{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox automobile |name = Bedford TM |image = 1981 Bedford TM (27673030990).jpg |caption = |manufacturer = [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] |production = 1974-1986<br>1988-1992 ([[AWD Trucks]]) |assembly = [[Bedford Dunstable plant|Dunstable]] |class = [[Commercial vehicle]] |body_style = [[Chassis cab]]<br>[[Tractor unit]] |layout = |platform = |engine = [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]]<br>[[Cummins UK|Cummins]]<br>[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Caterpillar Inc.]] (Multidrive Only) |transmission = [[Eaton Corporation|Eaton]]<br>Fuller<br>[[Dana Incorporated|Spicer]] |wheelbase = |length = |width = |successor = |height = |weight = |related = |designer = |sp = uk}}
The '''Bedford TM''' was a [[heavy goods vehicle]] manufactured by [[Bedford Vehicles]] between 1974 and 1986. Until the TM, Bedford had been building mostly low-specification short-haul distribution trucks such as the [[Bedford TK]] and KM. In view of the increasing popularity of high cabs in the maximum-weight long-distance category, such as the [[Leyland Marathon]], [[Scania AB|Scania]] L110 and [[Volvo F88]], Bedford designed the TM as a competitor.
==History== [[File:Bedford TM 4x4 pic1.JPG|thumb|[[British Army]] Bedford TM]] The TM was introduced in 1974.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/27th-september-1974/27/tms-in-paris | title = TMs in Paris | magazine = [[Commercial Motor]] | date = 27 September 1974 | page = 25 | publisher = IPC Transport Press Ltd. | volume = 140 | number = 3567 }}</ref> A thorough update in 1982 left the appearance mostly untouched, perhaps to the detriment of sales of what was a substantially new model.<ref name=truck>{{cite journal | journal = Truck | date = May 1982 | ref = truck82 | page = 44 | last = Kennett | first = Pat | title = TM with a silver lining | location = London | publisher = FF Publishing}}</ref> Improvements included the new [[Detroit Diesel Series 92]] engine, a new chassis, many new engine and transmission options, and a variety of other updated fittings. The Fuller transmissions now received a new telescopic shift mechanism, allowing the cabin floor to be sealed.<ref name=truck/> The cab was counterbalanced so as to allow one-man tilting, and two front flaps allowed access to check on vitals. Production ceased in 1986 with the closure of the Bedford company.<ref name=CM>The TM ''Commercial Motor'' 23 June 2011 page 39</ref>
==Powertrain== Through its lifespan, it was available with a Bedford 500 turbo engine also known as the ''8.2 Blue'', a [[Detroit Diesel]] [[two-stroke engine|two-stroke]] [[V6 engine|V6]] and [[V8 engine|V8]] or a [[Cummins L-series engine|Cummins L10]], coupled to either a Fuller or [[Dana Incorporated|Spicer]] transmission, and a SOMA rear axle (dropped after the 1982 facelift).<ref name=truck/><ref>Bedford adds 62 models to UK range ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' July 1982 page 110</ref> The Detroit engine was not a successful choice in the UK. Because of its high-revving characteristics, it proved unpopular with drivers, who were used to slow revving, long stroke, UK diesels. It was also disliked by operators because of its poor fuel economy.<ref name=CM/><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-july-1977/45/cummins-for-bedford Cummins for Bedford?] ''Commercial Motor'' 1 July 1977 page 43</ref>
==Variants== Available as either an articulated [[tractor unit]], or as a rigid, in either wide or narrow day and sleeper cabs, the TM was actually a highly competent vehicle, and over the years was a common sight with some of the larger UK operators. It offered new standards of comfort and refinement especially for a Bedford. The [[British Army]] purchased thousands of [[four-wheel drive]] and [[six-wheel drive]] variants, some of which remained in use in 2010.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-september-1977/5/bedford-wins-40m-order Bedford wins £40m order] ''Commercial Motor'' 16 September 1977 page 3</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/8th-october-1983/5/bedford-gets-mod-order Bedford gets MoD order] ''Commercial Motor'' 8 October 1983 page 3</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101025195807/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/engineering/1503.aspx Support Vehicles] British Army 25 October 2010</ref>
AWD tried to market a 6x4 version under the Multidrive brand, targeting it to construction markets,<ref name="[35]">{{cite web |title=AWD-Bedford >> TM |url=https://trucksplanet.com/models/awd-bedford-tm/ |website=Trucks Planet |access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref> although only a few were built, some of which were sold to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]] (which deployed them into [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]]) and the Central Military Command in [[Dubai]].<ref name="[59]">{{cite web |title=COMPANY HISTORY |url=https://multidrivevehicles.com/history/ |website=MULTIDRIVE VEHICLES LTD |access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref> The Multidrive brand was later sold to [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]], that started producing the [[Multidrive M8-Series]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}} {{Bedford vehicles|state=autocollapse}} [[Category:Bedford vehicles|TM]] [[Category:Tractor units]] [[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1974]] [[Category:Vehicles discontinued in 1992]]