Vauxhall/Bedford Midi; campervans

The often forgotten model of the light commercial van range in the UK is the Bedford Midi, first launched in 1984, a long 'tubular' vehicle with a lifting rear tailgate; it ran in production alongside the existing Bedford CF range. Initially fitted with engine options which included a 1.8lt petrol and 2lt diesel, later expanded to 2lt petrol and 2.2lt diesel units, with a more powerful 2.4lt turbo diesel also an option. The wheelbase lengths were SWB of 14.7ft and a LWB of 15.9ft, and with the option of single or twin side loading doors. Unlike the Bedford CF (in production since 1969), the Midi was not available as a chassis-cab, so a coachbuilt motorhome could not be produced, only campervan style models with a glass fibre high top or a rising roof (pop-top).

One of the first UK converters to launch a campervan model on the 'new' Midi was Auto-Sleeper of Worcestershire, unveiling their conversion at the 1985 Earls Court Motor Show.
 (picture below).

The price of a Midi Auto-Sleeper in January of 1986 was listed as £11,574, and I'm reliably informed that the factory produced less than fifty examples, so finding a survivor today, especially in nice condition, is extremely rare. The interior of this model was similar to their Volkswagen VHT model, and interior shots can be seen below.

Also launching a high top campervan conversion in 1985 were Autohomes, a huge motorhome company based in Poole, who had been building motorhomes since the late 1950s, beginning with the Austin-Morris J2/152 Highwayman. In a fanfare of publicity, Autohomes released their Midi conversion as the 'Silver Dream Machine', which gives a clue as to the colour of this particular model! Seen below is the 'Autohomes Midihome', with its distinctive high top roof and eye-catching colour scheme.

Interior layout of the Midihome featured a rear kitchen with dinette/double bed in the centre of the vehicle.

Above are three interior pictures of a surviving Midihome.

The list price of a Autohomes Midihome in early 1986 was £11,299; in two-berth format with a third berth as an option.

Devon Conversions were a long established campervan conversion company in the UK, famous for their VW campers since the 1950s; they released two models on the Midi during the mid-60s. The 'Dove' was a rising roof campervan which featured a double bed within the large roof space and their 'Domino' was a high top version (both seen below).

The Bedford/Vauxhall Midi was in production until 1994 in the UK.

To read much more about Bedford/Vauxhall motorhomes and campervans, why not grab a copy of my 2010 hardback book 'Bedford Camper Vans & Motorhomes-the inside story', it's packed with information on every Bedford, features some amazing photographs and detailed information about many conversions, with interesting facts, figures and titbits. Published by The Crowood Press and still available from Amazon Books, direct from the publisher, and many high street and on-line bookshops.