Bedford CF can I get it running and drive it home ???…..

1984 before cf , slightly lacking a reverse gear. Can I get it running and back to the workshop to replace the gearbox ? Only one way to find out !!!!

[@pit_stop77]

That van is 40 years old 😳 i remember when A reg was brand new. I feel old 😂

[@byronmills5952]

Good grief! For a virtually untouched CF thats in amazing shape. In the right hands that can be sympathetically restored beautifully and retain the majority of its original paint too. Once again - brilliant content. 👍👍

[@RSCOZZY]

My sentiments exactly 👍

[@-DC-]

Was last in a CF probably late 80's with my dad clutch slipping it nuts off Northampton to Birmingham, Miss them both 🙂

[@fatlad5090]

cant believe how tidy that old Bedford is

[@Retro_andy_1977]

Always liked the CF.my dad's late mate Harry had a red pickup version.always loved a ride in that as a kid. This one looks really good.great to see it make the journey back to the workshop!!

[@johhnyrg]

Love the old school raw mechanics of this guy !!!

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

He is cool. I like watching Al's video's

[@seanpower773]

Wow it looks fairly solid 😮 I mean, for a Bedford that usually dissolves quicker than sugar in a hot cuppa 😂

[@astravanmk2]

This is great Al. My dad had a couple of CF1’s when I was a nipper. Can’t believe how solid that one is.

[@malcolmturton9779]

Never any doubt it was gonna come back to life. Great start to a Sunday morning. Cheers Al.

[@gm-ew5ms]

Nice. Brings back memories of being an apprentice back in the late 90s. My boss had one. 3 speed auto and god it was loud on the M25. If you tried to turn the radio up loud enough to hear it the radio cut out completely. Nice to see you got it going. Great video.

[@vernonmatthews181]

I had a huge stereo in my 84 CF350 tandem jumbo workhorse, great memories of long ago.😊

[@PaulNurse1]

Totally know what you mean about the M25 noise. I did nearly a full circuit of the M25 in a CF not long after it was completed, when it was all concrete slab surface. I had a pounding headache for a day after. I'd love to see this CF undergo a full resto, she looks like a great base project.

[@marcduthie4327]

Hi Al. Here in Australia they fitted the late 70's Bedford vans with 2.8 or 3.3 litre straight 6 Cylinder engines. Same with Transits of the same error they had 3.3 or 4.1 straight 6's. Marc From Australia. Love your channel

[@richardm1183]

Thank you, after one of them weeks, to get my favourite channel pop up with quality good sense proper mechanics has made my week. Really appreciated

[@6DDIESELSDorset]

Pleasure fella 👍

[@nicholasviney5975]

My mate had a CF for taking his scrambler to meets takes me back to fun times seeing this one driving around

[@stucktree]

Memories of Youth,,,My first work van in 83 was the CF.

[@davidwebb8877]

That van deserves to be restored,repainted,I think you would get a lot of TV work with a period van like that,I remember the gas board ones back in the day,I had a ex gas boss Sherpa van,white and blue.

[@andrewbowen4544]

Love to know where you find all these treasures. Bedfords was dime a dozen back in the day, now you cant find one Al

[@bryanrotchell1565]

Nice to see the old Bedford van , my dad had one back in the early eighty's, fairplay to you 👍

[@brentsmith5647]

Brilliant man love watching and learning thank you ❤️👀👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@colingoode3702]

When I was an apprentice I used to drive an M reg ('73-74) CF Bedford with sliding front doors & barn rears. 1.8 Slant 4 petrol engine but it only had a 3 speed gearbox. Great for nipping around town but hopeless at anything above 50mph.

[@saxongreen78]

...that's why the Aussie CF got a 6cyl, really needed one.

[@NaoPb]

Lovely little van and in incredible shape for a 1983 company vehicle. I am having trouble believing there was a time were not all vans were diesels. But I guess I am too young or something.

[@RWL2012]

I think the Mk1 Ford Transit (for example) was just 2 Diesels for every 1,398 petrols lol. And then of course Diesel vans gradually got more popular over the decades, to the point where someone posted on a forum about problems they were having with their petrol Vauxhall Vivaro, and none of the other members had heard of such a thing!

[@shaunofthedead5059]

Really wish I had of taken better notice and interest when my late father tried to show me about cars/mechanics etc .. I'd love to be able to get a non runner running again 😂👍 great videos btw 😁👍

[@davidwebb8877]

Always liked these vans,real classic look about them,great videos,keep em coming.

