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136 
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Page 69
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The road sign said "Welcome to Bedfordshire —a progressive county" but our thoughts hail regressed almost 14) years. in fact, we couldn't help humming "Coronation Scot" as we thrummed along the undulating A roads at a steady 40 miles an hour. Everything was lovely—the birds were singing, the air was Crisp—until we got held up by a doddery bloke in a Valve MO who wouldn't do more than 30. It would never have happened in MY day...
Vision would be a lot better If the seat were at all adjustable; the base is rather overstuffed and the Trice wiper motor is right in your line of sight. Demisting is simple enough—just undo a couple of wing nuts and open the screen—but heating is non-existent.
The Bedford is neither difficult nor intimidating to drive, though a youngster brought up on synchromesh might baulk at the gear change. Give it a tweak of the choke and the engine starts briskly (on the button) from cold, Idling slowly and steadily. The instruments are delightfully clear and simple, though a modern ergonomist would disapprove of tine way they are massed in the middle of the dashboard; the British Ja sr speedometer—manufactured, according to the dial, at "Chronos Works, NW2"—is joined by oil pressure, current and petrol gauges, all made by GM subsidiary AC.
A few minutes to warm up. and off you go. (Jr you would, if it didn't have such a sharp clutch. It took a few goes before we could pull away smoothly. but then things got easier: straight up into second, third very soon after, and then the long jump to direct-drive top.
Top is quite relaxed, and it's possible to maintain an easy 45mph on the level, but the lack of synchronisation and gap to third make
things tricky on the downcharige. Ap a roundabout you have to brake fir a bit more, then double-declutch: sl neutral, lift the clutch, give it a bootl depress the clutch again and shift: (you hope) into third. Unfortunatel! too big a physical gap between the I accelerator Pedals to allow effecth and-toeing. The brakes themselves pretty well, though they too need a
By and large. the Bedford was a s pleasure—it was a lot more "car-lik terms) than many a modern truck, design's sophistication and compete impressive, Bedford might just have