Bedford military-front and civvy-front types
 

I thought I ought to start a new thread on the model types as I am still stymied at times. I have the following data with chassis numbers:

MW & MWR WD TRUCK, 15-CWT:
MW
MWC WATER
MWD G/S
MWG A/A
MWR RADIO
MWT A/tank Portee
[MWV Van]

OX 30 CWT WD LORRY:
OX
OXA Armoured truck
OXC
OXD

OX BEDFORD-SCAMMELL 6 TON 4X2-2 TRACTOR LORRY:
OXC

OY 3 TON WD LORRY:
OY
OYC
OYD

OWS 5 TON SHORT COMMERCIAL LORRY:
OWS

OWL 5 TON LONG COMMERCIAL LORRY:
OWL

OWB 26-SEATER BUS/COACH:
OWB

Re: Bedford military-front and civvy-front types
 

David,

To quote from the wartime guide of Vauxhall and Bedford vehicles, and expand on your list;
OWST 5 ton swb tipper, military front.
OWLE 5 ton lwb flat platform, milt front
OWLD 5 ton lwb dropside, milt front
OWB 32 seater bus, Duple body, civvy front

all of these are civilian models to a Min. of War Transport licence.

Armoured?
 

Thanks Richard...my info was gleaned from various sources. Was there a MWA Armoured or am I confusing the OXA, and also MWV van?

Which of the Bedfords had the civvy front? This is a post-war Pearson's acquisition that they rebuilt. Looks like an OWS to my untrained eyes. I keep thinking the civvy front was only used on the OW series.

Bedford-Duple
 

The Census List shows that several ex-RN 32-seaters were allocated census numbers and issued to the American Red Cross. This is a OWB outside the Hendon, London works of Duple Bodies & Motors Ltd.

Re: Armoured?
 

David,

I think you mean the OXA armoured, this was not a factory build.
Not sure what you mean by MMV ?

This tanker was probably ex-military and was known as;
ML Modified
Bedford Petrol Tanker
32x6 heavy duty tyres, duals on rear
143" wheelbase
800 gallon 4-compartment tank by Aluminium Plant & Vessel Co.

and to add, the OW series only used the military front end and were for essential civilian users.

15 cwt Bedford MWX
 

David and Richard
Don't forget the Bedford MWX....
the inflateable rubber truck ........ :-)

Rolf

Hi David

Prehaps a few more photos would help those in the forum not familier with all the bedford model numbers, with so many it can get confusing.
heres the OXA armoured truck

The ML heavy ambulance

WTL horse ambulance

ML ambulance
 

Did these use Wadham Stringer bodies? Note the Austin K2 in the garage, or that's which model I think it is! The ATS girls are training, and using for example dual-control Morris-Commercial C.2 lorries. There is at least one shot in the series of a K2/Y ambulance, so they had both to train on.

OXC tractor
 

Post-war RN OXC Bedford-Scammell 6-tonner with Queen Mary

OYC?
 

Army OYC (with tailgate body)? Census Number L 52587 from batch L 521441 - 526205 V.4155, Lorry 3-ton G/S.

Two for the price of one
 

Collecting Army meat from Smithfield Market, 1946.

Re: OYC?
 

David,

That would be an OYD, with the GS Cargo body.

Re: OXC tractor
 

David,

I would guess, from the civvy lorries in the background, that this Bedford is taking part in a Lorry Driver of the Year competition.

Re: ML ambulance
 

This is normally known, on the Morris Commercial and Austin K2, as a Mann Egerton body.

A point I meant to make yesterday on spotting the different models is that the M type (ML), and smaller K type, had slightly longer bonnets than the O types, giving a little bit more room in the cab.

Van, post-war
 

Is this a MWV? This brings back memories...school dinners being delivered in containers, and the next day the Pig Man took away the same containers with the leftovers, exchanging the previous day's empties. Our Junior school had no cooking facilities so the food was brought in by van from the Secondary Modern 1/2 mile away.

Contrast bonnets!
 

Post-war, around 1948?

Re: Van, post-war
 

No!

Some 15 cwts were classified and bodied as "Vans", Fordson WOT2 was another, they were very similar to a normal MWD with canvas canopy. Again using the Vauxhall Motors publication as a guide, early models had what is described as a "cape cart hood" and lorry body with tilt, later ones had half doors and canvas top cab as normal MW models. One point of difference is the vehicle length, a normal MWD was 77.5" long whereas a MWV was 90" long, so it had a slightly longer overhang.

David

The van body on the 15cwt is i am sure a post war civilian conversion, i will try and find the one photo i have of the RAF van.
Meantime a OXC tractor from WW2 still in service with the RAF in Aden
Les

OXC post-war civvy
 

And other demobbed and working hard in Botley Mills, near Southampton.

L be
 

I am not sure what the flat-fronted is please? OXC?

Note the Allis-Chalmers HST, the Canadian GPW + trailer, Ford F30S Bofors (probably rebuilt as self-propelled by then though they previously towed the Ben Hur trailers as well, as "tractors") and a QL??? behind the Bedford?

Re: Flat-front type?
 

Pass me the microscope!

Wow!
 

No wonder you Aussies are good at ball games....you're so quick off the mark. I was resizing it as you were touching-down Keith!

Looks like an OXC and not an MW?

Ahh that's better
 

... no it's not!

What th...?? :confused :confused

Re: Re: Flat-front type?
 

:D :D

Keith, its not a microscope you need, just go back to the other side of the room to view :)

Looks like a long wheelbase so I would go for OYD, but still speculation.

Macroscope
 

Blown-up:

Re: Macroscope
 

Well, it is definitely an OYD and looks to be followed by a QL.

Coventry (Alvis Works) Lorry Driver of the Year compo 1958
 

Re: L be
 

That's a Canadian 20-cwt trailer. It indeed does look like the trailer is hitched up to the Jeep (as it is tilted forward), although I'm sure this was only done to get it out of the way. The 20-cwt trailer is intended to be towed behind 15-cwt trucks and up.

Where and when was this picture taken, please?

H.