Differences between Bedford OYC and OYD

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by mlombard

Hi here's some additional information I got from a chap in the UK, called Peter Mason who has a OYD and seems to know a thing or two about OY's

Early Bedford OY's
Civilian type front hubs with thin rims and tyres
Different Bush Bar
Cast Hand Brake lever
Different dash
Different instruments
Bellows type air cleaner

Late Bedford OY's
Roof Ring
Lifting Rings on Hubs

He quoted chassis no.'s 59680 to 77820 were 1941 production and this would put mine if it was chassis no. 73076 as mid to late 1941, but remember this is only going off the engine no. which rick has given, so the question is did chassis and engine no's line up, this may or may not be the case. I guess the key is to know the chassis no which I'll have another look for, and then to know the production sequence.

Hi Matt,
Not quite as cut and dried as all that. There would be very few OY Bedfords around with the civilian type wheels with twins on rear. Most were lost in France and Dunkirk in 1940. The bellows air cleaner could be found on later OY's. The year of your chassis number, assuming 73076 is correct would be 1943 as production that year was chassis numbers 68618 to 79852 (according to Bart V and he was a stickler for accuracy of facts). The cab cupola was introduced at chassis no. 78696 and another feature worth checking is to see if the top half of the cab was removable, as this feature came in to production with Chassis no. 43522.
On the dashboard, if you have a large round lighting and ignition switch in between speedo and combined gauge, then that feature came in on ch. no. 43522 (1941), this carried through to end of production.

regards, Richard

[mlombard]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Matt,
Not quite as cut and dried as all that. There would be very few OY Bedfords around with the civilian type wheels with twins on rear. Most were lost in France and Dunkirk in 1940. The bellows air cleaner could be found on later OY's. The year of your chassis number, assuming 73076 is correct would be 1943 as production that year was chassis numbers 68618 to 79852 (according to Bart V and he was a stickler for accuracy of facts). The cab cupola was introduced at chassis no. 78696 and another feature worth checking is to see if the top half of the cab was removable, as this feature came in to production with Chassis no. 43522.
On the dashboard, if you have a large round lighting and ignition switch in between speedo and combined gauge, then that feature came in on ch. no. 43522 (1941), this carried through to end of production.

regards, Richard

Thank you very much Richard,, this is exactly the detail I'm looking for, the more I can find out the closer I can narrow down the year of manufacture, and whether it is a refugee from Malaya or a vehicle brought in later.

[mlombard]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Matt,
Not quite as cut and dried as all that. There would be very few OY Bedfords around with the civilian type wheels with twins on rear. Most were lost in France and Dunkirk in 1940. The bellows air cleaner could be found on later OY's. The year of your chassis number, assuming 73076 is correct would be 1943 as production that year was chassis numbers 68618 to 79852 (according to Bart V and he was a stickler for accuracy of facts). The cab cupola was introduced at chassis no. 78696 and another feature worth checking is to see if the top half of the cab was removable, as this feature came in to production with Chassis no. 43522.
On the dashboard, if you have a large round lighting and ignition switch in between speedo and combined gauge, then that feature came in on ch. no. 43522 (1941), this carried through to end of production.

regards, Richard

Hi Richard Now I'm steaming along having worked out how to upload photos, please find some photos to help answer this question

[Mike K]

Some thoughts

Maybe it arrived here during the British build up towards the end of the Pacific war. They had plans ready for major operations , maybe retaking Malaya and Australia was to be a launching off base , I know that RN aircraft carriers arrived in Sydney in 1945.

I think another OY was in Vic Drews yard , or one of the yards in Melbourne ?

Mike

[lynx42]

Matt, I think that Richard had to raise the cab up an inch or two to fit the later Bedford engine in. You might need to check that if you are going to do a proper restoration. From memory, the bottom of the cab should be close to level with the bottom of the chassis member. Richard F. can confirm that for you.

Back in 1973 I worked for a steel company in Melbourne and one of the workmates had an OY 3 tonner as a furniture removal van in St.Kilda. It was painted red and we would use it mostly on weekends to move peoples furniture and belongings. Quite often it would be a midnight flit, but the money was good. Never asked any questions, but would wonder (haha!) why they would move house at 10:00pm on a Saturday night. I don't know what ever happened to that one, but that is the reason why I was interested in this one.

Regards Rick.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Matt, I think that Richard had to raise the cab up an inch or two to fit the later Bedford engine in. You might need to check that if you are going to do a proper restoration. From memory, the bottom of the cab should be close to level with the bottom of the chassis member. Richard F. can confirm that for you.

Matt,
As Rick appears to have the engine that came with the vehicle when he got it, I assume another engine is now fitted. If it is not a 28hp, then is a later 216? If so then there would be no reason to raise the cab. A few photos of engine would be good to see what it is.
Does not look like cab is lifted as it would not fit against front wings and bonnet. Would have to look at another to compare rear cab mounting.

regards, Richard

[mlombard]

Hi All

This thread could possibly be split into two or renamed (don't know if you can do this). Originally I was after the differences between OYC and OYD's particularly in any chassis alterations, but we got on to the interesting (and still relevant topic) of Bedford OY's and how they go to Australia. I've made a contact or two re the Bedford OY I have and am happy to chase these up away from the forum, but I'd certainly be interested to see it continue to explore just how and why Bedford OY's ended up in Australia. Maybe Mike you'd like to put up the individual chassis no.s etc. that you had and we will see if the production dates of these vehicles can be tracked down, and then some explanations why there seem to be two distinct groups those in the OY5XXXX range and those in the OY7XXXX range, If I ever discover the chassis no. of mine, for sure,, I'll add it to this thread for you to debate. Refugee Cargo from Singapore was a good story, possibly, whilst it lasted, but it may not be correct, that's the joys of history.

Regards

Matt

[lynx42]

Here is an AWM photo of an OY in the Dutch East Indies, probably never got off the dock, but who knows.

AWM 306791.JPG

Oosthaven, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies. 1942-02-17. View from the bridge of HMAS Burnie, berthed alongside the Oosthaven port facilities which were destroyed to deny their use by the Japanese. In the background smoke and dust rise from buildings whose walls and rooves were demolished. Beside the debris are trucks and other vehicles, including one tipped on its side. In the foreground are groups of local people lining the wharf and walking behind an approaching truck. Amongst the military are members of the Light Tank Squadron, 3rd Hussars, British Army. The unit had disembarked on 1942-02-14 at the port which faced the Sundra Strait on the southern tip of Sumatra. They were part of the force which was given the task of defending the area and covering the evacuation of the troops and civilians on 1942-02-17.

Regards Rick.

[mlombard]

interesting, this is about the time that the MV Empire Star passed through Batavia, and it is possible some vehicles could have been offloaded they certainly would have been useful, given that at that point the Japanese were only making exploratory advances not a full out assault so having trucks handy could have been useful.