[@AndrewSandilands-tk6st]

🤣 mrs looking at me rather strangely whilst I’m giggling out loud at the dipstick part

[@ammo1g]

Great van would look mint fully restored in polar white, love these videos pal great work 👍

[@paulparker7419]

My uncle had an ex demo CF2 back in 1984, 2.3 diesel with "BEDFORD MEANS BUSINESS" on the side, I think it was a 4 speed. Did a whole 73mph flat out. Didn't even have a radio. It got wiped out in a M-way pile up a few months after he bought it.

[@focusstdave123]

Epic channel brilliant video as always Al 🙏🏽

[@philiphartley8823]

I ran one of these new in the mid 1970's. It was a company vehicle reg no HHE 23L. I can honestly say that it wasn't the best of vehicles. It had repeated gearbox problems with vabrations and went back to the dealers several times but it never seemed to get fixed properly and which eventually led to the casing cracking where it bolted to the bellhousing. Shockers also were weak, I suspect they were just car ones as the suspension was always a bit bouncy. I only had it a couple of years and can honestly say it was the worst vehicle I've had owt to do with. OK it had decent power from the 2300 OHC engine and could easily maintain a 70 mph cruise speed, but it just kept breaking down. The vehicle I had before was the BMC 250 JU which was underpowered, sluggish and not known for comfort , but it was 100% reliable and never let me down.

[@michaelthompson1208]

Great video learned too drive in one off these and passed my test in it so I do have a soft spot for bedford cf cheers all the best 👍

[@joeledger3013]

Some of the Sprinters in your previous videos I sold new when I worked for Lancaster Truck and Van and then Commercial Motors in Yeovil. The 06 plate Sprinter with the huge Wessex Luton body on it new to Falcon Self Drive in Taunton and the 54 plate Sprinter 311 LWB Dropside in orange originally to Wealdon District Council in Hailsham in Sussex, there were 3 of them originally, fitted with tool hire type beaver tail bodies from Gardners in Kent. Love your videos, it’s like going down memory lane for me. Also the Bedford CF, used to sell them at Wincanton Garages in Yeovil. Happy days and keep them coming!!👍👍

[@6DDIESELSDorset]

Fantasy fella the massive luton just been sold on Saturday I got it in Kent .did think at the time random it’s a Wessex one !! They’d just built a body for one of my customer lol and the orange flat be I’ve know from second owner !! Small world hey 👍

[@joeledger3013]

@@6DDIESELSDorset It certainly is, Wessex have just built me a box and tail lift on a new Atego chassis and it’s going out to the customer this week, they are also building a new Sprinter Luton body on a new chassis for me this month, have been dealing with Nigel and Alex well over 30 years, probably one of the best bodybuilders in the UK currently. I also have a 64 plate Vito 122 V6 Sport Dualliner of my own, proper bit of kit. As you may gather, I love my Mercedes commercial vehicles!!😍

[@oldgeezer3269]

Cool video Al thank you You live in a lovely part of the country 👍👍

[@stefannightingale5754]

Another cracking video 👍

[@michaelbasile2761]

Very excellent van 😊

[@southendparaquest]

I did an apprenticeship for a garage some 30 years ago. We had a Bedford CF Transporter that was in worse shape than this one! Good find.

[@Mattd252]

Fair play - what a cracking little van.

[@mancsblue]

You never see bedfords in that condition and they are such a cool little van

[@dave.harmon]

I do love an old CF. My dad had one, bottoms of the doors were made of chicken wire and filler

[@johnlad1481]

Nice one lad the Bedford would make a good van for shows 👍

[@dreammaker730]

The t1 looks brilliant . My dad had a bedford as a shop van years ago.

[@delscorey8727]

Thoroughly enjoyed that..thanks Al

[@TizerHare]

This guy is gaining a big following. Brilliant videos!

[@lawrencehomer5682]

As usual absolutely brilliant video.

[@scottishdude9161]

Used to drive an old c reg one of these. Good old vans.

[@JohnHonda101]

I've always liked the CF

[@nickfensome8855]

My god what a find most of these disappeared years back my dad drove one new as a company van back in the 80s great video will look forward to seeing more

[@6DDIESELSDorset]

Cheers fella 🤙

[@marketmalc]

Had a CF years ago. Fairly sure that was a 2.3 with a slopy engine. Same engine in the Victors.

[@NottinghamshireMadness]

Sounds like a piston is going up and blowing out the spark! Cool van and one step up from a Commer. Keep the videos coming.

[@MrJonah30]

Very clean they normally rot into the ground

[@alistairshaw3206]

Great video. I used to drive Bedford vans when I worked on the railway. Most of the CF's were diesels, but I did like the slant four cylinder petrol. I owned a Victor 2300S for a good few years, and drove Bedford HA vans too. If I remember correctly, the last of the CF vans had the Vauxhall CIH engine, like the Mk1 Cavaliers.

