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INTERIOR LAYOUT Up to the B-posts both the Astramax and

14th December 1985
Page 61
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Page 61, 14th December 1985 — INTERIOR LAYOUT Up to the B-posts both the Astramax and
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Astra Van have the same interior layout, with the excellent curved dashboard ensuring nothing is out of reach. The instruments are all well marked and simple to read, and the attractive light and dark brown interior trim in our van will be easy to keep clean, as will the tweed seat covers.

On more arduous site work, however, it would be worth investing in the optional rubber floor mats to protect the L trim van's full-width carpeting, or better still, specifying the more practical Fleet van with its standard vinyl seats and rubber floor covering.

For the driver there is plenty of storage space, including a locking glove box, although for some reason our 1trill) van did not come with the standard door pockets. The centre console also has a cubbyhole for oddments, but it impedes cross-cab access.

The pedals are well positioned and the clutch is particularly light to operate.

Slightly irritating on our van, was the large fuse cover under the dash which kept falling off on to the driver's fixt.

Bedford has managed to blend aerodynamically the larger body into the Astra Van's front end without encroaching into the interior load space. The Astramax's drag factor is an impressive 0.34Cd yet it is boxy at the same time.

The conversion has been well executed, with plenty of support for the deep side panels. Holes in the two uprights halfway along the body, and in the cantrail and midrails provide plenty of lashing points, although there are none on the floor pan unlike in the Maestro.

One advantage of the Astramax's greater 1,1/70min interior height it beats the Astra Van by 190mni (7.5in) is that it is a lot easier for a driver to load right up to the standard bulkhead without having to bend right over or climb inside the body.

The move to the bigger body has also meant the fitting of twin rear doors (like the Escort and Maestro). These open to 180 degrees, although there are no check straps to prevent them being forced around even further. The door catches seem rather substantial but are effective enough. The near-vertical rear door aperture and flat topped wheel arches allow the most to be made of the Astramax's 2.32m3 load volume.

Bedford offers a wide variety of interior fittings including full-height mesh bulkheads and an extra cargo floor panel which, fitted in place of the passenger seat, allows loads up to 2.75m (9ft) to be carried certainly a useful alternative to a ladder rack.

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