{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2009}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Bedford Beagle | image = 1968 Bedford Roma Mark I Deluxe (Dormobile), front left side.jpg | caption = The Beagle-based Bedford Roma motorhome | manufacturer = [[Bedford Vehicles]] | production = 1964-1973 | class = [[Station wagon|Estate car]] | body_style = | related = [[Bedford HA]] | layout = [[longitudinal engine|Longitudinal]] front engine, [[rear-wheel drive]] | predecessor = | successor = [[Vauxhall Viva#HC|Viva HC estate versions]] }}
The '''Bedford Beagle''' is an [[estate car]] conversion of the [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] [[Bedford HA|HA]] 8[[Hundredweight|cwt]] van, which itself was based on the [[Vauxhall Viva (1963–1979)#HA Viva (1963–1966)|Vauxhall Viva HA]]. It was launched at the 1964 [[London Motor Show]].<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Autocar |date=16 October 1964 |title=Don't Poodle About... Better buy Beagle |volume=121 |issue=3583 |page=761 }}</ref>
The conversions were undertaken by [[Martin Walter of Folkestone|Martin Walter Ltd]] in [[Folkestone]], Kent, most famous for [[Dormobile]] campers based upon the larger [[Bedford CA]] commercial vans.<ref name=worst>{{cite book | title = The Worst Cars Ever Sold in Britain | first = Giles | last = Chapman | date = 2001 | publisher = [[W H Smith]] | isbn = 0-7509-2893-X | pages = 20–21 }}</ref> Whilst the vans were very common at one time, the Beagle was altogether rarer and there are very few left today.
The Beagle formed the basis of the Roma, a [[camper van]] that was marketed in standard and deluxe forms, both featuring standing headroom of {{cvt|77|in|cm}} and a full-length {{cvt|72|in|cm}} double bed. A third bunk, fitted into the canopy of the elevated roof, is a feature of the deluxe version of the Roma.
Introduced in 1964, originally with the 1057 cc engine mated to a 4-speed gearbox, the Beagle was basic, with drum brakes all round and minimal interior trim. Later engine upgrades arrived in 1967 (1159 cc) and 1972 (1256 cc), bringing the top speed up from {{cvt|72|mph|km/h|0}} to about {{cvt|80|mph|km/h|0}}, but the Beagle was finally discontinued in 1973. It was more or less replaced by the superior [[Vauxhall Viva (1963–1979)#HC Viva (1970–1979)|Viva HC]] estate cars.
==References== {{reflist}} {{Bedford vehicles|state=autocollapse}} {{Vauxhall Motors}}
[[Category:Bedford vehicles]] [[Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles]] [[Category:Cars introduced in 1964]] [[Category:Cars discontinued in 1973]]
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