{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox automobile | name =Bedford S Type | image = Bedford S Type 1954 3600cc Battlesbridge.JPG | caption = 1954 S type | manufacturer =[[Bedford Vehicles]] | aka = | production = 1950–1959 | assembly = | designer = | class = | body_style = | layout =[[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|FR]] | related = [[Bedford SB]]<br />[[Bedford RL]] | engine = Bedford [[Straight-six engine|I6]] petrol<br />[[Perkins Engines|Perkins]] R6 diesel<br />[[Leyland Motors|Leyland]] O.350 diesel<br />Bedford diesel | transmission = 4-speed manual | wheelbase = {{convert|86|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}}<br />{{convert|116|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}}<br />{{convert|156|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}} | successor =[[Bedford TK]] | sp = uk }} The '''[[Bedford Vehicles|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. Originally available only with a {{convert|110|bhp|abbr=on}} petrol engine, a diesel was added in 1953. The lorry proved popular amongst haulers and general traders, for [[fire engine]]s, and was used for the first liquid egg [[Tank truck|tanker]] in 1966.
==Description== The S was a conventional lorry and available in three wheelbases, {{convert|86|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}}, {{convert|116|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}} and {{convert|156|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The New Big Bedfords (advertisement) |work=Commercial Motor |date=22 September 1950 |pages=70–71 |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/page/22nd-september-1950/70|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824000523/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/page/22nd-september-1950/70|archive-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> At introduction, the lorry was fitted with a {{convert|4.92|L|cuin|abbr=on}} 6-cylinder Bedford petrol engine that produced {{convert|110|bhp|abbr=on}} at 3200 rpm.<ref name=tucker /> Drive was through a four-speed [[Manual transmission|manual gearbox]] featuring synchromesh on the top three gears, and final drive in the rear axle was by [[Spiral bevel gear|hypoid gears]]. The {{convert|5.56|L|cuin|abbr=on}} [[Perkins Engines|Perkins]] R6 diesel engine was made an option in 1953, soon joined by the {{convert|5.76|L|cuin|abbr=on}} [[Leyland Motors|Leyland]] O.350, and Bedford's own diesel in 1957. These were rated at between {{convert|90|and|104|bhp|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book|first1=John|last1=Carroll|first2=Peter J.|last2=Davies|title=The Complete Book of Tractors & Trucks|publisher=Greene & Golden|place=London|year=2015|pages=334–335}}</ref>
==History== The S was launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show in 1950.<ref name=tucker>{{cite journal|first=P. J.|last=Tucker|title=A Show to Remember|journal=Commercial Motor|volume=22 September 1950|year=1950|page=157|url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-september-1950/105/a-show-to-remember-by-p-g-tucker|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824002303/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-september-1950/105/a-show-to-remember-by-p-g-tucker|archive-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> Known as the "Big Bedford", it was the largest Bedford lorry available at the time, with a gross vehicle weight of {{convert|7|LT|kg|abbr=out}}. The Bedford S was used extensively by haulers and general trades through the 1950s and 1960s. The chassis was used for [[fire engine]]s and, in 1966, to carry the first liquid egg [[Tank truck|tanker]].<ref>{{cite journal|first=R. S.|last=Kerrey|title=First Egg Tanker|year=1966|journal=Commercial Motor|volume=18 November 1966|page=80}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|first=Nigel R. B.|last=Furness|title=Bedford Buses and Coaches|publisher=Crowood Press|place=Marlborough|year=2016|page=68}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Bedford RL]] *[[Green Goddess]]
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Bedford vehicles|S type]] [[Category:Road vehicles manufactured in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1951]] [[Category:Vehicles discontinued in 1959]]