For sale: 1974 Bedford CF Van - Restomod - Australia

KEY FACTS  

• This Bedford CF has been refinished and refitted as a custom ‘restomod’, which included installation of a V8 engine.  
• It is now powered by a 253ci (4.1L) V8, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.  
• Nicknamed ‘Villain’ on account of its imposing appearance; this CF van has been with the seller for over 10 years, but was upgraded between 2022 and 2023.  
• A highly bespoke van, almost every upgrade has been hand-crafted to fit this specific vehicle, incorporating Italian leather, marine-grade wood, and modern electronics and entertainment.  

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES  

• The exterior has been enhanced with a custom fibreglass vented bonnet, custom one-off fibreglass front skirt, custom stainless-steel side skirts with a stylised ‘Villain’ motif, new windshield, and custom-fitted Outlander side mirrors with indicator strips and 2-inch driving mirrors. Aftermarket Halo front lights, taillights, and indicators were also installed, as well as under-car red running lights. 
• The rear section is now a one-piece fabrication with no join or panel lines, and with the gutter rails removed from everywhere apart from the above the front doors. The rear and rear side windows are smoked plexiglass items. 
• The black paintwork has an opalescent glow in direct sunlight with a high shine. There are front ‘Camaro’ style door decals and Norsk and Need For Speed inspired motifs around the vehicle. 
• It rides on 15-inch diameter Old School AR matching chrome wheels, with more than 200 hours of polished on each face and deep dish, fitted with extra-wide tyres to give it a more aggressive stance. 
• Inside, there is beige Italian leather for the four ‘Captain’s’ chairs (the rear two of which are elevated above the front two, and can rotate 180 degrees), all with dual adjustable armrests, and with Bentley-style double hand-stitched pattern for all seats, including the two rear benches that can each fit two people.  
• Triple-layer insulation provides impressive thermal protection and sound-deadening. The wall trims are in antique-style burgundy leather, finished with hand-stitched diamond pattern, including cut-outs around the rear windows representing the four card deck suits. 
• There is marine-grade 2-inch wood panelling for the floors with stainless-steel trim edges, and the stylised ‘Villain’ motif.  
• The wall panels hold two lay-back drawers that flip out to reveal drink/cup holders for a bottle of champagne, wine or spirit. 
• A removable central table – inspired by a roulette wheel design – is fitted, with a brass plug that can be fitted flush with the floor if it is taken out of the van. 
• Equipment includes custom Rear parking sensors, a rear electronic step that raises/lowers on a button-touch, two LCD screens inside the rear barn doors, a rear driving/reverse camera, rear dual USB ports for charging electronics, and a ‘lighter’ power socket for general accessories. A surround-sound system is also installed, with tweeters and subwoofer in the rear and other speakers throughout, and with a high-quality Android/Apple CarPlay system to run the whole entertainment system. 
• There are also two air-conditioning units mounted to the V8, enabling cooling of the front four seats with an overhead directional vent in the roof partition. 
• Up front, the driver benefits from an aftermarket gauge cluster with dozens of options for customisation, and there are dual USB ports under the passenger side of the dash, plus two charging holders for devices. The original Bedford steering wheel has been re-trimmed in Italian beige leather, and there is an aftermarket fibreglass dash with mahogany wood-finish trim and a magnetic glove box cover. 
• A stock 253ci V8 motor is complemented by a larger capacity radiator, and dual electric fans. 
• Other mechanical upgrades include larger brake piston cylinder, a new custom drag car steering knuckle assembly, rebushed and resealed front-end assembly, and all mechanical rubbers and pipes were renewed. 
• The van runs on a 170-litre capacity dual fuel system, split between 120-litre gas and 50-litre petrol, reportedly giving it a range of up to 1800km. There is also a dual starter battery setup. 
• More than 500 hours were invested in electrical work on the van. 
• Accompanying the sale is a Brass Monkey fridge and a car charger.  
• A full list of modification highlights and features has been detailed by the seller, and is shown in the photo gallery.  

CONDITION  

• The vehicle was resprayed and retrimmed as part of the restoration process.  
• Please refer to the photo gallery to assess the exterior and interior condition.  
• There is a valid Queensland registration in place, which expires on 18 September 2024.  

SERVICE HISTORY  

• The vehicle was converted by BAM Garage in Morningside between 2022 and 2023, which included upgrading the driveline, overhauling the underbody, replacing various bushes and sleeves, and fitting upgraded interior components.   

SUMMARY  

This Bedford CF Van has been treated to a comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical overhaul over a two-year period, and now presents as a stylish ‘restomod’ which combines its 1970s styling with a host of new components such as a muscular V8 engine, an up-to-date infotainment system, and a handsomely retrimmed interior. Offered for sale by its current owner of over 10 years, it would make an interesting and impressively bespoke addition to any collection, as well as an attention-grabbing weekend companion, perfect for cruising to various car shows and events.

Morayfield, QLD, Australia


Current Bid - A$16,250


Link: https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1974-bedford-cf-van