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ronniex4
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject: Bedford CA Utilibus - Martin Walter |
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In the early sixties, when I attended school in a remote rural area in south west Scotland, we were taken to and from school each day in a Bedford CA Utilibus. The local garage proprietor and his son (McCulloch of Sandhead, Wigtownshire) operated this school service and they had two of these vehicles. They were almost identical in their maroon and cream livery, except that one was a 1963 model and the other was a year or two older. I think they may have been supplied new to them by SMT in Glasgow.
The Bedford Utilibus was a Martin Walter conversion of the long wheel base mk 2 CA minibus and the special feature was that they had a raised roof made from fibreglass. The original steel roof was cut away and a deep fibreglass moulding, coloured white and cream, was fitted. This gave much better headroom inside and made the vehicles seem quite big.
I just loved these vehicles. Travelling to and from school in them as they made their way round the farms and villages picking up schoolchildren and taking them to schools in Sandhead and Stoneykirk was one of my best childhood memories.
Does anyone remember this model of Bedford? I've not seen one in real life for nearly 40 years and I've never even seen one featured in the classic motoring mags. Better, still, does anyone know of one still in existence? Do any photographs exist of this model? - I would love to see one.
Ronnie |
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Scotty
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 883
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:03 am Post subject: |
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Hi Ronnie,
First welcome to the web site. 
My friend & I restored a Bedford Utilibus. or was it a Utilabrake, I can't remember now, pictures as follows -
At the start of the restoration -
And the finished product (almost, we couldn't find where we'd stored the hub caps!) a year later -
Scotty.
Last edited by Scotty on Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:06 am Post subject: |
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Hi
Welcome along, I am sure someone will have some pictures for you!
Cheers
Dave |
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Well Scotty beat me too it!
hehe  |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4287
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi the 1st roadworthy vehicle I had was a bedford CA,that was in 1982 when they were just old! It had a 3 speed colum shift box,the pivot on the gear lever had broken & you needed 2 hands to change from 2nd to 3rd! It also had a starting handle which was quite a novelty with my mates! Wish I had kept it!
Dave |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22843
Location: UK
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ronniex4
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject: Bedford CAs |
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Thanks very much guys - for the pictures of the great old CA Bedfords and for the welcome to the forum. I am really impressed by the amount of info there is - what a great place to get and give advice.
I reckon I will be a regular visitor. I've got a range of old vehicles which I am currently working on ie. ......
Willys Hotchkiss MB jeep
1952 Anglia (sit up and beg)
1970 Morris Minor
1975 MGB roadster
1987 Citroen 2CV
Ronnie |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22843
Location: UK
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Hi
Any piccies of your motorcars?
Cheers
Dave |
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Borecman
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject: Bedford CA |
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| What happened to that old workabus of your Rick ? |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22843
Location: UK
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PAUL BEAUMONT
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 1281
Location: Barnsley S. Yorks
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, only just noticed this posting, but I am pretty sure that Classic Van and Pick-up mag did a feature on a Martin Walter Utilabus a bit back. I subscribe to the mag regularly so if you are still interested, Ronniex4, I will see if I can find the article. Send me a PM
PAUL |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22843
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: |
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Hi Ronnie, any chance of a thread or two in the Your Cars category about your vehicles??? sounds like you have a great fleet  -
Willys Hotchkiss MB jeep
1952 Anglia (sit up and beg)
1970 Morris Minor
1975 MGB roadster
1987 Citroen 2CV
You'll find quite a few other Ford sidevalvers on here, as well as a recent convert to the joys of Minor ownership, and one or two keen exponents of all things Citroen
Rick
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
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