{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Bedford TJ | image = Bedford TJ 1966 Castle Hedingham 2008.JPG | caption = 1966 Bedford TJ | manufacturer = [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]]<br>[[AWD Trucks]]<br>[[Marshall Group|Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group]] | assembly = {{ubl | UK: [[Bedford Dunstable plant|Dunstable]] | UK: [[Cambridge Airport]] | India: [[Calcutta]] ([[Hindustan Motors]]) | Malaysia: [[Petaling Jaya]] (Champion Motors) | Nigeria: [[Apapa]] ([[United Africa Company of Nigeria|UACN]]) | Argentina: [[San Martín, Buenos Aires|San Martín]] ([[GM Argentina]]){{cn|date=July 2025}} }} | aka = AWD-Bedford TJ | production = 1958–1998 | wheelbase = {{cvt|101-138|in|mm|0}}<ref name=J0broch>{{citation |title= Bedford JO (1960) |url=https://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p30952133/h22a7ccad#h25abcff6 | via = CCMV Classic Commercial Motor Vehicles |access-date=20 February 2026 | pages = 4-5 | type = brochure | publisher = Vauxhall Motors Ltd. | location = Luton, England | date = August 1959 }}</ref> | length = {{cvt|182-258|in|mm|0}}<ref name=J0broch/> | width = {{cvt|80-90|in|mm|0}} | height = {{cvt|78-86|in|mm|0}}<ref name=J0broch/> | class = Medium-duty [[truck]] | predecessor = [[Bedford TA|Bedford TD]] | successor = [[Bedford KB]] (for J0) | weight = {{cvt|3359|-|6655|lb|kg|0}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Bedford Commercial Vehicle Range|date=1973|url=https://wikibus.blob.core.windows.net/sources51/Bedford%20Commercial%20Vehicle%20Range.pdf|publisher=Vauxhall Motors Ltd. |location=Luton, England}}</ref> | related = [[Bedford TA]] | sp = uk }}
'''The Bedford TJ''' is a [[truck]] that was produced by [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] and its successors from 1958 to 1998, as a replacement for the earlier [[Bedford TA|Bedford A]] series of medium-duty trucks that were built between 1953 and 1958. The TJ was the last bonneted truck produced by the company, and the last vehicle to be produced to have a relation with Bedford.
==History== Production of the Bedford TJ began in 1958 as [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford’s]] new bonneted truck model, and was a modernised version of the Bedford TD series, modelled after the [[Chevrolet Advance Design]] truck. The TJ truck was produced in many versions, ranging from light [[Pickup truck|pickups]] to heavy-duty vehicles, with payloads up to 6-8 tons. Unfortunately, due to their relatively dated styling and presumably since bonneted trucks were falling out of favour these years, the TJ series was not very popular in the United Kingdom and did not sell in big numbers, with the exception of the [[The AA|AA]] and [[BT Group|Post Office Telephones]]. In particular, [[Holland's Pies]] in Lancashire used a large fleet of TJ vans well into the 1980s, being notable for being kept in very clean condition and this resulted in the TJ being often called a 'Holland's pie van' around Lancashire.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bedford-world.com/bedfordregister.htm |title=The Bedford Register-the worlds largest owners club & registry |access-date=9 January 2007 |archive-date=2 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202113213/http://www.bedford-world.com/bedfordregister.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
The lightest versions (J0) shared the same 2,651 cc ohv I6 petrol engine as the [[Vauxhall Cresta]], which offered relatively good performance.<ref name=J0auction>{{cite web |title=Lot 191 - 1961 Bedford J.O. Pick-Up |url=https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2018-05-19/cars/ref-95-1961-bedford-jo-pick-up/ |website=Historics UK |access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref> Maximum power is {{cvt|104.5|bhp|kW|0|adj=mid|Gross}} and torque is {{cvt|140|lbft|Nm|0}} at 2,400 rpm. It sold in relatively good numbers in Britain and export markets throughout the 1960s and 1970s, before being replaced by the [[Bedford KB]] in 1976. Heavier variants used the same engine as on the [[Bedford TA|Bedford TD]] series. In export markets, specifically in countries such as India, Pakistan, Africa and other developing nations, the TJ sold in great numbers due to its reliability and relatively low price compared to the competition. In 1975, the TJ was withdrawn from the UK market and superseded by the [[Bedford CF]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/bedford-97000---cf-cf2 | title=Bedford 97000 - CF & CF2 }}</ref><ref name=CB17>{{cite web | url = https://bedford-cf.co.uk/history.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231203145118/https://bedford-cf.co.uk/history.htm | archive-date = 2023-12-03 | title = (Very) Brief History of the Bedford CF | work = CF-UK | first = Colin | last = Birch | date = 2017-06-28 }}</ref>
