Differences between Bedford OYC and OYD

[mlombard]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi,
The OYD was the standard GS Cargo body version. The OYC was supplied as chassis cab for contractors to fit special bodies to, such as tankers, etc.
The chassis number is normally stamped on the side of the chassis on passenger side, normally behind the step or towards back of cab. Best not ot use a sander as stamping is not very deep quite often.

Hi Richard
I've had some help from a chap in the UK with an OYD who told me to look under the step,, which I did, and yes I did have to sand the paint back, but nothing. I'll have another look, can you tell me if it at the top or bottom of the chassis side rail, The closer I get to where it should be the lighter I'll sand it. Thanks for the info though.

[Mike Cecil]

Unfortunately, the DHB is no help in the ID - they are simply marked 'Model OY', so were universal to all the OY configurations.

Matt, I unearthed a copy the other day while doing an inventory of the smaller books and booklets in the reference collection. I'll scan a copy & send via Wetransfer eventually.

Mike

[mlombard]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Unfortunately, the DHB is no help in the ID - they are simply marked 'Model OY', so were universal to all the OY configurations.

Matt, I unearthed a copy the other day while doing an inventory of the smaller books and booklets in the reference collection. I'll scan a copy & send via Wetransfer eventually.

Mike

Thanks Mike I sincerely appreciate all your help with this, great history this

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Matt,
If you have not got it, this is a 'must have' book for a Bedford enthusiast. A wealth of very good information in it and good photos.
http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0723228752/

cheers Richard

[lynx42]

Welcome to MLU Matt. The Bedford was mine, I obtained it from a farmer just up the road from me and passed it on to Tony L. who sold it to Richmond G. The farmer used it for a general farm truck until there was a malfunction of some sort and then they towed it around the paddocks with a tractor for carting hay. The tray which was on it was not the original but was on it when they first acquired it.

Tony L. cut a lot of rust out of the chassis, hopefully not where the chassis no. should be, but I can't remember. The Cabin also required a lot of repairs but Tony was right up his street with that.

As you know, I still have the engine here and if you haven't picked it up before July, I may be able to bring it to Adelaide. That depends on my health which is not the best at the moment.

OY Bedford engine 001.jpg

Had a look at the engine number today it is:- OY73076

Regards Rick.

[mlombard]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Matt,
If you have not got it, this is a 'must have' book for a Bedford enthusiast. A wealth of very good information in it and good photos.
http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0723228752/

cheers Richard

Thanks Richard, thought I knew most of the books Bart wrote/edited but this one has escaped me, yes a copy is on my list. I wonder if there is a Bedford OY register.

[mlombard]

Hi Rick

Yes I hope to be over to collect the engine, will keep in touch. Mike did some digging for me and identified that there was a Bedford OY at Sale RAAF base in the 1940's which was listed as a tanker. I also found a list in the Victorian Police Register of motor vehicles for Bedford OY, which is interesting, but no more detail than that. Yet all the other books I have looked at such a REPCO replacement parts catalogues do not list the OY, only the K, M, and O series (this being OB and OL) and sometimes the QL. Further digging seems to indicate that several vehicles came into Freemantle and possibly Sydney on the MV empire Star as well as other refugee ships from Singapore,, some of who had vehicles loaded in the UK for RAF units sent to Malaya. And finally to the best of my (and Mike's of course) knowledge no Bedford OY's were issued to Australian forces in Australia, only in Malaya, Middle East and UK. So the mystery deepens.

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Matt,
It is quite possible your OY came in after the war. The weapons testing in SA brought a number of British Army vehicles to Australia and some still appear over there, both 40's and 50's types. The OY remained in British army service right up until late 50's and possibly longer as I recollect in the mid 70's in the army workshops I worked in we had a batch of OY engines to rebuild.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by mlombard

Hi Richard
I've had some help from a chap in the UK with an OYD who told me to look under the step,, which I did, and yes I did have to sand the paint back, but nothing. I'll have another look, can you tell me if it at the top or bottom of the chassis side rail, The closer I get to where it should be the lighter I'll sand it. Thanks for the info though.

The numbers are always on the passenger side (you mentioned drivers side originally) and on the vertical face of chassis member, might be back slightly from the step. Are there any other plates in the cab or engine side of bulkhead? A small plate with the words Contract No. and Cat. Ref. can be of great help if you have them. There is a chap in one of the South Australian military vehicle clubs with an OY, he is called Richmond Gregory, he might be able to help you.

regards, Richard

[mlombard]

Hi Richard

It's Richmond's truck I have purchased, he had a quite modern tray on it which was sold off first, so I'm looking to replace it with an original style ? . Mike tells me that the references he has do list a tanker but as he said it is all very sketchy. Yes your right I did say drivers side, but I also checked the passengers side but as i is definitely the passengers side now I go back and re-examine that even closer. Thanks for the verification on this.