Bedford CF

Bedford
Bedford CF (1973)
CF
Manufacturer:	Bedford
Production period:	1969-1988
Previous model:	Bedford CA
Successor:	Bedford Midi
Technical specifications
Designs:	Minibus , box truck , flatbed truck
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.6–2.3 liters (–59 kW) Diesel engine : 2.0 liters (44 kW)
Wheelbase:	2692-3556 mm
Payload:	0.7-1.75 t

The Bedford CF was a light vans provided by Vauxhall Motors in Luton in 1969 to 1988 as a successor to the Bedford CA was built.

CF1 (1969-1983)

The first CF van was introduced in late 1969 and was one of the most popular light commercial vehicles on UK roads. The CF often served as a base vehicle for camper conversions (see Dormobile ).

The engine was the well-known inline four-cylinder that had been running in the Vauxhall FD Victor since 1967 . Over the years, the engine capacity increased from 1598 cm³ to 1759 cm³ and 1975 cm³ to 2259 cm³, but otherwise the engines remained unchanged. There were various transmissions, a manual three-speed transmission from Vauxhall, manual four-speed transmission from Vauxhall, Bedford and ZF , a manual five-speed transmission from ZF and an automatic from GM . On request, there was also an overdrive of Laycock de Normanville for the four-speed transmission from Vauxhall.

There were three types of superstructures for the CF1: a simple panel van as a competitor for the Ford Transit , a delivery van with a separate driver's cab on which various superstructures from third-party suppliers could be attached, and the Camper Dormobile .

Bedford CF with Mini Supreme body from Plaxton

A minibus was also built on the basis of the CFL 350 from 1979 to 1982. The chassis was actually intended for the production of delivery vans with a payload of 35 cwt (approximately 1750 kg). It had twin wheels on the rear axle. A body for 17 passengers was placed on the chassis for the bus. Compared to the delivery van, the superstructure was pulled far forward so that it almost resembled a cab . Around 180 superstructures were supplied by Reeve Burgess, 34 of which came from Plaxton. Plaxton adapted the Supreme body for the vehicle. The superstructures were 7  feet and 6 inches wide. The seats were arranged in three rows, with a double seat to the left and right of the center aisle and a bench with five seats in the rear of the vehicle. There was a choice of different gasoline and diesel engines. The 2.0-l four-cylinder petrol engine from Opel with an output of 59  bhp at 4400 rpm was ^preferred . Together with a five-speed manual transmission from ZF, the car reached a top speed of around 105 km / h. The 2.3 liter Opel engine had a higher output, but also a higher fuel consumption. Diesel engines were not particularly popular because of their loud noise. The buses were mainly used in hotels and for excursions. The reason for the low prevalence was the high price, which at £ 20,500 to £ 21,000 was three times the price of a delivery van on the same chassis.

CF2 (1984-1988)

The CF2 was introduced in 1984. It differed slightly from the CF1 in that it was a little more angular and the Dormobile had its own body shape.

economic aspects

The Bedford CF was the second best-selling van in the UK after the Ford Transit. Like the Transit, the CF was wider and therefore easier to use than its competitors from Austin-Morris , Rootes and Volkswagen . The CF was also the most popular camper. They were happily remodeled by outside tuners throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Technical specifications

model	designation	payload	wheelbase	Displacement
14/18 cwt	97100	700-900 kg	2692 mm	1599 cm³ or 1759 cm³
22 cwt	97300	1100 kg	2692 mm	1975 cm³ or 2259 cm³
25 cwt	97500	1250 kg	3200 mm	1975 cm³ or 2259 cm³
35 cwt	97700	1750 kg	3200 mm	1975 cm³ or 2259 cm³
35 cwt (code 350)	97700	1750 kg	3556 mm	2259 cc

Users

The Bedford CF was widespread. The British police used him as a prisoner transport and to accompany demonstrations. He was also very popular in the construction industry and building materials trade. Courier services and the UK Post use it. It was also used as a camper because of its space and its low fuel consumption. In Great Britain it served and is widely used as an ice cream sales vehicle.

The Opel Bedford Blitz , also marketed outside Germany as Bedford CF, is a small van offered by the General Motors group between 1969 and 1987 . The British commercial vehicle brand Bedford , which belongs to the group , presented its new Bedford CF range of small vans in 1969. The vehicle was designed as a short -hooded engine with an engine positioned in front of the driver and front passenger seats under a short bonnet in front of the windshield. The Bedford CF was available as a panel van / station wagon, minibus and flatbed truck, and it also gained great popularity as a base vehicle for motorhome bodies. Stylistically and structurally, it was similar to the Ford Transit at the time, also designed in Great Britain , which was its biggest competitor in its home market, it was also rather simply equipped in favor of a low price and a high payload and, due to simple technology, offered little driving comfort.

The Bedford CF was designed for a total weight between 2300 and 2800 kg, as a flatbed truck between 2500 and 3500 kg with a payload of approx. 900 to 1300 kg. The Bedford CF was equipped initially with also originating from the General Motors group Vauxhall - gasoline engines with 70 and 80 hp, from the mid-1970s came another Opel diesel generator added with 60 hp.

With the slow phasing out of the last Opel Blitz , it was added to the sales program in 1973 under the name Opel Bedford Blitz. Although the Bedford CF or Blitz was significantly smaller and lighter than the previous Opel Blitz, it was supposed to keep Opel in the German market for light commercial vehicles , which ultimately did not succeed.

In 1980 a light facelift, the above in sheet running grille with round headlights gave way to a taste of the time rather corresponding part of black hard plastic , at the same time lateral plastic moldings and broader were bumpers as well as new tail lights introduced. The sports car manufacturer Bristol Cars took over the new taillights for its luxury class vehicles Britannia and Brigand .

In his home country, the Bedford CF has been well received by trade and crafts for many years ; it was also available in larger numbers at British Telecom , for example . In contrast, the Bedford CF or Blitz was not very successful in Germany. The initially higher annual sales figures fell into the lower three-digit range in Germany in the early 1980s, not least because modern models from other manufacturers were now on the market, e.g. B. the Mercedes-Benz T 1 and the VW LT . It sold particularly well as a basic vehicle for mobile homes , the only area where vehicles of this type can still be found today. In 1986 sales in Germany ended. The successor model in Germany was the Isuzu Midi . It wasn't until 1998 that Opel offered a similarly sized van in Germany, the Opel Movano .

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  Opel Bedford Blitz CF 1 (1969–1980)

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  Opel Bedford Blitz (1980–1987)

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  Rear view

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  Bedford Blitz with Hymer motorhome body

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  Rear view

literature

• Werner Oswald : trucks, delivery vans, transporters 1945–1988. Motorbuch Verlag, 2nd edition (1993), ISBN 3-613-01197-2

Web links

Commons : Bedford CF  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Haynes Owners work shop manual Bedford CF van (English)
2. ↑ Smith, Maurice: Can a van ... serve as a ... second car ...? .... "Sherpa, Hi-Ace, VW you ask? - These of course have their merits and their extra economy but they also have one or more shortcomings for our intended use. In particular there is a minimum width and internal capacity for transverse beds plus the main items of equipment we require, and these three vehicles fall short. We require a refrigerator and do not wish to cook or wash [dirty dishes] outside the van ", Autocar, issue 147 (nbr 4228), November 19, 1977, pp. 61-62