Home » These Bedford Vans Feel Like They Could Have Been If Not The Future Then A Future: Cold Start

These Bedford Vans Feel Like They Could Have Been If Not The Future Then A Future: Cold Start

Cs Bedford1
ADVERTISEMENT

Okay, hear me out: I know it sounds weird, but in a lot of ways, the 1959 to 1969 Bedford CA was a realization of a type of futuristic design concept, just disguised as a delivery van, and, as such, pretty much ignored in that context. Bedford was Vauxhall/GM’s British commercial vehicle division, and the CA was a very space-efficient and useful package: stubby little hood, sliding doors, and a ton of space inside. Packaging-wise, it felt like the sorts of cars of the future everyone was predicting in the 1930s, like the Stout Scarab:

 

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

Stoutscarab Popsci

Okay, sure, the Scarab had a rear engine, but if we tuck that engine up front in an almost-cabover kind of configuration, we end up with a very similar zeppelin-box-on-wheels result. I mean, look:

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Cs Bedford2

If that body was a bit more curved in the folk-aerodynamic ways of the era and you had a little table and couch inside the back there, you’d essentially be accomplishing the same things as the Stout Scarab. But, instead, it’s now a humble workhorse. Still, I see you, Bedford. I see what you could have been.

Cs Bedford1

Hey, for fun, want to try making some captions for what that little girl is telling the delivery driver up top? I’ll put the picture here again, so you don’t need to scroll. Here’s three to get you started:

“Make it look like an accident.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Deal. If you can get it on two wheels turning out of the driveway, I’ll give you $50.”

“You work for me now.”

“Thank you for dropping me off. Please reset my visual subsystem so I may reboot and imprint on my new controller.”

I gave you a bonus one! Now you try.

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on whatsapp
WhatsApp
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on reddit
Reddit
Subscribe
Notify of
28 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Gilbert Wham
Gilbert Wham
1 year ago

‘I hate you Milkman Dan’

Zeppelopod
Zeppelopod
1 year ago

“Sir, the Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai.”

28
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x