tell me about Bedford Midi Vans

[mortcars]

after showing one of my partners in crime hongkongphooys hi-ace as a poss project we started musing about other j-tin vans then one of these drove past the pub







any pics of slammed, modded ones would be great plus any info on em???

very hi-ace like which is cool.

dan

[dclane]

Be careful - they lurch like ... well, a lurching thing.

I drove one once from Belfast to Portaferry with panels and paint in on an urgent rush job. They're definately NOT good on bumpy bits at speed!

[donttellhimpike]

i am a huge j'tin fan , i had one of these as a company van in 92/93 it was shocking!! slow noisy uncomfortable ,do not confuse it with a hi-ace ,they sold quite well but you don't see many about , if you buy one buy the best and latest one you can ,

[tmrancho2]

I had a 4 wheel drive one of these, as stated it was very slow (diesel).

Sorry no pics to add.

[<Type desired username here>]

Handle like hippo on a skateboard. Diesels slow as Friday afternoon. Gearboxes are the weakest part. Make sure it changes nicely up and down.

[mortcars]

jeez, wondered why id never seen one. shame though as they are cheap and look like they have potential

[<Type desired username here>]

On the subject of Vauxhall vans. when I worked at Vauxhall (1999-2003) we used to have an old Bedford CF. They had kept it going with all the obselete stock over the years. That said, the 2.3 petrol (rebuilt several times) had twin stromberg carbs, reworked head and dizzy, Vauxhall Monterey (Isuzu Trooper) wheels, frontera grille and fully functioning Vauxhall Omega Elite seats! We got to keep it provided we hid it behind the garage! just before I left, one of the apprentices managed to roll it on a roundabout and that was the end of that!

[mattblack]

Aren't they a rebadged Izuzu...

Got a column shift IIRC

[RetroMat]

ISUZU FARGO

[MonzaPhil]

I was having bad ideas about one of these recently. You have to get one and do it just so I don't have to. It's a van, it doesn't matter how it handles.

[adrian sutton]

the midi has a great tendancy to lock the rear wheels during braking and spin you round , ive spun two , scares the beejebbers out f you when you don't expect it. other than that its a great van. loads of space and cheap as chips.

[Ratchet]

haven't seen one of them for ages I've got an old bedford brochure which has them in it along with "the new CF2" including an electric one!

i remember seeing a 4x4 one years ago seemed to be factory built too

and i once almost fired the end of a glowplug through the roof of one when i was an apprentice (don't ask), left a comedy dent in the roof though

[adrian sutton]

you know we are going to ask , so spill thebeans thomas , come on.

[Ratchet]

I had just fitted a replacement engine in one and was taking out the glow plugs to fit new ones, unfortunately I broke the tip of one off and in my infinate wisdom I though the bet way to get it out would be to hammer it down into the engine (i know what can I say ) and wind it over to see if it would spit it out (well the head would have to come off otherwise anyway)

Somehow it found its way back into the hole and fired out of head into the roof, made some noise I tell you

[adrian sutton]

pmsl . midi werent the best for access to the engine.

[purplevanman]

I had a 4x4 version, was petrol so i converted to diesel.
Isuzu running gear. Floor change. hens teeth then, now???
A bit tricky getting parts, main dealers never heard of 4x4s

[Ratchet]

had a bit of a job fitting it if i remember, couldn't get the clutch to line up, i actualy think that was maybe the second ever engine i had ever fitted (the first was to a nissan bluebird).

[Ratchet]

Jan 18, 2009 23:02:18 GMT purplevanman said:

I had a 4x4 version, was petrol so I converted to diesel.
Isuzu running gear. Floor change. hens teeth then, now???
A bit tricky getting parts, main dealers never heard of 4x4s

ive only ever seen one , guess they were more popular in japan

on a vaguely related note has anyone ever seen a 4x4 CF? they did apparently make them but ive never seen one or even found any info on them.

[Darrel]

My brother got one brand new as a company van many many years ago and loved it. I think it replaced a Sherpa and the Midi was so fast in comparison it was unbelievable. Tales of 9 workmen in it doing 100mph up the M1. Pretty scary now, but then it was considered to handle quite well???

[Pillock]

Pretty weird how the replacement grille and headlights turns it from 'meh. a bedford' to funky j-tin goodness. That big panel below the windscreen, the rear lights, and door window shape all scream 'J' but I never twigged whilst there was a Bedford badge. Thought it was a good old British design!