BEDFORD TIMELINE
1897 - ‘Vauxhall Iron Works’ founded in London.
1903 - The first ‘Vauxhall’ cars produced.
1905 - Vauxhall production moves to Luton.
1914-18 - Some 2000 Vauxhall 25hp ‘D-Types’ supplied to the British Armed Forces during The Great War. The first Allied vehicle to cross the river Rhine after the signing of the Armistice was a D-type.
1925 - Vauxhall taken over by General Motors in December. Annual car output at the time is 1400 units a year.
1929 - Due to the Depression, car output falls to just 1278 units from a workforce of 1550 in a factory covering 12 acres.
1931 - First ‘Bedford’ commercial vehicle chassis (as opposed to Chevrolet-badged and assembled models) marketed. British-built 12cwt and 30cwt versions replace the Chevrolets.
1931 - First Bedford exports to Iceland, China, Japan and Borneo. New 2ton lorry launched, priced at £240. By the end of the year, Bedford also claims 52percent of the UK 14 to 20 seat passenger vehicle market.
1932 - Delivery of 88 Bedford 2tonners to Communist Russia.
1932 - Over 12,000 Bedfords sold in the last 12 month period.
- New ‘WT’ 3tonner launched, featuring 26hp, six-cylinder engine and semi-forward control, giving greater load space.
