CF Bedford History - HELP!

[Jock]

Att: ALL MEMBERS

I need a hand editing this text borrowed from the UK site so that it is relevant to Australia.
I would like to include a history section on the site so your help working on this document would be appreciated.

A few of you older gents may know the fine details about when the CF landed in Australia and what models were
available etc etc Any help would be much appreciated - thanks guys!

Jock


HISTORY OF THE CF BEDFORD
The CF was first introduced in 1969 as a replacement for the CA & TJ series vans. It was Bedford’s answer to the Ford Transit. Initially there were 2 wheelbase versions available, 106in and 126in. Payloads of 14, 22, 25 & 35 cwt were available. The lighter weight models had a short wheelbase and single wheel rear axle. The heavier were long wheelbase with double wheel rear axle. Body styles were van, minibus, chassis/cowl and chassis/cab. Sliding cab doors were available on the van and minbus. Bedford decided to use the ‘modern’ overhead cam engine with the cam driven by a toother rubber drive belt and tilted at 45 degrees to give more room and to lower the center of gravity. It was quite an unusual engine for a van of that time. The diesel models used the old but trusty Perkins engines. The engines used were 1599cc (petrol) and 1760cc (diesel) for the lighter models and 1975cc (petrol) and 2523(diesel) for the heavier models. Chassis numbers consisted of 5 digits. The first 2 (97) indicated that it was a CF. The next one gave the vehicle size, 1 = 14/18cwt, 3 = 22cwt, 5 = 25cwt & 7 = 35cwt. The final 2 numbers are the body type. 60 = chassis/cab, 70 = van & 90 = chassis cowl. In 1972 the petrol engine sizes were uprated to 1759cc & 2279cc by increasing the bore. A new variant was made available, 35cwt chassis/cab. By 1975 the models were identified by gross vehicle weight (GVW) and carried a badge over the front wheel arch, IE CF220 - 2.20Ton. An extra long wheelbase chassis/cab was also made available with a wheelbase of 140in, double rear wheels and powered by the 2279cc petrol engine. In 1977 a new GM diesel engine of 2064cc was introduced to replace the Perkins units. In 1980 the whole range was given a facelift. This is when the plastic grilled front end was introduced. Most owners incorrectly call this model the CF2. At the same time the range was modified and now consisted of CF230, 250, 280 & 350. The engines were 1759 petrol for the 230 model with the rest having either the 2279cc petrol or the diesel, now increased to 2260cc. In 1984 the range was superceded by the CF2. Visually they were very similar the the CF1 with 1980 facelift. Only one engine was available, the 1979cc petrol. At this time the CF was also given front disk brakes. A Ferguson 4WD version was now available. This was based on the 350 model. There was also an electric version built which was jointly developed with Lucas.

Production of the CF ceased in July 1987 :-(

[hammers_spanners]

JD this text is in the CF Facts and Figures

[outriding]

It's strange to me that there is very little historical information available online.

If anyone has some more information in any book or magazine please share!

I have posted what I have found so far on my blog:

http://bedfordcf2van.blogspot.com/p/history.html

[Bedford Fever]

Hey Jock on ebay if you type in HOLDEN BEDFORD a bedford book titled ""Holden Powered"" its a parts catalogue for aussie bedfordsl believe.
Maybe it might have an aussie introduction?? Sorry dont know how to post the ebay link .It has 4 days to go $80 starting bid pick up in Renmark S.A
I to would love to know about the Australian Bedford history.. Cheers frank

[ben]

nah it doesnt frank its just a parts manual thats all.

cheers
ben

[LS120]

i have some info about campers out of an old build you ouwn camper book (1960-70) era.. with bedfords in.. will scan & upload

[outriding]

I have added this bit of history to my blog:


http://bedfordcf2van.blogspot.pt/2012/03/50-years-of-bedford-in-australia-1981.html


If you have anything to add please comment. Thanks

[BlackBedford]

I have added this bit of history to my blog:

If you have anything to add please comment. Thanks

I posted the following:
'day

I have been driving CF vans since the late '70s. GMH (Generally Mostly Horrible) was trying to sell Bedford vans at exhorbentant prices. I tried to buy a new CFS van in 1977 and the GMH dealer refused to sell me one. He tried to sell me a sedan based panel van as per the quote:


The lazy management at GMH were focused on getting more profits for the parent company in the US instead of product development. A Holden motor was fitted to the CF but no other improvements were done despite a LOT of interest in a decent box van. The CF vans were replaced by a Japanese built van, called the Shuttle, because they thought it would be more profitable. The problem was that the public rejected the "Shittle". I bought one, and it is sitting under a tree where it belongs!
The management at GMH went on to make more stupid mistakes. 4 models that were very popular were the WB model Statesman sedan, panel van, utility and one-tonner table top. Rural dealers I spoke to said that the Statesman and one tonner were at least 70% of ALL their sales. For many years the WB ute and one-tonner were THE weapon of choice for nearly every young lad coming of age.
By 1984 I had a computer service business using 6 CF vans and trucks. I attendeed a service call at Whitemans Holden in Gilgandra. The name was not meant to be racist. I was servicing the computers when a bloke in a suit starting making conversation about my nice looking modded CFS van. I asked who he was and when he proudly told me he was from Head Office, the GMH Marketing Department, I starting berating him about cancelling the CF product range. He explained that there was no demand for CF vans anymore. I asked him why then was I getting at least 1 phone call a week from tradesmen trying to buy one of my vans? He extolled the Shuttle van and I agressively put him in his place. He retreated as a losser. The dealers had overheard me and patted me on the back for telling him off. They had been trying to explain that by cutting the popular products they would lose their business. Sadly the marketing people did not listen and most GMH rural dealers closed down. Toyota stepped in to take the market.
Before GMH pulled the plug on the CF, there was a strong van scene with popular modifications readily available. GMH chose to ignore what was going on.
They should have sold the CF at a reasonable price, and had a decent product improvement program, They didn't.

[outriding]

I had to google what the Shuttle you were referring to is..

Holden Shuttle... originally Isuzu Fargo, that's the same model they used in Europe,

called Bedford Midi in the UK or Bedford Seta in Portugal.

[BlackBedford]

G'day
Referring to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_Fargo

"Holden discontinued the Shuttle in 1990, and opted not to replace it with another vehicle either developed by itself, or sourced from within the GM empire"

The "Shittle" was the "kiss of death" to Holdens presence in the van market.

I remember now that I was given a Shittle LS for free and still think I got ripped off.