Bedford CF2 - The 80s classic commercial vehicle!

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Bedford CF2
To tell the story of the CF2 properly, we’ve got to include the original CF launched in 1969, which was drafted in to replace the old CA. Canadian viewers, you might know it as the Envoy CA. The CA had done well for Bedford and in fact, whilst on sale for 17 years, it spent most of it’s life as the UK’s best selling light van range.
Anyway, the CF came into an interesting world. The biggest competitor of the time was the Transit which had launched 4 years earlier to replace the Thames, and not only taken market share, but had bedded itself firmly in with the target market.
Prior to Transit launch, Bedford had been working on a replacement for the CA, but scrapped the mock ups after the launch of the Transit and moved forward with a new plan: to not only match what Ford offered but to better it. A great example of this is the critical load dimensions of the CF were better than the Transits.
Bedford had to get it right with the CF after all the investment and development, and with the sales figures percentages I share later, you’ll see it did just that.
Just like Ford, Bedford saw the need for modernisation beyond simply beating competitor vehicles and did away with the sketchy column change and brought in a more contemporary and easy to use floor mounted gear change, which continued into the CF2.
Although the floor change was gone, the engine mounted mid-way into the cab stays and I’ll show you when we look inside why that was a bit of a pain when you wanted to do basic bits and pieces.
However, there was so much more than that. There was a 25-model range on offer with the CF, easy loading considerations with sliding or hinged front doors and low loading heights.
But the development didn’t stop there, there was rack and pinion steering used, independent front suspension and telescopic shock-absorbers all round. Everything from standard of ride to driver comfort with the new style upholstery was considered and actioned.
And then in 1983, came what Bedford dubbed The Revelation. It was the CF2 as we test here today.
Some of the changes were cosmetic - a modernised look. However, there were some other key changes including rust considerations. Bodies now included zinc coated steel, the front end was high-strength moulded plastic, the bumpers were designed to resist minor damage and the lower half of the door interiors, front sections of the bonnet and the whole underside were treated with a wax coating.
In addition to this, there were many mechanical upgrades including new engine options which I talk about later.
In many ways, they’d got it so right with the CF1 there didn’t need to be an enormous shake up for the CF2. It was more about smartening build quality, modernising a well loved product and continuing to give the market share what they wanted.
The CF2 didn’t last as long as the CF1 and came to an end in 86/87.
You’ll see in this video Bedford made great vehicles, they deserved a better outcome and it’s a crying shame it’s no longer a name familiar to the younger generation.

[@porsche356a]

Stef only you can go from a Ferrari 360 Spyder to a Bedford CF2 Luton van and pull it off like a charm! Keep up the good work, that thumbnail after the Ferrari had me in stiches ;)

[@paultaroni7201]

Oh wow thanks for the memories. My first ever job at 17, a van driver's mate for Currys delivering all sorts and in a CF2. Ours was automatic it was SLOW and always kicking down because of the wind resistance! Can you imagine? We also had to have the battery moved inside to under one of the seats because it kept getting nicked!

[@johnjtm1097]

Steph, only you could make a hardworking commercial vehicle seem so charming. Thanks for another greatly enjoyable video.

[@colinpratt3399]

Hi Stef. My Dad had a 1979 CF 250 auto sleeper caravanette. Loved driving it.

[@heckmacbuff]

I had one of these for removals. The 2.3 petrol engine was fast and powerful, but very thirsty. That wide storage dash folded up and over, then the central engine cover would come off easily. I know this, because I used to whip out the (three accessible) spark plugs on a cold morning and put them under the grill! It would start first time after that.

[@Grimwriggler]

Nice! Saw a CF 2.5 camper on French plates in Torrevieja, Alicante yesterday. Brought back so many memories as i had't seen one since my childhood

[@collinhunter9792]

big thumbs up from new zealand for all ur videos, Steph. enjoy every one of them.

[@michaelcope856]

If you'd told me just a year ago that I'd be watching a video of a lady wearing period clothes reviewing a van (and loving it) I would have questioned your sanity and mine, but here we are. We'll done, Steph, keep 'em coming.

[@jamesrichardson1901]

U.S. here. We call that engine cover in the cab "the doghouse." Because common language, different words, as I've learned from my Yorkshire-born wife.

[@docmarten8382]

Sliding doors….. go back to the summer of ‘76….. doors back, tied with the seat belt so as not to slam closed…. Can you imagine that in present day?! Also loved the Bedford TK range…. Superb truck.

