camperfanatic

  Overview         The Bedford name is one that is synonymous with quality, robust commercial vehicles. First introduced in 1931, Bedford was the brand name given to Vauxhall’s commercial division, and the name of the vehicle marque was derived from the County in which these vehicles were constructed, Bedfordshire , England . In a twenty year period from its inception, Bedford went from strength to strength, attaining excellent sales and an enviable reputation for their range of commercial vehicles. During the years of WW11, Bedford vehicles were in demand by the military, and the formidable Churchill tanks were also built at the factory for use by the British Army.       The year 1952 is the significant milestone in Bedford history, certainly in terms of British-built camper vans. The year 1952, heralded the introduction of the Bedford CA range of light vans, a vehicle which was to become such a familiar sight in Britain o...

 Those residents outside of the UK might be unfamiliar with the light commercial van chassis launched in 1952 by Vauxhall in the Britain. 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of a vehicle which would not only change the face of deliveries in the UK,  but would create a new base for a campervan, that would come to be known as the 'Dormobile'. The brainchild of Martin Walter Ltd, based in Folkestone,  the Bedford CA Dormobile would bring the outdoor leisure lifestyle to postwar Britain. It would also alter the face of road transport in the UK as it became a familiar sight in various formats, from basic delivery van, works van, builders van and pickup, mobile shop, gown van, furniture removal van, mobile water bowser, ice cream van and everything in between. The CA was produced at the Vauxhall plant based in Luton, and left the factory by the thousands throughout the 1950s and 60s, until it was replaced by the Bedford CF in 1969. Although Martin Walter Ltd (Dormobile) were by far...

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 ...