Bedford J.

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Bedford J2SZ2 with Embassy abutment from Plaxton for the Blood Transfusion Service

The name Bedford J describes a bus chassis made by the British manufacturer Bedford Vehicles . With a capacity of 20 seats, it is a forerunner of today's midibuses .

The bus was based on the lightweight 2 t chassis of the Bedford TJ , which Bedford produced between 1958 and 1976. The chassis was originally intended for the construction of short-nosed bodies and was modified in such a way that it could carry a forward control body. The rear axle had double tires. The chassis was initially offered with a six-cylinder petrol engine with 3.5 l displacement or a four-cylinder diesel engine with 3.1 l displacement. In 1960 the displacement of the diesel engine was increased to 3.3 l, in 1967 to 3.6 l. A manually shifted, synchronized four-speed gearbox was used .

The bodies for coaches and buses came from Plaxton , Duple and Willowbrook . Plaxton adapted the Embassy body for the J2 and bodyed over 300 J2s . Prior to 1965, the bus was only offered at 7 feet and 6 inches wide . The front window was split and had two side windows. Then there was the bus that was eight feet wide. The front window was now a one-piece panoramic window and interchangeable with the rear window. The Embassy body, especially when it was built on the narrower chassis, clearly protruded from the side. This was particularly noticeable on the front axle. The wider front axle of the VAS was therefore offered as an option, which also resulted in better road holding. The structure had 20 seats, including one next to the driver. A sliding door served as the entrance. Duple's superstructures were more conventional and had an outward-opening door. A bus with a duple body was built according to special specifications for the British court to transport the household employees. The bus was retained and part of the Vauxhall Motors Historic Vehicle Collection . The bodies of Willowbrook were originally designed for special vehicles and had a double-wing, from the driver seat-to-use door, but after the acquisition of Willowbrook by duple production was stopped. The Portuguese company Caetano built some superstructures under the name Faro in the 1970s, which were also imported to Great Britain. However, the construction was more difficult. Engine power and brakes did not correspond to the increased total weight, so that this construction was not very popular.

Numerous J2s with Duple and Willowbrook superstructures have been used by government agencies, including the Ministry of Defense. These buses were used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Buses with a Plaxton body were bought from smaller, independent bus operators. In 1969/1970 a fleet of fifteen J2s was used in high-speed traffic between London hotels and London Heathrow Airport, but could not prevail against the competition from taxis . Quite a few J2s were acquired by state authorities and used outside of passenger transport. For example, the Cambridgeshire Regional Health Authority purchased four buses, three of which were used as mobile blood collection points and one as a means of transport for disabled people to and from hospitals. This bus also had an integrated lift for wheelchair users.

During the 1970s and 1980s, numerous buses were converted into mobile homes .

variants

J
designation engine annotation
J2SZ2 Six-cylinder petrol engine with 3.5 l displacement
J2SZ10 Four-cylinder diesel engine with 3.1 l displacement from 1960 3.3 l, from 1967 3.6 l diesel engines

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