Bedford TJ

Last updated

Bedford TJ
Bedford TJ 1966 Castle Hedingham 2008.JPG
1966 Bedford TJ
Overview
Manufacturer Bedford
AWD Trucks
Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group
Also calledAWD-Bedford TJ
Production1958–1998
Assembly
Body and chassis
Class Medium-duty truck
Related Bedford TA
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,960–3,508 mm (116.5–138.1 in)
Length5,380–6,560 mm (211.8–258.3 in)
Width80–90 in (2,032–2,286 mm)
Height107–112 in (2,700–2,800 mm)
Kerb weight 4,893–19,829 lb (2,219–8,994 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor Bedford TD

The Bedford TJ is a truck that was produced by Bedford and its successors from 1958 to 1998, as a replacement for the earlier Bedford A series of medium-duty trucks that were built between 1953 and 1958. The TJ was the last bonneted truck produced by the company, and the last vehicle to be produced to have a relation with Bedford.

Contents

History

Production of the Bedford TJ began in 1958 as Bedford’s new bonneted truck model, and was a modernised version of the Bedford TD series, modelled after the Chevrolet Advance Design truck. The TJ truck was produced in many versions, ranging from light pickups to heavy-duty vehicles, with payloads up to 6-8 tons. Unfortunately, due to their relatively dated styling and presumably since bonneted trucks were falling out of favor these years, the TJ series was not very popular in the United Kingdom and did not sell in big numbers, with the exception of the AA and Post Office Telephones. In particular, Holland's Pies in Lancashire used a large fleet of TJ vans well into the 1980s, being notable for being kept in very clean condition and this resulted in the TJ being often called a 'Holland's pie van' around Lancashire. [1]

The lightest versions (J0) shared the same petrol engine as the Vauxhall Cresta, which offered relatively good performance, although it could not cope very well with loads over 800-900 kg. [2] Heavier variants used the same engine as on the Bedford TD series. In export markets, specifically in countries such as India, Pakistan, Africa and other developing nations, the TJ sold in great numbers due to its reliability and relatively low price compared to the competition. In 1975, the TJ was withdrawn from the UK market and superseded by the Bedford CF. [3] [4]

After 1975, the TJ was offered only for export where it was pretty successful, however, during the 1980s, exports to countries such as Australia and New Zealand stopped since it was clear that these trucks were very outdated, and couldn't compete in the market anymore due to changing emissions and regulations. Nevertheless, it continued production for export to developing countries. In 1987, the Dunstable plant was sold to David J.B. Brown and became AWD Trucks. [5] Production of the TJ continued under the AWD Bedford badge. After Marshall SPV purchased AWD Trucks, production of the TJ series continued, but in limited numbers. The last TJ trucks were built in 1998, when an order was placed for 100 trucks to be exported to Kenya. [6]

Nigeria

The Bedford TJ was assembled in Bedford's Nigerian plant in Apapa (Tin Can Island) by UACN, a Unilever operation which was 60 percent Nigerian-owned. [7] By the end of the 1970s, the TJ was the most sold Bedford product in Nigeria, which was Bedford's main export market outside of Europe at the time.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, the J5/6 is very popular and dominated commercial vehicular traffic. It has a cult status among drivers and is known for its power, reliability, and durability. Over half of the trucks in Pakistan are Bedford vehicles. [8]

India

An Indian company, Hindustan Motors, also produced the larger versions (J5/6) of the vehicle in that country from 1968. Production lasted for three decades, but the vehicle proved to be unable to compete with Tata and Ashok Leyland vehicles and was finally discontinued in 1998. [9]

Australia

The TJ was widely exported. In Australia they were distributed by Holden.

Malaysia

Bedford TJ trucks were also produced in Malaysia from knock-down kits until the early 1980s. Towards the end of this period, after Bedford vehicles had lost their market lead, the TJ shared the assembly line with competing trucks from Toyota. [10] As the design aged, Bedford's reputation shrank, the British pound went up, while Britain itself lost much of its standing in Malaysia. [10] GM instead chose to focus more on promoting trucks from corporate stablemate Isuzu in that market. The TJ trucks were replaced by the Isuzu TX trucks.

