My late uncle Ted used to have a Bedford CA minibus(he had a big family-a lot of cousins!) I loved it. Maroon and cream with red leather or vinyl seats. So smart!
We had two CAs in our family back in the early sixties, the first was a '54 van (RHU 698) that Dad bought off the company he worked for, rebuilt the engine and had some side windows put in by a local guy who also made coffins! The van in the vid is later than ours, ours didn't have the little flap in the 'bonnet' for topping up the rad. A 'studio couch' was purchased from a local emporium situated in an old US Army base from WWII (still owned by the same family but now a garden centre), this was 'cut and shut' and served as a back seat for us kids. This was replaced by a '58' 'Workobus' (816 CYC) which was a pukka Martin Walter conversion with slatted longditudinal seats in the back, None of ours had heaters, the only warm spot was between the front N/S wheel arch and the panel which held the I/D plates because of the exhaust manifold on the other side. Happy Days!, I think......
As a young pre-teen the farm I work at had a Bedford CAV, later my apprenticeship 1970's the Firm had a fleet of CAV Site Vans, overhauled a few engines in those days.. Drop engine out from underneath, with having a pillar ramp, detach and roll suspension out,, lower the ramp and release engine to sit on a frame made for the purpose on a trolley, lift ramp an engine's out. Issue we'd have was driver's breaking the column shift.. mole grips came in very handy. lovely vans.. Garage job sometime later never liked the CF's.. pain the screw tappet valve adjustment, the Opal diesel broke cams. I'd the scares from working on TK's Cattle/Horseboxes. pain getting to most anything on them.. dropping a clutch out, 3/8 nut was handy between figures/cover, drop the plate, then the cover cleared the bellhousing.. 4speed box was about 165lbs without Handbrake disc/caliper.. yearly pedal bushes/gators and column fiber couple.. think I've a tall headed bolt or two in my box.. For all they where, those where the Days.. Should I mention Ford D Series, brakes, shackles, kingpins...
As a early 60's rock group we spent many miles in our CA, Lancashire and Yorkshire clubs many.Never broke down once.80 now looking back ,those really where the good times,didn't realize it then.Regards to any old rockers still with us.
Wow! I too was in a 60's band touring the Yorkshire clubs in a Bedford CA, it broke down all the time! We sold it and got an Austin A4, which also broke down a lot. Guess we were just unlucky with old vans.
@@bobfrankish8883 hi bob.good to hear from you. Long live those 12 bars that kept us going after more pints than we should have drunk.i'll raise a glass to chuck tonight In memory,- join me.Take care,a nother Bob
6 years ago, we made an offer on a house that had one of these in the garden (very similar, if not the same), under layers of brambles. the offer was accepted and I was more excited by the van in the garden than the house, but alas we were gazumped and the van is probably still in the garden. The house was in Orton on the Hill, in rural west Leicestershire if anyone is interested, and well out of sight.
Interesting - a very CA indeed - July 1954 - registered in London.Complete with a 1964 Bedfordshire registered Ariel Leader , 250cc , with rare optional panniers, like an identical one I owned with a close number which was ex-Police !.Both sadly too far gone but would yield some very rare parts .Good luck trying to retrieve them !
I liked the Bedford van's over the transit, never drove a CA but I learnt to drive in a 69 or 70 CF, the firm bought it at about 3 years old to replace our somewhat battered Anglia van, the CF had a three speed gearbox and sliding doors which occasionally fell off without warning, they were great in the summer months but but bloody cold in the winter
Hi, your video just popped up for some reason,anyway back around 1970 I owned 321RMF,it was a basic camper conversion and was my ‘Passion Wagon’! The Timing Chain rattled like hell but I changed it and the motor ran really smoothly. I lived in the Leatherhead area at that time.For some reason later on I swapped it for a later model Bedford van.The other interesting thing was,I saw it used in a British film in its previous life.I can’t remember the title,but the plot involves a gang of convicted criminals in prison,who secretly escape to do a robbery and return to the prison,hence the perfect alibi. I may have a photo of the vehicle somewhere,if you’re interested.
@@madworksgarageHi,re photo,sorry but I can’t find the one I mentioned,it may be lost,there is another one with mainly me in it, so not as good .I’ll have another search though.Also if I screenshot it how do I send it?
I have a soft spot for Bedford ca. In the 1960’s I learn to drive in a short wheel base one and passed my test in it I even remember the reg number CAO108B, then passing I used the long wheel base model reg no EAO339C.