[@filougreendog]

yep, never stick yer head out the sliding door whilst braking and shouting your mate at side of road...

[@hutchcraftcp]

That would make a cracking caravan conversation

[@replevideo6096]

I once drove a CF belonging to a friend. As it was so wide and the first van I had ever driven I was a bit perturbed, but I needn't have been. It was a you say, very easy to drive and I soon felt at home in it.

[@garethjones8047]

In 1981 I was 2 years old, my father owned a mk1 version, 2.3 petrol, we travelled on holiday from North Wales to the South of France in it.

[@destinationmobileone5476]

I still have one. Love it

[@11carbuff19572011]

Great vid Steph. Just love those test drives in their proper format. Exactly as I first remember going back a good many years (I'm now 65) to when there was a motoring magazine show on TV doing it as properly as it should be. I have an original road test of the Jaguar XJS on DVD, the test driver is broadcast veteran Bob Warman, the vehicle's reg number is JVC 941N, the film clip dates back to 1975 when the XJS replaced the E-type.

[@glenjones6980]

I'll never forget visiting the Donny Custom Car show in the mid 80's and seeing 'Valhalla', a heavily customised CF with six wheels and stunning airbrushed artwork on it. The council where I lived were big CF users until one caught fire, amid clams of some serious design flaw making them prone to self combusting they seemed to vanish from town altogether. The Vauxhall dealer in town was a car only affair with the odd car derived van offered but the only option in town for light commercials was the Ford dealer so Transits were ten a penny and any other marque had to be sourced from out of town or 2nd hand. I can't remember what I did this morning but memories of cars, trucks and vans from my childhood never leave me. Maybe that's why I landed the job shown in my profile pic, it had to have engines and wheels in it somewhere.

[@destinationmobileone5476]

I have one, Bedford 1980 cf 250 Dormobile camper, 15 foot tip to toe. Just having a engine replacement will be back on the road in the next couple of weeks. Custom fit Maestro 2L engine. If anyone would like to see the semi forwarding layout setup, click on the thumb nail, thanks Steph great to see Bedford getting a review

[@TheLincolnshireFlyer]

Love these commercial vehicles

[@zorsts]

I really love my Bedford. They turn on a dime

[@ClaireUKBarnFinds]

Another great video Steph. Really enjoyed it. Classic commercials are really gaining popularity and value at the moment. I would love a Moggy Van ❤

[@riotagus]

My favourite tipe of van, the Bedford van. In my long years driving,i have owned 5....yes 5 Bedford vans,the last one being a proper Motorhome. tge pleaser

[@timallen3338]

We had a flatbed pickup CF, Very useful & useable. reg.SFL 9N.

[@russell5791]

Think that must be a changeover model between the cf1 facelift and cf2. cf2's were supposed to be Opel CIH petrol engines, and the slant4 retired.

[@hayamburuk]

This is either the one I drove once or one very like it. My friend owned it for a while. I drove it to the garage for him.

[@idriveaclassic]

It’s owned by a gent with a name beginning with N!

[@glenjarnold]

My dad hired out a camper van based on a CF for the week to go to Cornwall in the 80s while our own camper (Commer) was being fixed. He loved it.

[@patrickgaynor9984]

Nice to see this, my father had about 4 of these over the early too late eighties, mainly for work but they were the mini bus version and i had my first taste of driving in one, dads ashtray was always full to the brim, lol

[@rickshaw2779]

Really enjoyed watching this. I worked for a Vauxhall agency when the CF1 came out, so lots of memories. I'd moved on when the CF2 came out but it looks very similar. Not sure if there was a diesel option, I don't remember one. You don't see many around these days as you say.

[@darrengoodale6854]

There was the Opel diesel 2.3 as long as the glow plugs would always start 👍

[@adamwort7160]

@@darrengoodale6854 and early mk1 cf diesels came with a perkins 4108

[@darrengoodale6854]

@@adamwort7160 yep had 1 of those to 45 mph all day lol no more no less up hill down dale

[@matthewjenkins1161]

Sorry to be geeky, but I believe that is a CF1 facelift as it has the slant 4 engine. It wasn't until the mechanical upgrades that the CF2 tag arrived. Confusing I know, given the later dash and grill.