[@vernonmatthews181]

The slant 4 with electronic ignition ( 1984 New Zealand ) I drove with 4 speed ZF box 📦 😀 with dual wheels ( CF350 jumbo ) was tough as old boots 👢 and very strong for towing a little weak in the drum brake department, front drums required a lot of emery paper.🤔⚠️

[@recreativesigns4571]

There seems no vehicle can stop you getting it going. Just needs a bit of fixy fixy as you say and away you go off down the road. Loving the channel.

[@kevintucker5364]

Fantastic, I really enjoy watching your channel and the work you do is very informative as well as interesting. Your so lucky to be in such a beautiful part of Dorset, I know it well. Keep up the good work. I myself am looking for a project trike just for fun. I really enjoyed the Viva HB SL amazing cars . New cars don't have any character give me a classic any day .

[@iainbruce3376]

Drove through 6d on Friday, gave you a wave. A303 was stacked so took the scenic route

[@6DDIESELSDorset]

Kettles always on 👍

[@nostreamavailable9090]

So much cooler than a transit 😎

[@eggy1962]

I think they drove nicer too

[@nostreamavailable9090]

@@eggy1962 better in a lot of ways really mate . But l have to admit I’m biased because I am staunch gm fanatic Nice to meet you mate 🙏🏻👍

[@eggy1962]

@@nostreamavailable9090 i never owned either a cf or transit myself but did get to drive both belonging to 2 dj friends, i drove both short and long wheelbase trannies but much preferred the cf, nicer drive and more go

[@stevenbutler2030]

Nice job mate 👍

[@chriswinnard3491]

For the age of the van and the fact she's been stood for a while..... she's running remarkably well despite being a little rough round the edges. Nothing that a good bit of TLC won't solve :)

[@raymondpearce5245]

Brilliant video

[@marktownsend5130]

They were good old work horses back in the days had a few of them

[@bettyourcampervan]

You always put out ace videos Al 👍

[@ruthbees7214]

Brilliant vid very enjoyable. Don't come across them in that condition. Nice van😁❤

[@twocvbloke]

Whatdo you call a transit with a mattress in the back? A Bedford... :P

[@GeorgeEI7KO]

I seen on the road just down to your workshop, there's a house with a load of aerials on it. A radio amateurs house. I'm into that madness too lol. Cool van! Nice to see you as always.

[@terryroberts505]

I can remember my late father bringing home a new 1973 2.3 CF with slam doors which was a newish idea for a van I was 11 at the time they used it for fruit and veg and will over loaded it for the markets and with the 2.3 engine it went will he used to say everything under the bonnet was Sharp like if it hadn't been finished off properly when working on it cutting his hands I think they was cheaper then the transit to buy at the time

[@horstszibulski19]

I had two of the pre-faclift, the first one blew the trans too, had to change it on a gravel pad in front of the house...but the motor ran like this here also, many cut outs while crusing...the second one was swapped to a 2.3 V6 Ford, wasn't that great also...but I guess today I would see both of them as a project, back then they only disappointed me... 🤔

[@jordanemonds3204]

I’d love a cf just like this, currently have a P- reg transit that I’ve done up, thinking an 80s cf next 😎

[@therat5680]

Love these videos, great work thank you 👍

[@BITTYBOY121]

These sort of old Bedford vans remind me of that big black day van used in "The A Team" back in the early 1980's...

[@panjang4709]

We had two of the 2300 pickups in the 80s. They were quite quick compared to the 2 litre v4 transit we had previously.

[@stebishopnomad1838]

She sounds sweet great video.

[@garfield2279]

My old water board van was a CF, fastest one in the yard, beat the crappy old transits, and Daf diesels

[@daznichols5561]

Amazing work fella

[@terrythurston8572]

Great video. Thanks.

[@nick2203]

I used to drive a 1982 Bedford CF 2.3 when I worked for the milk marketing board back in the 80s. The gearbox in the CF were never the best even when they were new. They were also prone to an occasional misfire especially if they got damp.

[@Landie_Man]

Fantastic engine though and pull away really quite fast!

[@nick2203]

@@Landie_Man yeah the 2300 was far better than the 1800.

[@project9320]

Love that these sjare rear lights with some Bristols!

[@jamesmarshall649]

Once owned a Bedford CF ambulance wish I had kept it as I had many a venture in it

[@roblawrence8622]

Great vids m8 your like the David Bellamy of the car world lately 😂

[@mrfishbulb7187]

Legend.

[@BRED510]

Brilliant video. That CF is surprisingly tidy! They were usually rustier than that after only a few years! I remember my uncle having a couple of CF's, they were crap so we went back to Transits.

