Bedford HC

{{Infobox automobile |image = Bedford 5-6 cwt HC Van (1948) (16006040965).jpg |caption = 1948 Bedford HC Van |name = Bedford HC |manufacturer = [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] |production = {{ubl | 1938-1948 (HC) | 1939-1948 (JC) | 1948-1952 (PC) }} |class = [[Light commercial vehicle]] |related={{ubl | [[Vauxhall 10-4]] | [[Vauxhall 12-4]] | [[Vauxhall 14-6]] }} |body_style = {{ubl | 2-door [[panel van]] | 2-door [[Carryall|Utilevan]] | 2-door [[pickup truck]]/[[Ute (vehicle)|coupé utility]] }} |successor = {{ubl | [[Bedford HA]] | [[Bedford CA]] }} | aka = |layout = [[FR layout]] | weight = {{convert|1991|-|2991|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | engine = {{ubl | 1203 cc ''10HP'' [[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] [[Straight-four engine|I4]] | 1442 cc ''12HP'' OHV I4 }} |wheelbase = {{ubl | {{convert|97.75|in|mm|abbr=on}} (HC) | {{convert|105|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (JC/PC) }} }}

The '''Bedford HC''' is a small commercial vehicle that was made by Bedford, beginning in 1938.<ref name=RJ1>{{cite web |last = Jones |first = R |title= Bedford HC 5/6cwt van of 1938 onwards |url=https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/bedford-hc.htm |website=The Old Classic Car Image Archive |accessdate=8 November 2020}}</ref> The vehicle shared its running gear with the H-series [[Vauxhall 10-4]] [[Saloon (automobile)|saloon]]. Production of civilian vehicles ceased during [[World War II]] with the HC van re-entering production for a little while following hostilities. The HC was later joined by the heavier duty '''Bedford JC''', which was itself replaced by the higher-roofed '''Bedford PC''' after the war. With the arrival of the much more modern [[Bedford CA]] the by now outmoded PC was finally retired.<ref name="olyslager">{{cite book | ref = sbcv | title = A Source Book of Commercial Vehicles | publisher = Olyslager Organisation, Ward Lock Limited | location = London | date = 1972 | last = Miller | first = Denis N. | editor-first = Bart H. | editor-last = Vanderveen | isbn = 0-7063-1286-4 | page = 80 }}</ref>

== Previous Bedford vans == [[File:Bedford BYC Van (1938).JPG|left|thumb|1938 Bedford BYC]] In 1932 Bedford produced its first light commercial van, it was marketed on the 12 cwt category and was based on the [[Vauxhall Cadet]] passenger car but there were various modifications. The first variant, the Bedford VYC, retained the Cadet's 6-cylinder engine and chassis. Later on, a more powerful engine was used. The 6-cylinder engine used in the [[Vauxhall Big Six]] was also an option. The van was later rename the Bedford BYC and remained in production until 1939.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p491736945 | title = Galleries: Bedford: Light Delivery Vans | work = CCMV Classic Commercial Motor Vehicles | editor-first = Neil | editor-last = Fraser }}</ref> Bedford continued to develop its share of the light transport market, with the introduction of the 8 cwt ASYC and ASXC vans, a close derivative of the [[Vauxhall Light Six]] car.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Important British Bid for Export Trade |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/27th-january-1931/49/an-important | date = 27 January 1931 | website=Commercial Motor |access-date=7 January 2023 |quote=Each of the models will have a six-cylindered engine with a bore of 3 ins. (84 mm.) and a stroke of 31 ins. Although the bore and stroke are the same as in the famous Chevrolet engine, this power unit is quite a different model, having a fourbearing crankshaft, Lucas six-volt lighting and starting equipment and high-pressure lubrication by geartype pump to the crankshaft, cam}}</ref>

Such vehicles were also produced in [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] where they were marketed alongside Chevrolet and GMC trucks, received various locally-built bodies available for specific markets only such as a [[roadster utility]] or [[coupé utility]].

The AS series of vans continued in production until 1939.

==Design== The HC's original engine was a four-cylinder unit of 1203 cc, which was rated at {{cvt|34.5|hp|kW|1}} at the time.<ref name=RJ1/> In January 1939 a wooden-bodied pickup truck version called the "Utility Wagon" was introduced.<ref name=stovebolt11>{{citation | ref = BHist | url = https://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/bedford%201950%20history.pdf | via = Stovebolt.com | title = You See Them Everywhere | page = 11 | publisher = Public Relations Department, Vauxhall Motors Limited | location = Luton, England | date = October 1978 }}</ref> Payload was {{convert|5|or|6|long cwt|lb kg}}. The HC was Bedford's smallest vehicle at the time and after it was discontinued in the autumn of 1948, Bedford stayed out of the segment until the 1964 introduction of the [[Bedford HA]].<ref name=stovebolt10>[[#BHist|"You See Them Everywhere"]], p. 10</ref>

