Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[gresham flyer]

I built this van in 1983.

I purchased a one owner Bedford CF 1978.

It was white.
2.3ltr petrol engine.
It had sliding doors.
No side loading door.

I totally transformed the van into a high speed cruiser.

It is powered by Rover V8 engine and five speed box.

I still have the van in this condition and intend to put it back on the road this year as its 30th anniversary.

I will post some more photo`s.

Gresham Flyer

[ukdave2002]

I have a soft spot for the Bedford CF, I worked for a small firm in Chester in the 80's who had one, we serviced night clubs sound and lighting equipment, however when the van engine gave up we had to sort that too!, I remember the challenge of getting the van up high enough to drop the engine out of the bottom and then there is the cover in the cab that removes to get at the gearbox end of the lump.

I much preferred the driving position of the CF to the 70's transit that we also had.

Dave

[mistericeman]

Nice looking CF mate ...

They were IMHO the best looking Van of it's time (Mind i grew up going to Bell Vue custom car shows back in the 70's/80's) so I might be biased lol.

Well worth a look on here .
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=643&q=custom+bedford+cf&oq=custom+bedford+cf&gs_l=img.3...1669.8150.0.8366.17.9.0.8.8.0.188.932.6j3.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.2.img.j9gP3qoJ8R4

Nearest i ever got to owning one was driving a beaten up old 2.3 slant powered twin rear wheel tipper when i was about 19 .

Happy memories It was battered but still soldiered on

[gresham flyer]

[gresham flyer]

This was at Truckfest South West nr Bristol.
My van was voted best of show.

Gresham Flyer

[gresham flyer]

These photo`s were taken about 23 years ago,as can be seen a friend is sitting on the bench without a face mask.
Terry the chap who was laying the paint on discarded his mask as well.
They are surprisingly both still alive,but looking a bit older.!!!!

I built the van 30 years ago,it was having a second respray after 7 years to keep it in the best condition,due to the odd scratch and ding etc.

The paint used was Gypfast 60 cellulose. If I remember rightly we put some cellulose laquer into the paint for the final couple of coats.
Then it was plenty of flatting and polishing which you had to do in those day`s.

Gresham Flyer

[ukdave2002]

The pics of your wife in the 1983 truckfest show took me back, l remember that look and makeup very well as a teenager in 1983
Dave

[gresham flyer]

That was not the wife.!!!

I think the photo was taken in about 1990,a chap with a camera was walking about with a girl in a long coat,when they got to my van she discarded the coat and posed inside my van,I took a few photo`s of her.

It was taken at the Truckfest South West event.

Gresham Flyer

[Penman]

Hi

[ukdave2002]