Models

Chassis codes

1958 To June 1967

A 3rd or 4th number indicates engine type;

July 1967 onwards

Chassis codes changed in July 1967 to ensure Bedford complied with new legislation introduced in the UK (Construction and Use Regulations).

The 3rd letter is for the weight rating, while the 2nd letter indicates engine type;

Engines

The engines available included:

Available engines (outputs are gross numbers)
DisplacementBore x StrokeCylindersPower/rpmTorque/rpmFuel
214.7 cu in
(3,519 cc)
3.375 in × 4.00 in
(85.7 mm × 101.6 mm)
Inline-six 100 bhp (75 kW)
at 3,600
184 lb⋅ft (249 N⋅m)
at 1,200
Petrol
300.7 cu in
(4,927 cc)
3.875 in × 4.25 in
(98.4 mm × 108.0 mm)
133 bhp (99 kW)
at 3,000
267 lb⋅ft (362 N⋅m)
at 1,200
200.5 cu in
(3,285 cc)
3.875 in × 4.25 in
(98.4 mm × 108.0 mm)
Inline-four 64 bhp (48 kW)
at 2,800 [note 1]
143 lb⋅ft (194 N⋅m)
at 1,400 [note 1]
Diesel
220.5 cu in
(3,614 cc)
4.0625 in × 4.25 in
(103.2 mm × 108.0 mm)
70 bhp (52 kW)
at 2,800
157 lb⋅ft (213 N⋅m)
at 1,400
300.7 cu in
(4,927 cc)
3.875 in × 4.25 in
(98.4 mm × 108.0 mm)
Inline-six97 bhp (72 kW)
at 2,800
217 lb⋅ft (294 N⋅m)
at 1,400
330.7 cu in
(5,420 cc)
4.0625 in × 4.25 in
(103.2 mm × 108.0 mm)
107 bhp (80 kW)
at 2,800
238 lb⋅ft (323 N⋅m)
at 1,800
  1. 1 2 Net figures are 57 bhp (43 kW) at 2,600 rpm and 139 lb⋅ft (188 N⋅m) at 1,400 rpm.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindustan Motors</span> Car manufacturing company in India

Hindustan Motors is an Indian automotive manufacturer based in Kolkata. It is a part of the Birla Technical Services conglomerate. Hindustan Motors was the largest car manufacturer in India before the rise of Maruti Udyog. Hindustan Motors manufactured the Ambassador and Landmaster motorcars, both immensely popular Indian automobiles from 1957 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu</span> Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer

Isuzu Motors Ltd., commonly known as Isuzu, is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Its principal activity is the production, marketing and sale of Isuzu commercial vehicles and diesel engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Titan</span> Motor vehicle

The Mazda Titan is a commercial truck produced by the Japanese automaker Mazda since 1971. From the fourth generation onwards, the vehicle had become a rebadged Isuzu Elf truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu MU</span> Mid-size SUV

The Isuzu MU is a mid-size SUV which was produced by Japan-based manufacturer Isuzu from 1989 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Blitz</span> Motor vehicle

Opel Blitz was the name given to various light and middleweight trucks built by the German Opel automobile manufacturer between 1930 and 1975. The original logo for this truck, two stripes arranged loosely like a lightning symbol in the form of a horizontally stretched letter "Z", still appears in the current Opel logo. The Blitz name was then applied to the British-made Bedford CF when it replaced the Blitz in certain markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hino Motors</span> Japanese commercial vehicle and diesel engine company

Hino Motors, Ltd., commonly known as Hino, is a Japanese manufacturer of commercial vehicles and diesel engines headquartered in Hino, Tokyo. The company was established in 1942 as a corporate spin-off from previous manufacturers.

Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a brand of vehicle manufactured by Vauxhall Motors, then a subsidiary of multinational corporation General Motors. Established in April 1931, Bedford Vehicles was set up to build commercial vehicles. The company was a leading international lorry brand, with substantial export sales of light, medium, and heavy lorries throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UD Trucks</span> Japanese company

UD Trucks Corporation is a Japanese company whose principal business is the manufacturing and sales of diesel trucks, buses, bus chassis and special-purpose vehicles. Its headquarters are located in Ageo, Saitama, Japan. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Isuzu since 2021. Until 2010, the company was known as Nissan Diesel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Delica</span> Range of vans and pickup trucks

The Mitsubishi Delica is a range of vans and pickup trucks designed and built by the Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors since 1968. It was originally based on a cabover van and pickup truck introduced the previous year, also called the Delica, its name a contraction of the English language phrase Delivery car. This pickup truck, and a commercial van derived from it has received many names in export markets, being sold as the L300 in Europe, Jamaica and New Zealand, Express and Starwagon in Australia, and plain Mitsubishi Van and Wagon in the United States. The passenger car versions were known as Delica Star Wagon from 1979 until the 1994 introduction of the Delica Space Gear, which became simply Space Gear in Europe at least. The most recent version is called the Delica D:5. With the exception of the first, versions of all generations are still being sold in various international markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu Elf</span> Medium duty truck

The Isuzu Elf is a medium duty truck produced by Isuzu since 1959. Outside Japan it is known as N series and Q Series. The range was originally mainly available in Japan and other Asian countries. Australia was another important market for the Elf and N series – to the extent that it was manufactured there from the 1970s using many local components. Since the early 1980s, it has also been sold and built in the United States, and also as the Isuzu N-Series. Only North America receives the wide-cab version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Atlas</span> Motor vehicle

The Nissan Atlas is a series of pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles manufactured by Nissan. It is built by UD Trucks for the Japanese market, and by the Renault-Nissan Alliance for the European market. The lighter range vehicles, weighing from 1 to 1.5 tons, replaced the earlier Cabstar and Homer (F20), while the heavier Caball and Clipper (C340) were replaced by the 2-to-4 ton range Atlas. The Atlas nameplate was first introduced in December 1981, available at Nissan Bluebird Store locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu Fargo</span> Motor vehicle

The Isuzu Fargo is a light commercial van manufactured between 1980 and 2001 by Japanese automaker Isuzu in Japan. The Fargo spanned two generations, the first of which was sold between 1980 and 1995 as both van and pickup body styles, with the second generation, introduced in 1995, confined to a single van body style. This second generation was a badge-engineered version of the Nissan Caravan (E24), as opposed to an Isuzu design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu Faster</span> Motor vehicle

The Isuzu Faster is a pickup truck that was manufactured and marketed by Isuzu between 1972 and 2002 over three generations. It was sold under myriad different nameplates, most commonly they were marketed under their respective model codes: Isuzu KB for the first and second generations, TF for the third. In Japan, the "Faster" name was eventually supplanted by Rodeo. It was also marketed under a number of other brands from the General Motors portfolio. The Faster was succeeded worldwide by Isuzu D-Max, except in Japan and North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Cabstar</span> Light commercial vehicles and trucks

Nissan Cabstar is the name used in Japan for two lines of pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles sold by Nissan and built by UD Nissan Diesel, a Volvo AB company and by Renault-Nissan Alliance for the European market. The name originated with the 1968 Datsun Cabstar, but this was gradually changed over to "Nissan" badging in the early 1980s. The lighter range replaced the earlier Cabstar and Homer, while the heavier Caball and Clipper were replaced by the 2-4 ton range Atlas (kana:日産・アトラス). The nameplate was first introduced in December 1981.The Cabstar is known also as the Nissan Cabstar, Renault Maxity and Samsung SV110 depending on the location. The range has been sold around the world. It shares its platform with the Nissan Caravan. In spring 2014, Cabstar is now known as NT400.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in Pakistan</span>

