Information to id truck

[David Dunlop]

Hi Grant.

I wondered about those rust lines also. Then I finally noticed in the first photo Lionel posted, the truck sports a formed metal sun visor along the top of the windscreen, so those rust lines might just reflect where one of those visors was cut away.

David

[Lynn Eades]

If you look at the box that supports the passenger seat, there is a tag riveted to it with the vehicle info on it. An "S" Bedford is only rear wheel drive. An "R" Bedford is 4wd. The models for the "R" series were: RLB, RLC, RLD, RLF, RLHC, RLHZ, and RLW.
As will your specimen, the Front wheels are bigger in Dia. than the rear duals. This is as per the N.Z. Army wreckers, and so a different rear axle with a suitable ratio to match with the front diff. I would guess that this would make the truck in question an RLHC or an RLHZ. That's the best I can do.
As I recall you can see the plate when you open the door.
The "S" models sit much lower and without looking, the headlights might be situated at the top of the headlight mounting plates? I haven't checked.
Grant, I very much doubt the cab width has changed. The rust marks on the roof, I cant explain, but the rest of the cab is std.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Lynn,

I am not sure whether the models were named differently in Australia as they were in New Zealand? Both the vehicles I posted photographs from two different sellers who are located in different states of Australia are advertised specifically as four wheel drive "S" model trucks.

Queensland - Bedford Truck 4x4: Bedford Truck 4×4 S Model, runs well Accessed from, http://pricestruckparts.com.au/bedford-truck-4x4
New South Wales - 1956 Bedford S Series 4wd Accessed from, https://www.justtrucks.com.au/trucks...4wd/JTM3945607

The truck in Tony's brother's photo may not be an S Model - it certainly looks like either an R or and S model Bedford though. I only have experience with the TK Bedfords that came after the S model in Australia. When I worked for a local council's Parks department it was a former garbage truck that had been modified for a new role as a woodchipper truck. It was only two-wheel drive. It was hot, noisy, rough as guts and it developed a unique smell during the summer inside the cab as lingering tribute to its former role.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Little Jo]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your updates and ID of the truck being a Bedford, much appreciated. Also that it could be possible ex army. Definately something to ponder over. Once I get some more information from my brother in WA could helpt. He did look at some sort of fitted plate but he said it was too rusty to read. I suggested a bit of elbow grease. I would like to have a look myself because I would know what to look for, but he is a bit to far from here in SA for a Sunday drive. I will post more when I hear more from the west.

Tony

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Little Jo

Hi Guys

Thanks for your updates and ID of the truck being a Bedford, much appreciated. Also that it could be possible ex army.

Tony

AFAIK, either British Army or NZ Army. The Australian Army did not use the Bedford RL, but that is not to say that this could not be a RAAF Bring-Back from Malaysia or such. Who knows what those guys got up to in Butterworth and Singapore.

[William Ormsby]

Here is an example of NZ Bedford RL's in Malaya, probably mid 1960's. There were British owned and NZ owned units that got swapped around a bit. Dad I recall saying had the shiny painted ones and the British ones they got temporarily swapped (Borneo?) were matt finish.

The unit on the left is a RL "pig" armoured Bedford, built by Royal Engineers? in Singapore. NZ looked to have a small fleet of these but photos seem to be a bit rare on the ground.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

AFAIK, either British Army or NZ Army. The Australian Army did not use the Bedford RL, but that is not to say that this could not be a RAAF Bring-Back from Malaysia or such. Who knows what those guys got up to in Butterworth and Singapore.

All the British Army RL's had a large military air cleaner known as the FVRDE type, this meant that there was a large panel in front of the windscreen secured by Dzus fasteners to access it, with a small flap in it to access the radiator filler. The RL in the photo shows the standard type cab with the civilian market access panel. It appears that military RL's supplied to other countries did not have the FV filter, not sure about NZ ones though. Also no cupola in the roof.

I worked on a good many British army RL's in the 70's/80's.

[Lynn Eades]

Lionel, the info I presented was from an "Authorised" Service parts book for the Bedford 3 ton four wheel drive "R" series trucks printed in October 1958 issued by Vauxhall Motors. So I believe it covers all "R" models, available to the world market, at the date of print.
Inside is a letter from the Army to the Manager of G.M. NZ. and mentions the 180 Bedford vehicles on order No. 260387 (6th April, 1960)
The truck in the subject photo would be an "R". It shows the front diff and if you look at the bumper it sits well above the center of the front wheel. An "S" model cab sits much lower and the bumper sort of lines up with the wheel center. The oval that the front lights mount in is an "R" Bedford feature.