[@josephmifsud8261]

Another fabulous video. Great to see an original used one. I remember these well. Hope someone can offer you a Transit for comparison

[@scottstrails9369]

Superb ,thanks Steph .These time machine like videos are really really good ,amazed to see you handle this van so well ,again thanks and keep up the great work

[@benpluta6187]

Love to see your take on a Commer van from the 60s.

[@carguygibby]

Nice one, Steph. Brought back fond memories growing up in Glasgow in the 70's and 80's. Transits, CFs and Sherpas were everywhere!

[@Richard-Bullock]

As a child of the 80's myself, oh the memories!

[@Landie_Man]

Those 2.3l petrols are really torquey. They always surprise people.

[@Landie_Man]

I adore that luton body!

[@Samspianopage]

Quality stuff btw. Ma dad had a CF 1 Blitz Glendale campervan for awhile with the 2.3 slant engine. Loved it but he was always a Teansit man so he never kept it long got it for a steal even though it had a small leak on the 9vercab ran awright.

[@schlookie]

Theres a lot of these in Oz and NZ with the Buick/Holden V6 and auto tranny in them. Either locally assembled or converted. My friend is a sign writer and still uses a Holden engined one as his work van as of 2023.

[@andrewbarnes1295]

My memory of the original CF was the M reg school minibus at my first school in the early 80s.

[@martinandersson1049]

What is ADAC about someone asks. Well it's about everything from Ferguson tractors to Ferrari 360's to commercials. And all of that presented with the same sort of dedication to details and attitude!

[@iana6713]

That's a blast from the past! Growing up, the local ice cream van was a CF2, for years on end. And the mention of it being better to drive than the Freight-Rover... Noisy, rough old brutes, those things were!

[@kathykirby5837]

That seating position looks a bit like sitting at the dining table 😂

[@rayleeification]

I drove the long wheelbase high top version between 1983 and 1986 all over the UK doing around 250,000 miles per year

[@edwardtrickett6064]

As always Steph, a brilliantly insightful, but light and well edited video about a piece of motoring history I LOVE what you do, keep it up MWAH!! ❤❤

[@frimleyfrodo]

I used to quite often drive a petrol CF van and diesel CF pick up. This was back in the very early nineties and they were both well past their first flush of youth, but reliable and did everything required of them.

[@johnmiller4973]

Reminds me of the full size GM vans in North America in terms of design of the same era...

[@adamfloyd2152]

That dash shelf looks useful but don't put too much stuff in it as you have to fold it up to get the engine cover out. That caused much head scratching until I looked it up. And if you want more power, the Rover V8 will fit!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Brilliant Review as always Steph.

[@edwinreid8355]

My dad had one of these in the late 80's through to the mid 90's as part of his Timber Merchant Vehicle Fleet, with tartan chequered Seat Coverings.

[@mdawson101]

Thank Steph, got to say it was fascinating to watch & brought back so many memories of me selling Bedford CF parts at a Vauxhall dealership in 1983. I remember selling many parts to military who had CF’s in abundance! Easier times & simpler motoring! 👍

[@oliverbrookes27]

Closest I ever came to thinking I was going to die in an accident was in a CF2 minibus in the late 80s. Uni lecturer didn't know or forgot it had a dog leg 5 speed gearbox. Sitting to turn right across a dual carriageway he selected '1st' in readiness to go between high speed cars, he was of course in 2nd and when it was time to go we didn't go very quickly, he almost stalled it and that gap in traffic suddenly wasn't there. How the approaching cars missed us I will never know.

[@lesklower7281]

I have driven many comercial vehicles and l own a small comercial vehicle l was a courier had many utes and vans and drove many trucks for a courier company l do like to see small comercial vehicles been reviewed and you have done many comercial vehicles we do get the ford transits the Bedford trucks and vans in Australia this why l prefer watching UK you tube channels because you review vehicles l know we got a lot of British vehicles some actually built in Australia

[@shepshepherd]

That would make a fabulous camper, as you could use the part of the Luton body which goes above the cab as a sleeping area, leaving the rest free for seating, storage, cooking, washing, etc.

[@987654321Edd]

100% agree about commercials looking honest, they generally wasn't kept in mint condition in the 70s /80s so it's nice to see them how they actually were when they were working.

[@stevethegreasemonkey]

I remember the minibus that that took me to the nearest village to get the coach to school. It was a cf and didn't like water with the distributor at the front of the engine

[@andrewfitzmaurice7843]

Great video and a reminder of my childhood, as my mum & dad had one of these as a camper (CI, Travelhome S B660ORU I think). It was really good, aside from the fact it broke down with less than 90 miles on it.