The automotive industry in Pakistan is one of fastest-growing industries in the country, growing by 171% between 2014 and 2018. It accounts for 7% of Pakistan's GDP and employed a workforce of over 6.8 million people as of 2024. Pakistan is the 15th largest producer of automobiles. Its contribution to the national exchequer is nearly US$5.4 billion. Pakistan's auto market is among the fastest growing in Asia. 384,000 cars were sold in 2023. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Pakistan had many Japanese cars. With the launch of the first Auto Policy in 2005, Pakistan launched its first indigenous car, Adam Revo. However, after the 2008 elections, the dollar started depreciating, and due to bad governance, many automakers began to halt production, with some exiting Pakistan. Currently, the auto market is dominated by Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Suzuki. However, on 19 March 2016, Pakistan passed a second "Auto Policy 2016-21," which offers tax incentives to new automakers to establish manufacturing plants in the country. In response, Renault, Nissan, Proton Holdings, Kia, SsangYong, Volkswagen, FAW, and Hyundai have expressed interest in entering the Pakistani market. MG JW Automobile Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Morris Garages (MG) Motor UK Limited, owned by SAIC Motor, to bring electric vehicles to Pakistan. NLC signed an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to manufacture Mercedes Actros trucks in Pakistan. Pakistan has not enforced any automotive safety standards or model upgrade policies. A few older vehicle models, including the Bolan and Ravi, continue to be sold by Suzuki. On 8 July 2021, Jolta Electric launched the production of electric motorcycles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford CF</span> Motor vehicle

The Bedford CF is a range of full-size panel vans produced by Bedford - the commercial vehicles division of Vauxhall. The van was introduced in 1969 to replace the CA model, and was sized to compete directly with the Ford Transit, which had entered production four years earlier. Its design was similar to its American counterpart, the Chevrolet Van (1971–1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford TK</span> British truck

The Bedford TK was a truck manufactured by Bedford. Launched in 1960 to replace the Bedford S type, the TK was scheduled to be replaced by the Bedford TL in 1981, but manufacturing of the TK continued as a cheaper alternative. A military 4x4 version, the Bedford MK, was also produced. After Bedford's Dunstable factory was sold in 1987 to AWD, the TK restarted production for military only use until 1992 when AWD was placed in receivership.

AWD Trucks was a British truck manufacturer that produced Bedford trucks from 1987 to 1992, until it was merged with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group. The last truck of the company was discontinued in 1998, and so the Bedford name became entirely defunct at that time. There is another British based company called AWD Company Limited Of Camberley in Surrey England an entirely different original brandname who were specialized in developing and manufacturing all wheel driven lorries, earthmoving machinery and other 4WD 6WD roadvehicles founded in 1958 production ended in 1966.

The Toyota FA and BA were heavy duty trucks introduced in February 1954. They were facelifted versions of the earlier BX/FX trucks, retaining those trucks Type B and Type F six-cylinder petrol engines. The first letter in the model name indicates the engine family fitted; in 1957 the Type D diesel engine was introduced in a model known as the DA. The second letter indicated the size of the truck, with shorter medium duty versions being coded BC/FC/DC. A second letter "B" was used on bus versions of this chassis. A second generation FA/DA was introduced in 1964 and was built in Japan until 1980, when Hino replaced Toyota's heavier truck lines entirely. The DA, however, was also built in numerous other countries and manufacture continued into the first decade of the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford TA</span> Motor vehicle

The Bedford TA is a medium-duty truck produced by Bedford Vehicles from 1953 to 1958, as a replacement for the older Bedford K/M/O series. In total around 200,000 TA trucks were built, until it was eventually modernised as the newer TJ.

References

  1. "The Bedford Register-the worlds largest owners club & registry". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2007.
  2. "Lot 191 - 1961 Bedford J.O. Pick-Up". Historics UK. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/bedford-97000---cf-cf2 [ bare URL ]
  4. Birch, Colin (28 June 2017). "(Very) Brief History of the Bedford CF". CF-UK. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023.
  5. Clarke, Nicky, ed. (22 October 1992). "AWD Survival In Civvies?". Commercial Motor . p. 17.
  6. "1966 BEDFORD J-TYPE TRUCK". Cars And Classics. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. Godwin, Bill (11 May 1979). "Leyland sets hot pace in Nigeria". Commercial Motor. Vol. 149, no. 3807. p. 88.
  8. "Bedford J5 'Jingle Truck'" . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. Baron, Rich (3 June 2023). "Curbside Classic: 1970 Bedford TJ – Advanced Past Its Prime". Curbside Classic.
  10. 1 2 Millier, Noel (22 May 1982). "Malaysian malaise for once-proud Bedford". Commercial Motor. Vol. 155, no. 3966. p. 83.