commercial vehicle
Light commercial vehicles is a commercial carrier vehicles with a Gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. The formal term within the European Union is Light commercial vehicles. Vehicles which qualify in this category are pickup trucks, vans and 3 wheelers all commercially based goods or...
produced by Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930; and constructing commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international truck manufacturer, with substantial export sales of...
for almost twenty years from the late 1960s.
In Germany and certain other continental markets, the CF was sold through Opel dealers as the Opel Bedford Blitz from 1973 on.
CF
Bedford CA
The Bedford CA was a distinctive pug-nosed light commercial vehicle produced between 1952 and 1969 by Vauxhall Motors subsidiary Bedford Vehicles, in Luton, United Kingdom....
, the CF van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
variants soon became some of the most popular light commercial vehicles on British roads.
The CF could be specified with a sliding door in the side panel directly behind the passenger door, and it was generally with this layout that the van was also commonly used as a base vehicle for a caravanette.
The engine was the well-proven Slant Four
Slant Four
The Slant Four is a type of car engine manufactured by Vauxhall Motors and in modified form by Lotus Cars. Unveiled in 1966, it was one of the first production overhead camshaft designs to use a rubber toothed belt to drive the camshaft from the crankshaft , a method developed in 1956 by Bill...
engine which was introduced for the Vauxhall FD Victor models in 1967. Apart from an increased engine capacity from 1598 cc to 1759 cc units and from 1975 cc to 2279 cc in 1972, the power units remained unchanged. A four cylinder 1760 cc Perkins diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
could be specified for an extra GB£130 (1969), while a larger 2523 cc version was used for heavier versions. In 1977, a 2064 cc overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
(OHV) diesel engine from Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
replaced the outdated Perkins units.
In Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
n markets, the CF could be optioned with Holden six-cylinder units, in 2850 cc and 3310 cc forms.
This was as an answer to the rival Ford Transit range, which in Australia used six-cylinder engines from the Ford Falcon
Ford Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
vehicles.
The Bedford used the same basic suspension lay-out as the Vauxhall Victor, though married to greater wheel arch clearances and calibrated for greater weight carrying capacity. The front independent suspension featured a double wishbone layout with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers, while the rear wheels were suspended by a combination involving a live axle and traditional long single-leaf springs.
Several different manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
s were used, namely the Vauxhall three-speed, four-speed, Bedford four-speed, ZF four-speed, ZF five-speed, and the General Motors automatic. The Laycock type of overdrive was available to order or on the later Vauxhall four-speed models.
There were three CF1 body styles. A standard panel van which was intended to rival the Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
; the special van body (essentially a self-contained cab with a general-purpose chassis onto which a wide range of custom-built bodies or beds could be built), and the Dormobile (caravanette).
CF1 "facelift"
The CF series 1 facelift was introduced in 1980, introducing the 2260 cc OpelOpel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
23D diesel engine with 45.5 kW.
Units exported to Germany (Bedford Blitz) received a smaller, 1998 cc diesel, producing 60 PS. The 1.8 and 2.3 litre petrol units remained the same.
(The CF1 "facelift" is often confused with being a CF2 because it's difficult to tell them apart from the exterior.)
CF2
In 1984 the CF was re-named CF2 and basically only received mechanical upgrades.The diesel engines remained the 2.3 (with the 2.0 available in continental Europe) but the old Vauxhall slant fours were replaced by a 1979 cc, 58 kW version of General Motors' corporate cam-in-head four cylinder..
New transmissions were also available:
• 4-speed GM all-synchromesh gearbox on short wheelbase models;
• ZF 5-speed overdrive all-synchromesh gearbox standard on all long wheelbase models and optional on others;
• GM automatic transmission optional on most models;
• Choice of axle ratios on nearly all models.
And new efficient brakes:
• Front disc brakes with self-adjusting rear drums on CF2/230 to CF2/280;
• Self-adjusting drums all around on CF2/350 models;
• Load-sensing valve standard on all models.
In 1985 the CF2 was sold side by side in UK with the rebadged Bedford Midi.
By then the CF's replacement was put on hold and then ultimately dropped when Bedford decided that rebadging other GM owned brands was much cheaper. The last CF2's were sold in the UK in 1987 and marked the end of original Bedford designed vehicles.
CF Electric
One noteworth point was in 1982 with the introduction of the CF Electric, the first mass produced electric driven fossil fuel derived vehicle. It was built in partnership between Bedford, LucasLucas
Lucas is the Latin form of the Greek name Loukas , and it's a common name in many modern languages.Lucas may refer to several things.-Real:*Lucas Barrios, Paraguayan footballer currently playing for Borussia Dortmund...
, Chloride Group
Chloride Group
Chloride Group, a business of Emerson Network Power, is the UK's largest supplier of secure power systems to hospitals and other public buildings and facilities...
and the UK Government
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
on a 5 year grant scheme. The batteries where housed in a compartment below the floor and the traction came from a motor placed at the rear with a step down reduction gearbox coupled to the CF's standard differential, but turned through 180'
The motor control system was housed under the bonnet and a small diesel heater provided cabin heating. The system also featured regenerative braking, however this could be turned off as it was found that in wet conditions the motor could lock the rear wheels similar to applying the handbreak. Most where sold to government agencies, the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
and local authorities. However with a price tag much higher than a standard CF, and battery technolgy at the time not advancing the government scheme wound down in 1987, and the model was withdrawn and spares for it soon dried up.
Commercial
The Bedford CF van was the second most popular van in the UK, second only to the Ford TransitFord Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
. Along with the Transit, the CF was usefully wider than competitor vehicles from Austin-Morris
Morris Commercial J4
The Morris Commercial J4 was a 10 cwt forward control van launched by the Morris Commercial subsidiary of the British Motor Corporation in 1960 and produced with two facelifts until 1974, available with the familiar B series petrol engine in 1622cc form and also, at extra cost, with a 1500 cc...
, Rootes
Commer
Commer became known in later years as a maker of vans for the British Post Office—particularly the Commer FC which was introduced in 1960 with many body styles, including a 1500 cc van. After engine and interior upgrades it was renamed the PB in 1967 and the SpaceVan in 1974...
and Volkswagen. It was also the most common caravanette. CFs were popular with customisers throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Users
The Bedford CF was widely used. The British police, in particular, used them for prisoner transport and as riot vans. The British MilitaryBritish Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
also had a fleet of CFs. They were used by builders and builders' merchants, as well as by courier services and the Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. They were also a popular caravanette due to their space and reasonable fuel consumption. They were used as ice cream van
Ice cream van
An ice cream van or ice cream truck is a commercial vehicle which serves as a travelling retail outlet for ice cream, usually during the summer. Ice cream vans are often seen parked at public events, or near parks, beaches, or other areas where people congregate...
s in Britain.
Technical specifications
Source| model | engine displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... |
designation | wheelbase Wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel... |
| 14/18 cwt Hundredweight The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which... |
1,599 cc / 1,759 cc | 97100 | 106 in (269 cm) |
| 22 cwt | 1,975 cc / 2,279 cc | 97300 | 106 in (269 cm) |
| 25 cwt | 1,975 cc / 2,279 cc | 97500 | 126 in (320 cm) |
| 35 cwt | 1,975cc / 2,279 cc | 97700 | 126 in (320 cm) |
| 35 cwt (code 350) | 2,279 cc | 97700 | 140 in (356 cm) |
External links
- CF-UK: The Bedford CF Web Site - CF enthusiasts' website
Video clips
Images