In the early 60's when i was a young kid my dad worked for a sand and gravel company that had a brand new bedford work bus and dad used to let me sit on his lap and steer it up the private track to the site, so basicaly its the first thing i ever drove i must have been 6 or 7 lol
Very interesting video! Bedford trucks are the greatest. I have had several tk cattle trucks and a horse lorry. Good dependable machines. I always wanted a big tm.
Great video - I'm no expert but I did notice the maroon and cream paint inside the rear. Could it have been British Road Services in its commercial life? Good luck with a recovery! I do wonder how things end up in such remote locations.
I used to deliver for my grandparents bakery in one , all over St John’s Wood door to door . Black with gold and red lettering on the side . That was in the day where we used to have to wear oilcloth uniforms with bow ties for the class of Trade the business distracted
The first time you knew about a duvel was through me, Id bought one and you thought cabinets Must have been hand made because you'd not seen one before This was about 18 year's ago BAS514 I think was reg of mine Cream and light green Someone had put a later engine in it with a 4 speed column shift
Beautiful. My father had a CA Dormobile back in about 1964 and I've loved them ever since.
John, wow, what a find. Hopefully, you can find out the owner definitely needs to be rescued project. At least at the moment, it's in one piece. ❤
What a lovely old wagon, just crying out to be rescued.
We will do our best to save it.. 😁
I had one in the 60s and I loved it. Great vehicle.
My late uncle Ted used to have a Bedford CA minibus(he had a big family-a lot of cousins!) I loved it. Maroon and cream with red leather or vinyl seats. So smart!
We had two CAs in our family back in the early sixties, the first was a '54 van (RHU 698) that Dad bought off the company he worked for, rebuilt the engine and had some side windows put in by a local guy who also made coffins! The van in the vid is later than ours, ours didn't have the little flap in the 'bonnet' for topping up the rad. A 'studio couch' was purchased from a local emporium situated in an old US Army base from WWII (still owned by the same family but now a garden centre), this was 'cut and shut' and served as a back seat for us kids. This was replaced by a '58' 'Workobus' (816 CYC) which was a pukka Martin Walter conversion with slatted longditudinal seats in the back, None of ours had heaters, the only warm spot was between the front N/S wheel arch and the panel which held the I/D plates because of the exhaust manifold on the other side. Happy Days!, I think......
Great find, would love to see it being rescued, it certainly deserves it 👍
As a young pre-teen the farm I work at had a Bedford CAV, later my apprenticeship 1970's the Firm had a fleet of CAV Site Vans, overhauled a few engines in those days..
Drop engine out from underneath, with having a pillar ramp, detach and roll suspension out,, lower the ramp and release engine to sit on a frame made for the purpose on a trolley, lift ramp an engine's out.
Issue we'd have was driver's breaking the column shift.. mole grips came in very handy.
lovely vans.. Garage job sometime later never liked the CF's.. pain the screw tappet valve adjustment, the Opal diesel broke cams.
I'd the scares from working on TK's Cattle/Horseboxes. pain getting to most anything on them.. dropping a clutch out, 3/8 nut was handy between figures/cover, drop the plate, then the cover cleared the bellhousing.. 4speed box was about 165lbs without Handbrake disc/caliper.. yearly pedal bushes/gators and column fiber couple.. think I've a tall headed bolt or two in my box..
For all they where, those where the Days.. Should I mention Ford D Series, brakes, shackles, kingpins...
In the 60s I did pre delivery inspections on these as an apprentice I also fitted heaters in them , nice to work on them.
Those were the days no seat belts and driving with the slidey doors open 🤣🤣
As I child I remember seeing these vans driving with the sliding doors open. I thought that was great.
Got to hand it to you(and others,I'm sure)for your dedication and enthusiasm.
Take care,ok.
As a early 60's rock group we spent many miles in our CA, Lancashire and Yorkshire clubs many.Never broke down once.80 now looking back ,those really where the good times,didn't realize it then.Regards to any old rockers still with us.
Wow! I too was in a 60's band touring the Yorkshire clubs in a Bedford CA, it broke down all the time! We sold it and got an Austin A4, which also broke down a lot. Guess we were just unlucky with old vans.
@@bobfrankish8883 hi bob.good to hear from you. Long live those 12 bars that kept us going after more pints than we should have drunk.i'll raise a glass to chuck tonight
In memory,- join me.Take care,a nother Bob
6 years ago, we made an offer on a house that had one of these in the garden (very similar, if not the same), under layers of brambles. the offer was accepted and I was more excited by the van in the garden than the house, but alas we were gazumped and the van is probably still in the garden. The house was in Orton on the Hill, in rural west Leicestershire if anyone is interested, and well out of sight.
