1978 Bedford CF Franklin Campervan

Description

Starting out as a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors in 1931, Bedford produced a range of light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses along with military vehicles and, like the parent company, was soon absorbed by General Motors.  Introduced in 1969, the CF was a panel van designed to compete with Ford’s popular Transit and proved a huge commercial success, becoming one of the most popular van on British roads in the 1970s.  A range of sturdy four-cylinder engines was offered, both petrol and diesel while Australian buyers could option the CF with the Holden six-cylinder ‘red’ motor in either 173-cid or 202-cid capacities.  The CF was sold in three basic body styles, namely a Cab Chassis, a Panel Van (with the optional of hinged or sliding doors) or the Camper Van (known as the Dormobile in England) with a variety of wheelbase lengths and load carrying capacities.  Sold in two trim levels – Standard or Deluxe, the latter provided ‘passenger car standards of comfort’ according to Bedford’s own marketing people.  Many Australians have fond memories of buying an ice cream from a brightly coloured Bedford and they also proved popular here during the custom craze of the 1970s.  Ultimately in production until 1987, the series was facelifted in 1980 (as the CF-1) and again in 1984 (the CF-2).  Once a familiar sight, few survive on Australian roads today and they are fast becoming a collector’s item.