Letters

TL GRITTER

I was interested to read, in the September issue of CVC, the very well-informed article about the Bedford TL and, in previous issues other Bedford models. I started work in 1948 as an apprentice mechanic with a Vauxhall/Bedford main dealer and have had a close association with Bedfords all my working life. One of my last projects, while working for a large County Council, was the specification and purchase of this Cambridge built TL 4x4 in 1995. I forget the exact details, it was Perkins Phaser powered, the gearbox was possibly by Turner and the transfer box was a Getrag and I forget what the drive axles were.

I retired soon after it was commissioned, but was later told that it had given good service apart from unreliable electrics. It must have been one of the last Bedfords and also would have been unique.

I wonder if your correspondent Peter Davies or any other person remembers the Bruce/Bedford front wheel drive prototype? It was designed by the Fleet Engineer of one of the major breweries, the object being to achieve an ultra-low chassis height. The drive was taken from