After 1975, the TJ was offered only for export where it was pretty successful, however, during the 1980s, exports to countries such as Australia and New Zealand stopped since it was clear that these trucks were very outdated, and couldn't compete in the market anymore due to changing emissions and regulations. Nevertheless, it continued production for export to developing countries. In 1987, the [[Bedford Dunstable plant|Dunstable plant]] was sold to David J.B. Brown and became [[AWD Trucks]].<ref name=Civvies>{{cite web |title=AWD Survival In Civvies? | page = 17 | editor-first = Nicky | editor-last = Clarke | url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-october-1992/19/awd-survival-in-civvies |website=[[Commercial Motor]]| volume = 176 | number = 4495 | date = 1992-10-22 }}</ref> Production of the TJ continued under the AWD Bedford badge. After [[Marshall Group|Marshall SPV]] purchased AWD Trucks, production of the TJ series continued, but in limited numbers. The last TJ trucks were built in 1998, when an order was placed for 100 trucks to be exported to Kenya.<ref name="[95]">{{cite web |title=1966 BEDFORD J-TYPE TRUCK |url=https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1966-bedford-j-type-truck-K8W338 |website=Cars And Classics |access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
===Nigeria=== The Bedford TJ was assembled in Bedford's Nigerian plant in [[Apapa]] ([[Tin Can Island Port|Tin Can Island]]) by [[United Africa Company of Nigeria|UACN]], a [[Unilever]] operation which was 60 percent Nigerian-owned.<ref name=CM79a>{{cite magazine | first = Bill | last = Godwin | title = Leyland sets hot pace in Nigeria | date = 1979-05-11 | url = https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/11th-may-1979/89/leyland-sets-ho-pace-in-nigeria | magazine = Commercial Motor | page = 88 | volume = 149 | number = 3807 }}</ref> By the end of the 1970s, the TJ was the most sold Bedford product in Nigeria, which was Bedford's main export market outside of Europe at the time.
===Pakistan=== In Pakistan, the J5/6 is very popular and dominated commercial vehicular traffic. It has a cult status among drivers and is known for its power, reliability, and durability. Over half of the trucks in Pakistan are Bedford vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bedford J5 'Jingle Truck' |url=https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1322414-Bedford-J5.html |access-date=27 July 2021}}</ref>
===India=== An Indian company, [[Hindustan Motors]], also produced the larger versions (J5/6) of the vehicle in that country from 1968. Production lasted for three decades, but the vehicle proved to be unable to compete with [[Tata Motors|Tata]] and [[Ashok Leyland]] vehicles and was finally discontinued in 1998.<ref name=RB23>{{cite web |title=Curbside Classic: 1970 Bedford TJ – Advanced Past Its Prime |url=https://www.curbsideclassic.com/uncategorized/curbside-classic-bedford-tj-advanced-past-its-prime/ |website=Curbside Classic | date= 3 June 2023 | first = Rich | last = Baron }}</ref>
===Australia=== The TJ was widely exported. In Australia they were distributed by [[Holden]].
===Malaysia=== Bedford TJ trucks were also produced in Malaysia from [[Knock-down kit|knock-down kits]] until the early 1980s. Towards the end of this period, after Bedford vehicles had lost their market lead, the TJ shared the assembly line with competing trucks from [[Toyota]].<ref name=CM82>{{cite magazine | magazine = Commercial Motor | url = https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-may-1982/73/malaysian-malaise-for-once-proud-bedford | title = Malaysian malaise for once-proud Bedford | page = 83 | date = 1982-05-22 | volume = 155 | number = 3966 | first = Noel | last = Millier }}</ref> As the design aged, Bedford's reputation shrank, the [[Pound sterling|British pound]] went up, while Britain itself lost much of its standing in Malaysia.<ref name=CM82/> GM instead chose to focus more on promoting trucks from corporate stablemate [[Isuzu]] in that market. The TJ trucks were replaced by the [[Isuzu TX]].
==Models== *J0 (often referred to as JO) *J1 *J2 *J3 *J4 *J5 *J6
==Chassis codes== ===1958 To June 1967=== *J1 30cwt. *J2S 3ton. *J2L 3ton. (GVM - 5ton) *J2LC 3ton (GVM - 4.5ton) *J3L 4ton. *J4L 5ton. *J4E 5ton. *J4A 8ton tractor. *J5S 6ton. *J5L 6ton. *J6S 7ton. *J6L 7ton.
A 3rd or 4th number indicates engine type;
*1 = 300cu. in Diesel *2 = 214cu. in Petrol *3 = 300cu. in Petrol *5 = 330cu. in Diesel *7 = 200cu. in Diesel *10 =220cu. in Diesel
===July 1967 onwards=== Chassis codes changed in July 1967 to ensure Bedford complied with new legislation introduced in the UK (Construction and Use Regulations).
