Mirror to history
Page 15
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The Bedford mirrors developments in road transport over almost half a century, for it has been involved in probably all of them in peace and war since its introduction in 1931. Vauxhall Motors stoutly deny that it was a Chevrolet under another label although there were distinct similarities.
The first model was a twotonner costing only £198 as a short-wheelbase chassis with cab. It was followed immediately by a more refined passenger chassis priced at £250 for a 14seater.
The Bedford story from 1931-1978 is told in a 48page booklet with more than 150 splendid pictures, which is available free from the Public Relations Department, Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Luton LU2 OSY.
Discussing the origin of the marque name, it says that some historians think it was derived from the BedfordBuick car of about 1912. On the other hand. Vauxhall used the name for one of its saloon-car bodies from 192227. The most obvious and likely explanation is that the Bedford took its title from the county in which Vauxhall Motors had operated since 1905. It has certainly made an undistinguished English county world-famous.