[@Ragnar8504]

My aunt and uncle had a green one as a family van in the very early 80s, then they replaced it with a 1984 Toyota HiAce that they had for about ten years, replaced with another HiAce that lasted about 20 years I think. Then they downsized to a tiny Auris.

[@bigrichzzr]

Brilliant! More of the same please! 🙂🙂🙂👌👌👌

[@BigPaul62]

Rare old van now. They sold them in Australia with a 3.3 litre straight 6 petrol engine.

[@mikeymike3634]

I had one in England with of of those straight six engines and an auto gearbox. I brought it brand new and unregistered from a motor caravan manufacturer who'd already had fitted a fixed fibreglass high roof to it. It cost me Four grand and made a fantastic mobile workshop vehicle for my garage business. Was well capable of giving an XR3 (not the I version) a run for it's money in the traffic lights grand prix. Spares for it were available from my local Vauxhall dealer as the Bedford ambulances of the time were fitted with the same engine. Mine looked the same as that one except it was on an E plate.

[@BigPaul62]

@@mikeymike3634 I'm pretty sure the Aussie versions used The Holden "red" motor rather than the UK 3.3 which I guess was a version of the straight 6 fitted to Vauxhall Viscounts and Ventoras etc.

[@mikeymike3634]

@@BigPaul62 Well thanks for that bit of info Big P I was told by both the vendor and the dealership that I took the van to for it's pre delivery inspection that the engine in it was a Holden engine and never questioned that. It did have hydraulic tappets though and I'm sure the U K straight six didn't. if it has any bearing on the situation the engine was painted in a light green colour.

[@mancavehobbies6213]

F-ING LOVE YOUR CHANNEL

[@karlmabe1649]

Had one of these vans bedford cf2 stone gray B reg

[@1mic3]

Lovely old thing.

[@MalteseMafia]

Merc is looking sweet. 👍

[@TheDaf95xf]

Classic Bedford van Al 👍🏻

[@andrewsmith1409]

I remember my dad having one of these no power steering those are the days

[@anthonymillar6183]

For a old van it’s actually not too bad al 👍 👍

[@BobM925]

What a find! Driven a few, 1800 and 2300s, and the CIH Opel engined CF2's. The 2 litre Opel engine was a tad nicer to drive I thought, with the dogleg 5 speed, The utterly "wonderful" GM diesel, can't remember the capacity think it was 2.2, about 50 horses... couldn't pull the skin off your custard, but sounded lovely with the old skool diesel clatter.

[@jaggass]

The GM 2.3 diesel had 61bhp. Lots of people got the 2.3TD out of Carlton's and Frontera's to make them faster. My local ice cream man had a CF2 with the 2.0 Opel CIH engine and that just kept going.

[@user-ky4nt6mi8w]

This man sounds like one of the two old men on harry Enfield and chums

[@PaddyWV]

Like the petrol Sherpas, you could always hear these from a couple of miles away. Kent County Council had a fleet as work vans in the day. (So I always see them as white over blue). A pity they (General Motors/Vauxhall) didn't properly replace them.

[@jinxylad71]

Liked the mk1 mondeo you passed! Rare sight now these days.

[@6DDIESELSDorset]

Fella has hand it for years , also drives the mintest mk3 hilux 👍

[@michaelcotter228]

it's in fantastic condition for it's age the old Bedford CF van how much were they when we're new I'm guessing you'll want double bubble for it now like all you video spurs fan ❤😅

[@matthewduffin-wp2rz]

It may be the spark plugs that need cleaning as l am a garage mechanic

[@AFExploration]

i've just brought a 1981 Cavalier Coachman Bedford CF250 😁😁

[@keithcheetham]

Had one with the low compression 2.3 to which I added a VX4/90 Laycock overdrive box, then lpg with a burner type ring on top of carb as gas inlet.

[@Ireland-bc2gx]

Old Bedford is a identical too the dodge Van's made in the 80s 90s here in the states, great work Horse had three of them over the years,brilliant video al

[@philipbennett1367]

The man's a Genius.👍😅

[@TheJameswort]

My old CF2 was a 2.3 petrol, and suffered with terrible carb icing

[@johno4521]

Lovely old Bedford but awful for engine accessibility. Are those the original wiper arms; they seem half way up the windscreen when parked!

[@vernonmatthews181]

Where did all those CF's and CF2 's go, the roads downunder in New Zealand was full of them. Your 1983 model should have electronic ignition with the proverbial last of the slant 4's. In New Zealand it was possible to find either Opel, Holden or Vauxhall under the bonnet, rather spoilt for choice 😂

[@keithsewell283]

that yellow van i need one x

[@shaunhewitt]

Omg love them vans