Bedford TL

Bedford TL
Manufacturer:	Bedford ( General Motors ), later AWD
Production period:	1980-1992
Previous model:	Bedford TK
Successor:	none
Technical specifications
Engines:	Six-cylinder - diesel engine
Width:	2500 mm
Height:	2530 mm

The Bedford TL is a truck produced by the British manufacturer Bedford . The more comfort-oriented TL, which was introduced in June 1980, was intended to complement the Bedford TK range on which the TL was heavily based. Production began in April 1980 so that the trucks could reach dealers in time for the premiere. The TL was taken out of production with the end of Bedford in 1986. However, the new owner AWD Engineering Limited resumed production in 1988. The range was later expanded to include various variations. In 1992, however, production ended for good when AWD went bankrupt .

Technical development

Beginnings and Blue Series

old photo of the Bedford TL in Malta

The chassis of the TK was slightly modified at the front for the TL to accommodate the new cabin with a flat floor. The front suspension , a leaf suspension , was new. The TL was mainly used for short trips. Right from the start, the TL was powered by gasoline and diesel engines. The six-cylinder gasoline engines were the 214P-3.5-liter and the 300P-4.9-liter. The diesel variants were the updated versions of the TK 3.6-liter four-cylinder 220D and the 5.4-liter six-cylinder 330D. For the heavier models, there was an optional 8.2-liter engine from the Blue series. The power was between 83 and 114 hp (between 62 and 85 kW) for the gasoline engines, while the diesel engines made between 65 and 98 hp (between 48 and 73 kW). The Blue Series offered either 128 or 151 hp (95 or 113 kW) depending on the model.

Red Series

Bedford TL1630

In 1984 engine power was increased slightly with the introduction of turbocharging and the engines were reclassified and henceforth referred to as the Red Series. The 3.6 liter 220D was now called the 70TD and the 5.4 liter 330D became the 105TD. The new names should symbolize maximum output power. The 8.2 liter Blue Series engines continued in two versions; the 130TD and the higher rated 175TD.

Developments after the takeover of AWD

When AWD brought the TL back onto the market in 1988, it was available with two different 6-cylinder engines ; initially as a 17-18 model with a Perkins Phaser 180 PS (133 kW ) and from 1990 as a 17-27 with an 8.3-liter, which developed approx. 270 PS (198 kW).

Web links

Commons : Bedford TL  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Kennett, Pat: What's new: Bedford lay on the luxury . In: UK: FF Publishing Ltd (Ed.): TRUCK . No. 29 . London June 1980.
2. ^ Tractors.wikia.com via AWD Engineering Limited. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
3. ↑ dmax-shop.de. Look at the book Supertrucks. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
4. ↑ AWD wins MoD order | 31st March 1988 | The Commercial Motor Archive. Retrieved July 12, 2018 . 
5. ↑ ^{a b} Kennett (ed) . June 1980, p. 31 .
6. ↑ Classic Truck. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013 ; accessed on July 12, 2018 (English).