Bedfords

[billyboy]

How many of us suffered the indignity of the 46 bedford coaches. Wind em up on the flats ok, But soon as you started to climb a bank you began changing down the box searching for more power only to find the HGV's you shot passed earlier are now overtaking you at a great rate of knots :D

[wayoutwest]

hi billyboy.i did a trip from the uk to austria with a bedford and as you say great on the flat but as we got down towards southern germany down through the gears and out came the black smoke and everything flew passed us except a police chopper who seemed to spend a lot of time hovering around us.i think they were taking bets to see if we made the border. mike.

[Mr-Tomcat]

Bedfords sorry too say I hated driving them under powered and wandered all over the road, give me an A.E.C anyday even now.

Andy.

[bedfordvalman]

Absolutely right, the 466 engine was a slow old beast, much better when the Leyland 400 was fitted as on the early VAL14's. Smaller engine, but much more free revving.

I drove a much later VAL with the 466 for several years which also had an Eaton 2 speed axle, which made it somewhat better, but still a slow old pull up the Medway loaded with passengers & luggage headed for europe!

The later 500 engine in the YMT's did have a bit more go in them but didn't seem to last like the 466's in the earlier YRT's.

Happy days nonetheless!

[G-CPTN]

The later 500 engine in the YMT's did have a bit more go in them but didn't seem to last like the 466's in the earlier YRT's.

How true!
Think it was the turbo . . .