Bedford CA – What is this bus?

[trish1400]

Hello all,

I’m wondering if you can help me. I’ve purchased a Bedford CA dormobile ‘camper’ but I’ve no idea exactly what model it is I’ve bought.

She looks like a Debonair but without the back door and the raised roof and she’s got windows all the way down both sides. Interior camper bit is homemade and on the dash it says she’s a Martin Walter Utilabus but she looks nothing like what comes up when you search for a Bedford Utilabus.

The guy I bought it off doesn’t know much about her as she was left in the garage of his house when he purchased it, but he reckons she was a minibus which has been converted into a camper (which seems very likely).

After hours of searching the internet I’ve found another one http://imcdb.org/vehicle_25255-Bedford-CA-1964.html which was on an episode of the Royal. I believe has been incorrectly labelled as a Debonair. Mine doesn’t have the top roof rack but has the rail underneath. I emailed Classic Vehicles Unlimited to see if it was theirs but they haven’t replied.

Any ideas? I’m dead curious to learn more about what it is /was. Does anyone else have one? I’d love to see some photos of the original interior.

Thanks,
Trish

[Phil Perfect]

Hello,
A photo of your CA will help.

[trish1400]

Hi,

Thanks for replying but I only took a few pics on my phone and I seem to have misplaced the cable but there are two photos on that link and it looks just like that.

I pick her up on Saturday so can post pics after that but I’m being impatient and thought someone might just know.

Thanks,
Trish

[trish1400]

Still haven’t located that pesky cable but after a bit more Google stalking I think I’ve found out who owns the bus that was in The Royal.

It’s reg is XPT 454F. It was registered 17/11/1967 (same year as mine), it’s diesel (not the same as mine) and I think it is a Bedford CALZ / Martin Walter C11F. It’s owned by Robin Hawdon of Waddingham, Lincolnshire. Anyone know him?

There seem to be a few of these C11Fs kicking about and apparently they originally had 11 seats so now I’m even more curious to see some interior pics.

Only two more sleeps before I pick mine up! If I get to sleep that is! Soooo excited.

[trish1400]

I uploaded some photos if anyone is interested.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=398549&id=575145721&l=07314770f9

According to the plaque it’s a CASV30, which according to the parts catalogue is a short wheel base, but the tape measure says it’s a 102 incher.

[Phil Perfect]

Hello Trish
I have a leaflet showing that you have bought what was called by Martin Walter a PSV Coach. The PSV Utilabus hasn’t got the Debonair style body but maybe no “Coach” plate were made hence the Utilabus one.
They were indeed 12 seaters, based on the 102in chassis with no back door so yours was turned into a camper. The CASV is a mystery to me, should be CALsomething.

How were the eggs? 🙄 😆

[trish1400]

Cheers Phil.

That’s good to know, the plate(s) confused me. Unfortunately nothing comes up on google for a PSV Coach either so I still don’t know what it was like inside. 🙁 Not that it really matters but, well, I’d just like to know.

Eggs were unfertilised thankfully! With incredibly yellow yolks!

[Phil Perfect]

I’ll try to scan the picture of the inside next week 😉

Try also Bedford Minibus

[trish1400]

Cheers Phil! That’s ace.

Oh my, the skylights open! I did not know that! I don’t think I’ll try it just yet though.

I’ve been hassling people on the Facebook group too and Jon Barber uploaded some interior pics of the one I was stalking for me, if anyone is interested.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2941525&id=535569457#!/photo.php?pid=4978700&op=1&o=all&view=all&subj=5402843025&aid=-1&oid=5402843025&id=535569457

Look forward to seeing the catalogue interior Phil. Thanks a lot for taking the time!

Right, I’m off to fill in the DVLA forms to see if I can find out anything more about mine specifically. Manufactured in 1967 but first registered (in the UK) in 1974 but there are some black and white English plates in her with another reg… there’s more history to dig up here yet! Also after scratching off a bit of the emulsion I think she might be have been blue! Heehee.

[Phil Perfect]

@trish1400 wrote:

the Facebook group

I’m there too, but with a different name… 🙄 😆 😉

Jon’s pictures exhibits a similar pattern to the Martin Walter leaflet…. but in colour 😆

[GATKIN]

Hi the vehicle you describe is i believe the 11 seater PSV [12 if you include the driver]the seating plan is a single next to the driver,2further single seats to the near side,2 double seats to the off side with 4 seats across the rear all seats are forward facing and high back.The coach has string racks on both sides and four internal lights in the saloon.I used to operate one commercially [LBY 167D] and at the moment am converting one back to a coach that like yours had been converted to a camper.I have carried out a major rebuild on mine which has just “turned the corner” and I can now see where I am going,just made the seats.Mine is the one that Rob Hawdon owned for a short time [He is a friend ]Reg number HCB 576F The one used in Heart Beat was/still is owned by Empress Coaches of Hastings.I have several photos of work in progress should you wish to see the work ahead if you embark on a restoration.I live in Lincolnshire and you are welcome to view it if you wish.If yours was operated as a coach if given the reg the PSV Circle would be able to give you some history.
Regards
George

[trish1400]

Hi George,

Thanks for that, that’s really interesting. I’d love to see some photos of your restoration although I have to admit it would be for interest only as I’m going to keep mine as a camper (although with a new interior), as I really have no use for a mini bus. Although I was considering replicating the luggage racks. Are your photos online?

I live on the Isle of Man so as much as I would like to, unfortunately coming to view your bus is a bit impractical (as is getting any parts delivered).

If you could find anything out about the history of the bus I would love it hear it (never did get around to printing the DVLA forms), it seems to have been painted every colour going. I think it was probably originally blue (blue grey inside), it may have also been red, it was definitely white at some point and is now cream / beige. On my very uninformative Manx Vehicle Registration is says it was first registered in 1974 (although manufactured in 1967) and then registered in the Isle of Man in 1984, the previous UK registration mark was REW 565M, there is no information about previous owners or anything. In the bus itself there were some old black and white plates with the registration NSJ 582 which is also an UK reg. Perhaps this is the bus’s original registration (but I thought the letter suffixes came into the UK before 1967?) – there is no info about this plate on the DLVA search. If you can work anything out from that lot I would be delighted to hear. I will do the DVLA enquiry at some point so if it helps you I can do that sooner rather than later.

Good luck with your project.

Thanks,
Trish

[ianmc1200]

Hi – I am completely new to this forum so this is my first post.
I have two of the variations of the vehicle featured in this thread which started their lives as ambulances – not for casualties but as a minibus or ‘sitter’. Mine have the low roof line so they are not debonair body shape but they do have a back door. The inside has luggage carriers (as some of your photos show). I have the original seats for one of them in super blue vinyl complete with the lap chains (early seat belts) that look like they may cut you in half if you were in an accident. I will post some photos eventually.

[trish1400]

Love to see those pics Ian!

Saw your other post about the metal behind the fibreglass. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about; I’m pretty sure my van is fibreglass or metal but never both at once.

Would be interesting to compare and contrast!

[Phil Perfect]

A leaflet for your van there :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bedford-CA-Martin-Walter-Bus-Brochure-1966-/110683216334?pt=UK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET&hash=item19c53bd9ce#ht_500wt_1156

[Author]

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