I worked next door to their works back in early 70s.
Interesting - a very CA indeed - July 1954 - registered in London.Complete with a 1964 Bedfordshire registered Ariel Leader , 250cc , with rare optional panniers, like an identical one I owned with a close number which was ex-Police !.Both sadly too far gone but would yield some very rare parts .Good luck trying to retrieve them !
I liked the Bedford van's over the transit, never drove a CA but I learnt to drive in a 69 or 70 CF, the firm bought it at about 3 years old to replace our somewhat battered Anglia van, the CF had a three speed gearbox and sliding doors which occasionally fell off without warning, they were great in the summer months but but bloody cold in the winter
Top spot ,nice work,thanks for posting
Hello, I remember when my dad brought the works Bedford home.
Hi, your video just popped up for some reason,anyway back around 1970 I owned 321RMF,it was a basic camper conversion
and was my ‘Passion Wagon’! The Timing Chain rattled like hell but I changed it and the motor ran really smoothly.
I lived in the Leatherhead area at that time.For some reason later on I swapped it for a later model Bedford van.The other interesting thing was,I saw it used in a British film in its previous life.I can’t remember the title,but the plot involves a gang of convicted criminals in prison,who secretly escape to do a robbery and return to the prison,hence the perfect alibi.
I may have a photo of the vehicle somewhere,if you’re interested.
Yes please 🙏
@@madworksgarageHi,re photo,sorry but I can’t find the one I mentioned,it may be lost,there is another one with mainly me in it, so not as good .I’ll have another search though.Also if I screenshot it how do I send it?
The film with that plot is Two Way Stretch (1960) starring Peter Sellers and Wilfrid Hyde-White.
I have a soft spot for Bedford ca. In the 1960’s I learn to drive in a short wheel base one and passed my test in it I even remember the reg number CAO108B, then passing I used the long wheel base model reg no EAO339C.
341 CMF. JULY 1954 according to my book.
you needed a doc leave to help with the stinging but had two ca's one was ex ambulance other was a standard both where good vans love them
The bit of motorbike is from an Ariel Leader....
You lucking person to find this early 1960s van hope you get it .
Thanks,it's a 1954.. we think.. may be 53? Still working on it..
In the early 60's when i was a young kid my dad worked for a sand and gravel company that had a brand new bedford work bus and dad used to let me sit on his lap and steer it up the private track to the site, so basicaly its the first thing i ever drove i must have been 6 or 7 lol
Had 2 of these one was a van previously owned by PYE and a tipper truck with a tipper you had to wind up
Very interesting video!
Bedford trucks are the greatest.
I have had several tk cattle trucks and a horse lorry.
Good dependable machines.
I always wanted a big tm.
Great video - I'm no expert but I did notice the maroon and cream paint inside the rear. Could it have been British Road Services in its commercial life? Good luck with a recovery! I do wonder how things end up in such remote locations.
I used to deliver for my grandparents bakery in one , all over St John’s Wood door to door . Black with gold and red lettering on the side .
That was in the day where we used to have to wear oilcloth uniforms with bow ties for the class of Trade the business distracted
Wonderful 😊
All I remember of these Bedford vans is that even from new they had compulsory rattling bumbers! 🤭
👍 yes they did!!! 😂
bet its been there 40 -50 yrs -cool van !
The van should be called Nettles 😂😂😂
I like that mate 🤔
Nmy dad had acouple of ca in the 60s took the engine out of one to put into the other with no engine hoist !
And the E series next door...
The first time you knew about a duvel was through me,
Id bought one and you thought cabinets Must have been hand made because you'd not seen one before
This was about 18 year's ago
BAS514 I think was reg of mine
Cream and light green
Someone had put a later engine in it with a 4 speed column shift
ford thames was a nice van
To think I live 2 miles from you. I might pop in later by you
watch out for the spiders, haha. Mate in Australia you would have woken up 100 snakes.
I wouldn't of been anywhere near it mate! 😜
Needs saving
If you look hard enough they are still out there
I had a CA in 1968
your legs are going to be fizzing tonight John !!
They still are! 😂
My dads first vehicle.
It’s a 1952
What makes you think that mate?
By putting this on TH-cam you have helped a lot of people By the time you get round to rescuing it it will be stripped
To strip it you would need to know the location... Only the 3 of us know where it is...
@@madworksgarage location would be a miracle to find it if you didn’t know !!!!