*CDD/CHD 30cwt. *CDJ/CHJ 3ton. *CDL/CHL 4ton. *CFM/CJM 5ton. *CFN/CJN 6ton. *CFQ/CJQ 7 ton.
The 3rd letter is for the weight rating, while the 2nd letter indicates engine type;
*D = 214cu. in Petrol *F = 300cu. in Petrol *H = 220cu. in Diesel *J = 330cu. in Diesel
==Engines== The engines available included:
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="6" | Available engines (outputs are gross numbers) |- ! Displacement || Bore x Stroke || Cylinders || Power/rpm || Torque/rpm || Fuel |- | {{cvt|3519|cc|cuin cc|1|disp=br()|order=out}} || {{cvt|3.375|x|4.00|in|mm|1|disp=br()}} || rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: 2px solid #36454F;" | [[Straight-six engine|Inline-six]] || {{cvt|100|bhp|kW|0}}<br>at 3,600 || {{cvt|184|lbft|Nm|0}}<br>at 1,200 || rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: 2px solid #36454F;" | [[Petrol engine|Petrol]] |- | style="border-bottom: 2px solid #36454F;" | {{cvt|4927|cc|cuin cc|1|disp=br()|order=out}} || style="border-bottom: 2px solid #36454F;" | {{cvt|3.875|x|4.25|in|mm|1|disp=br()}} || style="border-bottom: 2px solid #36454F;" | {{cvt|133|bhp|kW|0}}<br>at 3,000 || style="border-bottom: 2px solid #36454F;" | {{cvt|267|lbft|Nm|0}}<br>at 1,200 |- | {{cvt|3285|cc|cuin cc|1|disp=br()|order=out}} || {{cvt|3.875|x|4.25|in|mm|1|disp=br()}} || rowspan="2" | [[Straight-four engine|Inline-four]] || {{cvt|64|bhp|kW|0}}<br>at 2,800{{NoteTag|name=fn1|Net figures are {{cvt|57|bhp|kW|0}} at 2,600 rpm and {{cvt|139|lbft|Nm|0}} at 1,400 rpm.}} || {{cvt|19.8|kgm|lbft Nm|0|order=out}}<br>at 1,400{{NoteTag|name=fn1}} || rowspan="4" | [[Diesel engine|Diesel]] |- | {{cvt|3614|cc|cuin cc|1|disp=br()|order=out}} || {{cvt|4.0625|x|4.25|in|mm|1|disp=br()}} || {{cvt|70|bhp|kW|0}}<br>at 2,800 || {{cvt|157|lbft|Nm|0}}<br>at 1,400 |- | {{cvt|4927|cc|cuin cc|1|disp=br()|order=out}} || {{cvt|3.875|x|4.25|in|mm|1|disp=br()}} || rowspan="2" | Inline-six || {{cvt|97|bhp|kW|0}}<br>at 2,800 || {{cvt|217|lbft|Nm|0}}<br>at 1,400 |- | {{cvt|5420|cc|cuin cc|1|disp=br()|order=out}} || {{cvt|4.0625|x|4.25|in|mm|1|disp=br()}} || {{cvt|107|bhp|kW|0}}<br>at 2,800 || {{cvt|238|lbft|Nm|0}}<br>at 1,800 |- |colspan="6" | {{NoteFoot}} |}
== Gallery == <gallery widths="200" heights="145"> File:Bedford van (3509725381).jpg|Bedford J5 [[box truck]] File:1968 Bedford J1 (32552343003).jpg|1968 Bedford J1 File:Autobus Bedford TJ4.jpg|The Bedford TJ trucks were also converted into buses; here in [[Cyprus]] File:Brick hauler -2 Bedford TJ truck, Bangladesh. (32470195752).jpg|AWD Bedford TJ truck in [[Bangladesh]] File:Bangladesh Bedford TJ Fuel tanker (24583286204).jpg|Bedford TJ fuel tanker in Bangladesh. File:Bangladesh Police Bedford TJ truck (25187660966).jpg|Bedford TJ truck belonging to the [[Dhaka Metropolitan Police]]. File:Bedford TJ with walk-through van body registered December 1961 3519cc.JPG|Bedford TJ with [[Multi-stop truck|walk-through van]] body </gallery>
==See also== * [[Customised buses and trucks in Pakistan]]
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat|Bedford TJ}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060822003635/http://www.duncanmargetts.com/blog/?page_id=820 Enthusiast site] * [https://bedfordportugal.blogspot.pt/ Bedford Trucks in Portugal {{in lang|pt}}]
{{Bedford vehicles|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Bedford vehicles|TJ]] [[Category:Road transport in Pakistan]] [[Category:Vans]] [[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1958]]