1965 Bedford TK '200' Dropside Lorry

Founded in 1930 by General Motors by way of Vauxhall, Bedford Vehicles became one of the world’s most successful brands of commercial transportation. The initial offering from GM was the 1929 ‘Chevrolet Bedford’, which was manufactured in Luton and took the name of the county town. The first vehicle to carry the true Bedford badge arrived in 1931 and the subsidiary company continued to evolve throughout that decade, culminating with the production of vehicles for the War Office. After further development in the 1950s, the famous ‘TK’ hit Britain’s roads in 1959 and continued up until 1986 under the Bedford name. Offered with straight four or six, diesel or petrol engines, the light commercial was used for fire engines, military vehicles, flatbed lorries and the like.

Equipped with a four cylinder ‘200’ engine and a four speed gearbox, this TK has worked and resided in the county of Dorset for its entire life. For many years, the lorry was owned by a Mr Tom Revell of Tarrant Gunville, who used the Bedford for his business as a timber contractor and log merchant. Mr Revell was the current custodian’s great uncle, who can remember the Bedford some forty years ago hauling fencing stakes and forestry products. On retirement in the early Eighties, ownership then passed to haulage contractor Mr Austin Philips of Witchampton and thence to its current owner in 2006. CEL 451C has survived well when one considers the hard life it must have led, and during the last ten years, the vehicle has not been restored, but preserved in the condition that it was purchased in. It is the vendor’s hope that the Bedford remains in its current state and does not end up a concours queen!

Although it has been dry stored, regularly started and moved, and is fitted with a new battery, it would be advisable for the new custodian to carry out a service and attend to the braking system.

The history file includes the V5C registration certificate, the V5 document, a plating certificate and other documentation.

Auction Date: 8 September 2016