Bedford CA

The Bedford CA was a van that was built from 1952 to 1969 at Vauxhall in Luton.

There were versions with long and short wheelbase. Of the two versions, there were models with 10 to 12 cwt ( 500-600 kg) payload or 15 cwt (750 kg) payload.

Usually, the cars were delivered with sliding doors, but it was also available as chassis cab, so special bodies could be attached to it. For example, the Bedford Dormobile was a camper based on the CA.

At that time, they found the Bedford CA anywhere in the UK; it was sort of the Ford Transit that time. Today it is seldom found a copy.

Structures

The appearance and the design principle of the CA changed in the 17 years of construction, only a little. There were three different versions. The first CA had a divided windshield, which consisted of two flat disks having a central vertical rib. When there were 1958 curved glass panes in the UK at an affordable price, you replaced the divided windshield by a slightly curved, one-piece specimen. At the same time we replaced the original two-piece, painted grille ( which the division of the windshield continued downward ) by a smaller grill that was painted in body color. The third version of the CA, which was delivered from the end of 1964, had a deeper scheduled windshield, whereby the height of the metal strip was reduced under the windshield. From 1964 there was also the first time, fashionable point of following, a grille made of pressed aluminum.

Motor

The car had a four-cylinder in-line engine, the bumper -operated, overhead valves and crankshaft bearings had three. Fuel pump, oil pump and distributor were driven directly from the camshaft. A downdraft carburetors from Zenith 34VN type was installed. There was a version of the engine with a low and a high compression.

The engine reached into the cab and was protected by a cover. Thus, the car had a very short bonnet, which gave him a striking appearance. This interpretation meant that the driver and passenger her legs on either side of the engine had, but much of the length of the vehicle could be used for the payload. For servicing the engine, a small flap in the front of the vehicle or the inner cover had to be opened. For major repairs, the entire car front with headlights, grille and front cross member had to be removed.

Engine and three-speed gearbox were also incorporated in the Vauxhall Victor F series. The four-speed gearbox FC series could be easily installed in any Bedford CA with three-speed gearbox; later there was this even as an official option. Later models also had the larger engine, the FB series after 1964 with 1594 cc capacity.

Transmission and differential

The car originally had a manual three-speed transmission, which was connected through a propeller shaft to the rear live axle. Later models had a four-speed transmission.

Front wheel suspension

The front axle hung on double wishbones and coil springs, which were in turn attached to a crossbeam. A stabilizer connected the two lower wishbone. A similar design was later used in the Vauxhall Viva.

Rear Suspension

The rear wheels were suspended on semi-elliptic leaf springs, which were 57 mm wide and were attached to the chassis and the rear axle. The versions with 10 to 12 cwt had seven leaves for springs, the cwt 15 - version eight. Each of the spring leaves was 6.35 mm thick.

Controls and Valves

The shift lever was mounted on the steering column, the switch for the direction indicator in the dashboard. The high-beam switch is operated with the foot. The starter is operated by a lever under the handbrake.

As valves, only a speedometer, fuel gauge and a cooling water thermometer was available.

The Bedford CA was designed in a time when the semiconductor elements were indeed state of the art, for use in automobiles but much too expensive. The cooling water temperature has therefore been measured mechanically, by a capillary tube, which was connected to a capsule with a volatile liquid. The capsule was mounted in the housing of the water pump. Changes in temperature of the cooling water led to the evaporation or condensation of the liquid to be measured and thus altered the pressure on a mechanical lever system in the display instrument, which in turn moved the pointer. Later models had an electric mixer ..

The fuel gauge was electric, as is customary in former vehicles. The sender in the tank at an electrical resistance or the level- controlled potentiometer; thus needed this display also no semiconductor technology.

Brakes

The brakes consisted of removable brake drums made of cast iron at each wheel and were equipped with duplex inner jaws, which were covered with asbestos-containing surfaces. Double-acting hydraulic cylinder Lockheed, all hung on one brake circuit, moving these jaws. The brake master cylinder, which built up the pressure in the brake circuit was mechanically connected to the foot brake pedal. This interpretation was common, but showed significant problems and would be inadequate for modern vehicles.

Steering

It was built in a Burman recirculating ball steering. The steering gear was connected to four levers and two auxiliary levers with the front wheels. This system probably worked not very precise, because the game of many levers added. In practice, this arrangement proved to be sufficient, however, and the CA actually had better handling than the early Ford Transit, because he had independent front suspension.

111891