[@marksenior9220]

Remember these vans when they were everywhere in the 1980’s. We had a bright yellow ex council van as a scout minibus! Ambulances converted to camper vans.

[@johnbenson2919]

I love vans, I certainly always liked the CF series, and talking of pristine vans, during the 70's and 80's when I was into the custom car scene, they were the vans of choice for customizers.

[@otto.a.2465]

I really love the variety of videos you have on your channel Steph. Excellent work!

[@Lepusrabbit]

CF vans had a sticker on it . Powered by Holden In-line six I seem to remember Very common in Australia During the 70s 👍

[@MrModelworx]

This brings back some memories! I remember the CF2 as ice cream vans but.... I remember my Dad having a CF1 back in the very early 80s it was a 1971 K reg grey 1600 van and had a sliding drivers door! And by all accounts it was a gutless load of shite 😂. (I was only 3 in 1980)

[@roygardiner2229]

Thank you! It's admirable and informative that you drive such very different types of vehicle.

[@nickthomas181]

There's also the Bedford CF on Rust To Road Trip KZbin channel. A 79 pickup barnfind and rebuilt that .They custom built a Luton on the back but kitted it out as a luxury camper .The CF was a great van so many memories and a great vlog.

[@ulsdon7]

Great video,love looking back at the old vehicle's. My dad used to drive a British Leyland 350ea in the 1970s ,I used to go out helping him deliver in the 70s in this van, I wonder if you could find one of these vans and do a video,it would be really appreciated. I've been looking a long time.

[@marcustaylor9210]

I use to drive a FF Ferguson Formula 4x4 pick up version, it was very good off road ,

[@AliMackMechanical]

They where good but a pain to work on. The transit was more reliable my uncle ran a few of them as recovery truck's along with Transits. Good real review 🤗🤗

[@michaeltreadwell777]

That was brilliant Steph - one week a Ferrari, the next a Bedrord CF Luton bodied van ! You never cease to amaze us. Actually, that van is in remarkable condition, considering its age and what it was used for. I've only ever driven Ford Transit Luton vans, for moving etc, and being hire vehicles, have been thrashed to pieces with the cheapest petrol put in them. Thanks for making all these varied videos for us - they and you are such fun to watch. Take special care 🙂 X X

[@alexanderbaker1609]

Another excellent very informative video Steph. Keep up the good work! 👍

[@markiesmith4537]

Great video as usual!

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Bedford's of all shapes and sizes were once everywhere here in Au then almost overnight they seemed to just disappear. Can't remember the last time I saw one.

[@redbeard4518]

Another brilliant video Steph, well done. We had heaps of these in New Zealand, still see the odd one on the road. Used by Government Departments and replaced the 1500/2500 Commer PA/PBs as the standard small school bus. Nice to drive with the Vauxhall Victor derived 2.3 motor and box. I covered a lot of miles around the South Island of New Zealand carting pop band gear in the back of CFs... BUT as someone else has said, they were very light in the back end. Always had to put around 45lbs in the back tyres to get decent handling with a load on before going too far. As you say, they were horrible to work on - motor half inside and other half under bonnet. The engines didnʻt like sitting around and werenʻt the most reliable. Many in NZ, particularly campers, ended up with Australian Holden 6 cyl motors in, which were much more reliable. But then the gearboxes tended to be too light for the power of the Holden if you tried towing etc. They were used for Ambulances in New Zealand and from memory, they were repowered with Holden motors from new, again for reliability. Thanks again for bringing back some great memories...

[@johnoksys7713]

Good Video Steph I Love How You Go From A Ferrari To Todays Subject A Van Keep Up The Good Work Look Forward To The Next Video

[@CharlieFlemingOriginal]

I remember these as Bedford Busses during the 80s and 90s you know those tiny busses with room for about 20 or 30 wouldn't be allowed these days with access laws, but they were EVERYWHERE in Hull. If a Leyland National didn't show up it was a Bedford probably dirt cheap to run.

[@dj_paultuk7052]

I remember my School had 2 as buses. We were packed in like sardines in a tin. I remember they got rid of them towards the end of the 80's as they were rotten and rusting so bad.

[@paulillingworth1242]

I can still smell the fumes as a kid seeing these and on the old 3 or 4 star leaded petrol , imagine eco goons today if we still had those fumes . Nostalgia as a van

[@htimsid]

As far as I remember in Australia these could be equipped with the 3.3 liter six-cylinder engine.

