Bedford S type

The Bedford S is a heavy lorry produced in Great Britain between 1950 and 1959. Launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show in 1950, it was the largest Bedford lorry available at the time. The S-Type was based on the Chevrolet Advance Design COE truck. Originally available only with a 110 bhp (82 kW) petrol engine, a diesel was added in 1953. The lorry proved popular amongst haulers and general traders, for fire engines, and was used for the first liquid egg tanker in 1966.

The S was a forward-control lorry and available in three wheelbases, 86 in (2,180 mm), 116 in (2,950 mm) and 156 in (3,960 mm).^[1] At introduction, the lorry was fitted with a 4.92 L (300 cu in) 6-cylinder Bedford petrol engine that produced 110 bhp (82 kW) at 3200 rpm.^[2] Drive was through a four-speed manual gearbox featuring synchromesh on the top three gears, and final drive in the rear axle was by hypoid gears. The 5.56 L (339 cu in) Perkins R6 diesel engine was made an option in 1953, soon joined by the 5.76 L (351 cu in) Leyland O.350, and Bedford's own diesel in 1957. These were rated at between 90 and 104 bhp (67 and 78 kW).^[3]

The S was launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show in 1950.^[2] Known as the "Big Bedford", it was the largest Bedford lorry available at the time, with a gross vehicle weight of 7 long tons (7,100 kg). The Bedford S was used extensively by haulers and general trades through the 1950s and 1960s. The chassis was used for fire engines and, in 1966, to carry the first liquid egg tanker.^[4] The vehicle was the basis for the Bedford RL all-wheel-drive transport that served in large numbers with the British Army. The Bedford SB bus also used a chassis derived from the S.^[5]

• Bedford RL
• Green Goddess