Bedford QL engine colour

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

but British Army engines were all painted in a "duck egg" blue colour (at least ALL the ones I've ever had - MW, QLR, OYD)... as per this link to a landrover forum.

Hi Tim,
Any wartime Bedfords you would find after early Fifties would have a recon engine for sure and about 1950 onward the standard colour for WD rebuilds was Sky Blue. Prior to that date Eau-de-Nil was rebuild colour, but as to when that came in I have never been able to ascertain for sure. Bedford engines from the factory were usually gloss black and I think that was pre-war, and definitely post war so it might be assumed wartime production was the same. A lot of nos engine parts are in gloss black.

That Land Rover forum thread is very misleading, I did a lot of engine rebuilding with the MoD in the 70's, on both Bedford and L/Rover engines.

regards, Richard