Bedford CA Vans in use in the 1950s.
Les has delved into his albums once more, and turned up these two cracking old photos, both showing classic Bedford CA panel vans, early versions with the removable rear wheel spats. Thanks for sending them over! Les is no stranger to Bedford CAs either, this CA van photo shows Les and some friends. They formed a pop group in the early 1960s called The Concords, and used their CA van to carry the band's equipment. Now, back to the two van photos on this page..
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The first CA Bedford is seen in very snowy conditions. Apparently unregistered, my hunch is that this photo was
taken shortly after the fresh signwriting had been applied, and before the splitscreen van was delivered to Tye Electrical, of
Queens Road, Buckhurst in Essex. The company must have been agents for PYE radios and televisions, judging by the signwriting, and also K-B. Radiograms were also all the rage in the 50s and 60s, so no doubt the van would have carried a few of those huge home sound systems during it's life on the road.
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2. Signwritten CA van.
The second CA van has signwriting for "Velvet Handkerchief Tissues" tastefully applied to the body sides and also the back doors. Once again an un-registered Bedford CA, so probably a picture taken by the signwriters themselves, prior to delivery. Two more signwritten CA vans appear on this page, at least one of which again is advertising a radio & electricals shop.
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3. Bedford CA Kenex conversion.
Next, a different variation on the Bedford CA theme, and again an image supplied by Les from his files. This shot shows a minibus version of the CA produced by Kenex. I've no more information on this type, other than that at one time these vehicles were known as Kenebrakes. Note the revised rear styling, courtesy of what look like fibreglass appendages, presumably intended to modernise the look and distance it from standard vans.
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4. A Mk1 Bedford CAS van.
Another great old photograph of a Bedford CA van from Les, seen here in early, Mk1, CAS (for short wheelbase) guise. This new van is seen in the livery of Pearcy & Co., parked outside a Bedford and Leyland vehicle sales agency. Inside the dealership, to the left, are two S-Type Bedfords. Unusually for a CA, this example has semaphore indicators fitted within the front wings - not something I've noticed on a van before, in this position. Presumably this dealership was located in the Midlands, the rear flatbed body of one S-Type can just be seen in the window, behind the CA's cab, with the word "Birmingham" on it, plus some contact telephone details.
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The CA's registration is 667 DMH, a London series. Just visible above the registration plate is a small sign with the word "Arlington" on it. Was this the name of the dealership? Thanks for sending it over Les :-)
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Background to the Bedford CA.
The 10/12cwt CA series of Bedford vans was launched in 1952, replacing the pre-war designed PC range. Priced at £400 plus Purchase Tax, they proved popular from the outset. As well as the basic panel van, outside coachbuilders could opt for a chassis/cowl, or chassis/cab, version, onto which their own specialised bodies could be built. Best known are probably the legions of ice cream vans that were built using the CA's underpinnings. A smart pickup was offered by the Walker company, with hinged rather than sliding side doors. Walkers could also supply a tipper version of the CA Bedford, a very handy little workhorse popular with builders and market gardeners alike. Grosvenor produced a Canopy pick-up based on the CA van. Other variants would be produced by different coachbuilding firms, with gown vans and flat bed trucks all being built, using the CA's chassis & cab as a basis.
The Mk1 CA Bedfords are immediately identifiable thanks to their split windscreen arrangement, a 'feature' that would disappear with future updates due to popular demand for improved driver visibility. Power came courtesy of the Vauxhall Wyvern E Series' four cylinder unit of 1507cc, coupled to a column gearchange, driving the rear wheels (16" rims fitted, replaced by 15" in 1957).
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Return to Old Vehicle Photos Page 7.
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