History: Bedford CF design concepts [1966-1967]

Previously we learned that Bedford was working on a replacement for the CA since as early as 1956 with a CB prototype. In September 1965 a code name Bedford CD was already in the mock-up stage when Ford proceeded to release the Transit MK1 the following month. All of a sudden everything came to a stop to re-think the new van. 

In February of 1966 design work began on an all new CF, taking into consideration the new standards that the Transit set in the market. By August a target date of 1969 was set for the launch of the CF.
For the next 4 years, Bedford would fall behind Ford with declining sales of the old CA, so the success of the new CF was critical for Bedford and also General Motors.
At that time it was also planned that the new CF would enter the US market to occupy the mid-sized van segment left open by the not so successful Chevrolet Greenbrier ("CorVan") that was discontinued  in 1965. The new CF chassis would also be used for a new Opel Blitz van to be launched in Germany in 1970.

Below are several design proposal drawings from 1966, including a Bedford TK replacement, a Opel Blitz replacement, Chevrolet Van and several variations of the Bedford CF, even a front wheel drive version!

BEDFORD CF INTEGRATED PICK-UP DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71656 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF MINI-BUS DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71657 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF PANEL VAN DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71659 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF PANEL VAN DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71658 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF & CHEVROLET VAN DESIGN DRAWING PROPOSALS. 11.08.66 D-71660 © GM ARCHIVE

A normal control Bedford CA Replacement Design Proposal Full Size Rendering. 11.08.66 D-71661 © GM ARCHIVE

  BEDFORD CF HI-ROOF PANEL VAN DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71662 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF CREW CHASSIS CAB PICK-UP DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71663 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF SWB MINI-BUS DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71664 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CF CHASSIS CAB PICK-UP DESIGN DRAWING. 11.08.66 D-71665 © GM ARCHIVE

  BEDFORD CF & OPEL VAN DESIGN PROPOSALS DRAWINGS. 11.08.66 D-71666 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CA REPLACEMENT DESIGN CONCEPT PROPOSALS - FRONT WHEEL DRIVE
11.08.66 D-71667 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD CA REPLACEMENT DESIGN PROPOSAL FULL SIZE  RENDERING, LOOK CAREFULLY - ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF IS THE WORD FORD AND OUTLINED IN BACKGROUND IS THE TRANSIT.
11.08.66 D-71668 © GM ARCHIVE

BEDFORD TJ REPLACEMENT DESIGN PROPOSAL FULL SIZE  RENDERING. 11.08.66 D-71669 © GM ARCHIVE

OPEL BLITZ DESIGN PROPOSAL FULL SIZE  RENDERING - 11.08.66 D-71978 © GM ARCHIVE

"By the end of 1966 and early in 1967 Chevrolet were dropped from the programme and a separate Opel model had been rejected by the GM Board, instead Opel would continue to limp on with the Blitz B until the 1973 model year when it was planned to be replaced with an Opel badged version of the Bedford Van.

The final design was a semi forward control van that was longer, even in SWB form, and considerably wider than the CA and crucially its critical load dimensions were better than the Transit. Both Leo Pruneau and Wayne Cherry worked on the design under the guidance of David Jones and it showed, when the CF was launched it had something that neither the Transit nor any of its major competitors had – style and bags of it too. There were some corporate GM design cues included but they were all positive for once.

Mechanically the new van used very few carry over components from the CA, the 3 & 4 speed gearbox was the main one. The engine choice went from 2 to 4 and included the new 1599cc & 1975cc slant 4 OHC engine that was just about to be launched in the Vauxhall FD Victor along with a choice of 2 Perkins diesel units, the smaller version was previously offered in the CA. However, this diesel option could have been very different because the development of the slant 4 OHC unit also included diesel versions. The fully independent front suspension was also new and was a beefed up adaption to that would be used in the Victor FD.

Two wheel base lengths were designed – 106" & 126" – compared to 90" & 102" for the CA, also the weight range was planned to be widened to run from 14cwt to 35cwt, the largest 35cwt would use a modified TK back axle with twin rear wheels for the first time on a Bedford light van.

There has been much discussion surrounding why the van was named CF and not CE (there had been CB & CD projects), well the answer is because of the amount of components from the (F)D Victor it was decided to jump straight to C(F)."

THE FIRST FULL SIZE BEDFORD CF CLAY MOCK UP IN THE DESIGN STUDIO AT LUTON 02.67

Again, thanks to the Vauxhall Vauxpedia site for finding and posting this historical information.