# Bedford S type

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Motor vehicle

Bedford S Type 1954 S type Overview Manufacturer Bedford Vehicles Production 1950–1959 Body and chassis Layout FR Related Bedford SB Bedford RL Powertrain Engine Bedford I6 petrol Perkins R6 diesel Leyland O.350 diesel Bedford diesel Transmission 4-speed manual Dimensions Wheelbase 86 in (2,180 mm) 116 in (2,950 mm) 156 in (3,960 mm) Chronology Successor Bedford TK

The **[Bedford](/source/Bedford_Vehicles) 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 110 bhp (82 kW) petrol engine, a diesel was added in 1953. The lorry proved popular amongst haulers and general traders, for [fire engines](/source/Fire_engine), and was used for the first liquid egg [tanker](/source/Tank_truck) in 1966.

## Description

The S was a conventional 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](/source/Manual_transmission) featuring synchromesh on the top three gears, and final drive in the rear axle was by [hypoid gears](/source/Spiral_bevel_gear). The 5.56 L (339 cu in) [Perkins](/source/Perkins_Engines) R6 diesel engine was made an option in 1953, soon joined by the 5.76 L (351 cu in) [Leyland](/source/Leyland_Motors) O.350, and Bedford's own diesel in 1957. These were rated at between 90 and 104 bhp (67 and 78 kW).[3]

## History

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](/source/Fire_engine) and, in 1966, to carry the first liquid egg [tanker](/source/Tank_truck).[4] The vehicle was the basis for the [Bedford RL](/source/Bedford_RL) all-wheel-drive transport that served in large numbers with the [British Army](/source/British_Army). The [Bedford SB](/source/Bedford_SB) bus also used a chassis derived from the S.[5]

## See also

- [Bedford RL](/source/Bedford_RL)

- [Green Goddess](/source/Green_Goddess)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The New Big Bedfords (advertisement)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824000523/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/page/22nd-september-1950/70). *Commercial Motor*. 22 September 1950. pp. 70–71. Archived from [the original](http://archive.commercialmotor.com/page/22nd-september-1950/70) on 24 August 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tucker_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tucker_2-1) Tucker, P. J. (1950). ["A Show to Remember"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824002303/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-september-1950/105/a-show-to-remember-by-p-g-tucker). *Commercial Motor*. 22 September 1950: 157. Archived from [the original](http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-september-1950/105/a-show-to-remember-by-p-g-tucker) on 24 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Carroll, John; Davies, Peter J. (2015). *The Complete Book of Tractors & Trucks*. London: Greene & Golden. pp. 334–335.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Kerrey, R. S. (1966). "First Egg Tanker". *Commercial Motor*. 18 November 1966: 80.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Furness, Nigel R. B. (2016). *Bedford Buses and Coaches*. Marlborough: Crowood Press. p. 68.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bedford S type](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_S_type) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_S_type?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.