[@stephenricketts7764]

That is in such good condition for it's age and as you say so is the interior. I would say that the CF was a leap forward from the CA although I love an old CA. These were a big improvement in more ways than one. I think they were a good alternative to the Ford Transit. Though I think I am right in saying some people didn't like the engine layout compared to the Ford. Great video Steph thanks once again. 👍👍

[@neilsheppard6673]

I always preferred the styling of the original CF, far more character than the CF2. I once had a temporary delivery job driving a CF and it had the 2.3 litre engine. Flying machine when empty, but also a very twitchy back end which could bite if you weren't careful!

[@its-me_577]

Amazing!😀

[@graemew7001]

I'm with you Steph, no disrespect to the Transit, they're a hell of a van but I always preferred driving a CF, a more relaxed experience. All the petrol Lutons of Bedford and Ford were noisy when loaded and about 55mph was your max if your ears could take it!

[@ParallelSyntax]

Wow you’re losing a lot of weight, idk what you’re doing but keep it up, it’s working!

[@craiglessels5384]

I always wanted a CF to do a replica Ateam van, maybe with a 2litre redtop on throttle bodies

[@fruitychink]

The engine was a pig to work on but it drove like a dream . How do you dig these out Steph . Seriously , well done

[@Levenstone132]

CA more my childhood I'm afraid but what a great old survivor this is. Those ribbed bodies,a pain to signwrite,especially if they were 40 feet long! (No,not on a CF!)

[@Hazaratruck]

Very nice 👍👍👍👍

[@petersimpson5859]

The CF was always more desirable than the Transit to me. There's a matt green panel van with chunky off road tyres not far from me and I love driving past it.

[@LadyAnuB]

Stef, Come to the US and do a Ford F150. A ubiquitous pickup truck. You'd have to do a service box version of one to do a proper service truck. (I think my brother-in-law has this version since he's a general contractor.)

[@terryroberts505]

My late father used to do the fruit and veg back in 1972- 73 brought home a brand new 2.3 CF Bedford van remember it having slam doors instead of sliding doors and it used to go will 85-90 mph they used to will overload too I think they was a bit cheaper than the transit van at the time

[@darenliddle4411]

didnt recognise you stef you look bloody lovely

[@101purdy]

Sorry Steph it's not a cf 2 the cf 2 had cam in head opal engine not ohc slant you've got a cf 1 update also dash had orange lines on dash. And engin cover is easy dash lifts up undo clips and remove it's a faff if stuff on dah board because it all tips out.

[@manofthehour6856]

How novel!!! Quite unexpected. I was unaware that Bedford exported to Canada, despite knowing about the Envoy Canada-only brand sold through Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealers. Very interesting!

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Great video! It might not be a classic for the general public, but I'm sure it it one for people in trades, plumbers, electricians. All that is missing from this video is the sounds made by all the tools in the back, all being a bit rattly. :)

[@Landie_Man]

That cover is literally one of the easiest things in the world to take off. It takes seconds.

[@alanthomson007]

i had a cf the second gear going into third was a problem with a lot of cfs but was a good old work horse

[@billyhill101]

Thanks I Enjoy the video

[@Phiyedough]

I don't remember there being Luton versions of the CF. Back in the day I hired quite a few Lutons and panel vans and they were always Transits. I did own a 1986 Bedford Midi but I think I would have been better with a CF2.

[@drwho534]

Only Steph could make an interesting and intriguing video on a Bedford C2 commercial van! Excellent! Is there a bus in future? 😉

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

Australian Market CF1s had Holden inline 6s from the factory (because Ford Australia were fitting inline 6s to their locally built Transits), which would've made driving these much quicker. We didn't receive the CF2s.

[@rocketsock4297]

It's a box! 😀

[@MrJoshiej]

When you turned the Engine over I was expecting it to sound like a Bedford Rascal Van but it sounds more like an Astra or Vectra

[@nickhill3362]

I had a 2.3 petrol tipper boy could that thing drink petrol apart from that it was a good little tipper Steph I think they had a ZF gearbox

[@paullacey2999]

Can you do a Rascal Van or pickup Steph,they were cool too!

[@mdcbert]

I bet you could turn it into a camper and drive it to Italy or Slovenia for a vacation! Also it sounds like you have found your new Dailey driver, comfortable and rides up high and can care your stuff!