Bedford CA

The Bedford CA was a distinctive pug-nosed vehicle produced between 1952 and 1969 by Vauxhall Motors, Luton, England.

It was manufactured in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase forms, each form available in either a 10-12cwt or a 15cwt version [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] .

Generally it was supplied as a light delivery van with sliding doors but it was also available as a chassis with cowl upon which specialist bodywork could be added [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] . The Bedford Dormobile was a Campervan conversion based on the Bedford CA van.

In its day, the vehicle was ubiquitous, the Ford Transit of its time. The van is a rare sight today, though you might occasionally see a battered Bedford Dormobile en-route to Glastonbury, Stonehenge or other outdoor summer events in the UK.

Dimensions

The Body

The overall profile and architecture of the CA changed little during the vehicle’s seventeen year life. There were, however, three distinctly different version sold. The first CAs featured a two piece windscreen comprising two separate flat sheets of glass separated with a central vertical metal divide. As curved screen glass became available in the UK at an acceptable price, the two piece windscreen was replaced with a single slightly curved windscreen in approximately 1958. At the same time the painted front grill of the original, which had featured a central ‘split’ reflecting the split windscreen, was replaced by a smaller unsplit front grill, still painted in the van’s body colour. The third version of the Bedford CA, sold from late 1964, featured a deeper windscreen and a corresponding reduction in the width of the painted metal panel directly below the windscreen. The 1964 vans also reflected general trends in car design of the time in featuring, for the first time, a chrome plated front grill.

Engine

The vehicle was powered by a 4 cylinder in-line petrol engine with push rod operated overhead valves and a 3-bearing crankshaft. The fuel pump, oil pump and distributor were driven directly off the camshaft. A Zenith 34VN downdraft carburetter was fitted. The engine was available in either a low compression or a high compression version [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] .

The engine extended back into the vehicles cabin and was covered by a cowling. The vehicle thus had a very short bonnet, giving it its distinctive look. This configuration meant that the driver and passenger were travelling with their feet alongside the engine, but allowed a good proportion of the vehicle's overall length to be used for its payload. Access to the engine for routine checks was via the tiny bonnet flap or the interior cowl. For major overhaul of the engine, the front panel containing the headlights and grille and the chassis front crossmember had to be completely removed [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] .

The engine and 3-speed gearbox, were also used in the Vauxhall F-series Victor. The 4-speed gearbox from later FC-series models could be easily fitted to any 3-speed Bedford CA, and later was offered as a factory option . Later models also benefited from the 1594cc engine fitted in the Vauxhall Victor FB post 1964.

Transmission and final drive

The vehicle initially had a three speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels via a semi-floating rear-axle [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] . Later models had a four speed transmission.

Front suspension

The front suspension comprised double wishbones and coil-springs atached to a front axle crossmember. A stabilizer bar linked the two lower wishbones [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] . A similar arrangement was later used on the Vauxhall Viva.

Rear suspension

The rear suspension comprised semi-elliptic leaf spings, 2.25in wide, mounted on the chassis and shackled to the rear axle. The 10-12cwt version had 7 leaves. the 15cwt version had 8 leaves. Each leaf was 0.25in thick [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] .

Operating controls and instruments

The gear change was mounted on the steering column. The direction indicator switch was mounted in the instrument panel. The headlamp dip switch was foot operated. The starter switch was push-operated and mounted on the floor panel below the handbrake [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] .

Instruments were limited to a speedometer, a fuel gauge and a water temperature gauge.

The Bedford CA was designed in an era when semi-conductor devices were state-of-the-art and not affordable for automotive applications. Water temperature was thus measured mechanically, via a capillary tube connected to capsule containing a volatile liquid. The capsule was screwed into the body of the water pump. Any change in temperature of the engine coolant evaporated or condensed the volatile liquid, altering the pressure on a mechanical linkage in the water temperature gauge, which moved the position of the needle. Later models used an electric gauge.

The fuel gauge was electrically controlled, as is the case in vehicles today. The sensor unit in the fuel tank could use the electrical resistance of a float-variable rheostat to measure the level of fuel, and was therefore not dependent upon the new semi-conductor technology.

Braking system

The braking system comprised a cast-iron detachable brake drum on each roadwheel, with the retardation provided by asbestos-lined brake shoes mounted in a leading/trailing arrangement. The shoes were operated by double-acting Lockheed hydraulic cylinders, fed by a single hydraulic circuit connected to the brake master cylinder which was mechanically linked to the brake pedal [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] . This design was normal for that time, but had some inherent problems and is inadequate by modern standards.

Steering system

Steering was effected by a Burman recirculating ball type steering gear, a four rod linkage system and two relay levers [Bedford CA Service Training Manual 1959] . This design is unlikely to have been precise, because of all of the linkages it involves. In practicethe system was reasonably precise and a CA actually handled better than the early Ford Transit due to the independent front suspension.

Bedford CAs on television

* Sid runs a mobile chippy from a Bedford CA in an early episode of Last of the Summer Wine
* Bedford CAs can sometimes be seen in episodes of The Professionals and The Sweeney

External Links

* [http://www.bedford-world.com / The only international owners club for ALL Bedford types is The Bedford Register & Drivers Club International. Special section for CA Ice Cream Van owners]

Notes