Bedford Vehicles facts for kids

The crest from an old Bedford ambulance

Bedford Vehicles, often called just Bedford, was a well-known brand of vehicles. These vehicles were made by Vauxhall Motors and were part of the larger company, General Motors (GM). Bedford started making vehicles in 1930. They focused on building vehicles for businesses, like trucks and vans.

Bedford Vehicles became a very important brand around the world. They sold many different sizes of trucks, from small to very large, to countries all over the globe. For several years, Bedford was one of the most successful parts of GM in Europe, making a lot of money.

What Was Bedford Vehicles?

Bedford was a company that built many types of vehicles for work. These are called "commercial vehicles." They made everything from small vans to huge trucks. Imagine all the delivery vans, construction trucks, and even fire engines you see – many of these used to be made by Bedford.

The Beginning of Bedford

The Bedford brand began in 1930. It was created by Vauxhall Motors, which was already a car company. Vauxhall was owned by General Motors, a giant American car company. Bedford's goal was to build strong and reliable vehicles that businesses could use every day.

Bedford's Big Trucks

Bedford became especially famous for its trucks, often called "lorries" in the UK. They built trucks of all sizes. These trucks were used for many jobs, like carrying goods, helping with construction, and even serving in the military. Bedford trucks were known for being tough and dependable. They were sold in many countries, showing how popular they were worldwide.

The End of an Era

In 1987, the part of Bedford that made heavy trucks was sold off. This new company was called AWD Ltd. However, the Bedford name continued to be used for smaller vans and light commercial vehicles. These newer vans were often based on designs from other car companies like Vauxhall, Opel, Isuzu, and Suzuki.

Finally, the Bedford brand was stopped completely in 1991. After that, the light commercial vehicles made by GM in Europe were sold under the Vauxhall or Opel names, depending on the country. Even though the brand is gone, you can still see old Bedford vehicles working or at museums, showing their history.

Images for kids

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  Bedford ambulance

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  1936 Bedford WTL lorry at Amberley Working Museum

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  1943 Bedford MW utility vehicle

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  The war-time Bedford QL, with the driver perched above the engine in a forward control cab, foreshadowed post-war truck designs.

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  Bedford PC Van 1950

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  A Bedford CA type new in 1959

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  Bedford S

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  Green Goddess fire engine

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  1967 Bedford SB mobile cinema

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  AWD Bedford TM 6-6 (6x6) 14000 kg Truck

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  Bedford TK

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  Bedford VAL

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  Bedford TJ J3

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  1985 CF series 2