Production was suspended in 1940 as [[World War II]] began in earnest. While Bedford began building their heavier trucks in 1945, the lighter HC and JC models had to wait until 1946.<ref name=stovebolt17>[[#BHist|"You See Them Everywhere"]], p. 17</ref> Beginning in late 1946 HCs received a 1442 cc version of the engine as seen in the [[Vauxhall 12-4]] and the heavier JC, developing 35 hp.<ref name=BF47p25>{{citation | ref = BF47 | type = Brochure | url = http://storm.oldcarmanualproject.com/bedfordtrucks1947.htm | title = For Every Load and Every Road: Bedford | publisher = Vauxhall Bedford Export | id = BX477/6/47 | date = 1947 | page = 25 }}</ref> The HC was discontinued in September 1948; 10,600 Bedford HC were built in total.<ref name=stovebolt18>[[#BHist|"You See Them Everywhere"]], p. 18</ref><ref name=Enter>{{cite magazine | url = https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/21st-august-1964/48/bedford-enter-ligh-an-market | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171214003459/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/21st-august-1964/48/bedford-enter-ligh-an-market | archive-date = 2017-12-14 | ref = CM3079 | title = Bedford enter light van market | magazine = [[Commercial Motor|The Commercial Motor]] | editor-first = A.J.P. | editor-last = Wilding | page = 44 | volume = 120 | number = 3079 | date = 1964-08-21 }}</ref> While the pickup version was not listed after the war, Bedford did offer the interesting "Utilevan" version. This was a glazed four-seater Estate Wagon version of the van with a folding rear seat.<ref name=BF47p4>[[#BF47|''For Every Load and Every Road: Bedford'']], pp. 4-5</ref> The Utilevan was an officially sanctioned conversion by independent coachbuilder [[Martin Walter of Folkestone|Martin Walter, Ltd.]], who later built the [[Bedford Beagle]].<ref name=RJ3>{{cite web |last = Jones |first = R |title= Bedford/GM Holden 10/12cwt station wagon |url= http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/bedford-pc-holden.htm | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170709130009/http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/bedford-pc-holden.htm | archivedate = 2017-07-09 |website=The Old Classic Car Image Archive }}</ref>

From mid-1938, the HC was also assembled in Australia where it was marketed as the Bedford 6cwt Carryall. A panel van with lower roof and rounded front doors was available, as were three different coupé utilities: an open delivery, a wellside delivery, and a flareboard delivery.<ref name=may38>{{cite journal | url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41005656 |title= New Bedford Carryall | via = [[Trove]] | journal = The Courier-Mail | location = Brisbane | page = 18 | date=1938-05-09 |accessdate=2020-11-18 }}</ref> The engine was unchanged from the British market. The range of bodystyles was later increased to seven, including a roadster utility (a pickup without a roof).<ref name=jan40>{{cite journal | url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58976189 | title = Carry-All Utility Announced | via = [[Trove]] | journal = The Sunday Times | location = Perth, WA | page = 7 | date = 1940-01-07 |accessdate=2020-11-18 }}</ref>

== {{anchor|JC}} Bedford JC == [[File:1940 Bedford JC Ute (19894142558).jpg|thumb|left|1940 Bedford JC Coupé Utility (Australia)]] The heavier duty JC joined the HC in June 1939. The visual differences between the HC and JC vans are a higher roofline and longer {{convert|105|in|mm|adj=on}} wheelbase. The JC received the 1.4-litre "12HP" engine as used in the Vauxhall 12-4 and post-war HCs. The JC's payload is {{convert|10|or|12|long cwt|lb kg}}. The JC was built from 1939 until 1940 and again between 1946 and 1948. As with the HC, there was also a 'Utilevan' variant on offer, a [[carryall]] version of the van with two folding rear seats and a maximum capacity of seven people.<ref name=BF47p4/>

From the end of 1939, the 10 hp JC was also built by [[Holden]] in Australia, in seven different bodystyles.<ref name=jan40/> Variations of the [[Ute (vehicle)|Coupé Utility]] were the most common model, with panel vans also available. Maximum power of the JC's engine was {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=jan40/> The JC's chassis was also used for the six-cylinder [[Vauxhall 14-6|Vauxhall Model J 14hp]] passenger car range. Australian built JCs (and 14s) have split windshields, a detail that continued on the succeeding PC model as the smaller panes were cheaper and easier to replace given Australia's gravel roads.

== {{anchor|PC}} Bedford PC == [[File:Vauxhall Bedford PC Van 1950.jpg|thumb|left|1950 Bedford PC Van exported to Brazil]] In mid-1948 the JC was updated with a column shifted three-speed transmission and 12-volt electrics, which also meant a name change to Bedford PC.<ref name=stovebolt18/> The engine and overall appearance remained as before.

The PC was also assembled by [[Holden]] in Australia from parts shipped from England. The bodywork behind the cowl was built in Australia and was very different from British models, with different doors with rounded tops and a much lower roofline.<ref name=RJ2>{{cite web |last = Jones |first = R |title= Post-war Bedford PC vans and ambulances |url= https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/bedford-pc.htm | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170709132500/https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/bedford-pc.htm | archivedate = 2017-07-09 |website=The Old Classic Car Image Archive }}</ref> Holden offered four bodystyles of their own design: a plain cowl and chassis (PC 6100), an open [[Ute (vehicle)|Coupé Utility]] (PC 6106), a Wellside Coupé Utility (PC 6108), and the Panel Van (PC 6104).<ref name=RJ3/>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.autogallery.org.ru/bedford.htm Oldtimer picture gallery. Trucks. Bedford. Vauxhall Motors, UK] * [http://storm.oldcarmanualproject.com/bedfordtrucks1947.htm Bedford Trucks 1947]

[[Category:Vans]] [[Category:1940s cars]] [[Category:Pickup trucks]] [[Category:1930s cars]] [[Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles]] [[Category:Bedford vehicles|HC]]