A busy week of deliveries
March 1, 2024
Tony’s had a busy week on the road this week. As I sit here writing this he is currently heading up the A65 on his
1983 Bedford HA
Bedford HA Inspection And Repairs
February 8, 2024
As our 1982 Bedford HA Van is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website, classic car technician Jonn has been looking at it
Please hold caller… Our 1982 Bedford HA is now live
February 6, 2024
The beloved panel van formed a core moment in the automotive lives of so many. Maybe it was your first role of responsibility at work
Stripping our Bedford HA engine
February 27, 2019
Ady has got a big task ahead of him as he starts to look at dismantling our Bedford HA engine. As you can see from
A lot of work ahead on our Bedford HA
February 15, 2019
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]She’s already shown HUGE potential to be a big hit with both classic car and Butlin’s enthusiasts alike discussing the car’s history. A lot of
Arriving today: 1983 Bedford HA Van
February 12, 2019
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Arriving today we have our 1983 Bedford HA van. Delivered to Butlins holiday camp in 1983 in company colours it is now believed to be
A busy week of deliveries
March 1, 2024
Tony’s had a busy week on the road this week. As I sit here writing this he is currently heading up the A65 on his way to the north of Scotland for the weekend to collect 5 (potentially 6) classic motorcycles.
But earlier in the week he delivered the incredible 1992 Rover Mini Italian Job to one very happy Brian. Brian has been waiting patiently for the winning car as we discovered a slight vibration during the Pre Delivery Inspection and we did not want him to have the car until we had resolved the issue.
James accepted delivery of his 1982 Bedford HA van. Although James resides some distance from us here in Suffolk he has a vehicle storage facility close to our door so the journey we were expecting to have ended up a few hundred miles shorter. James is an avid collector of classic cars and we are lead to believe this win is the 16th classic he has in his collection. Enjoy the car James.
But the Alfa Romeo, recently won by double winner Lee is staying with us in our Hangar for a little while as Lee prepares his home for the new arrival. Lee would rather not see his Alfa sitting on the driveway whilst his building works continues so has instantly opted to have the vehicle dry stored with us and we expect to rearrange the delivery for early May.
Bedford HA Inspection And Repairs
February 8, 2024
As our 1982 Bedford HA Van is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website, classic car technician Jonn has been looking at it to make sure it is ready to go to the lucky winner in a couple of weeks time.
Here are his notes:
Take into workshop to finish inspection. Secure rear brake pipe to piece to rear axle. Secure wiring in offside front arch. Remove screw from offside rear tyre, not punctured. Tighten fuel tank union. Check axle and gearbox levels, ok. Tighten front crash bar. Strip brakes and inspect. Remove nearside rear adjuster and free off. Refit and adjust shoes. Delip all drums. Regrease and adjust offside front wheel bearing.
Strip and remove offside rear half shaft and bearing. Heat up bearing to remove but unable to at this point. Christian cut some plates for me to use. Heat up again and use plates to hold bearing whilst knocking half shaft from above. Remove and clean all surfaces. Make new hub gasket and clean backplate, ready for new bearing etc.
Remove rocker cover and associated parts. Check and adjust tappets. Found clearances were massive on most. Setting 0.08thou or 0.2mm. Some clearances were up to as much as 0.80thou or 2mm!!! Set to correct clearances and refit rocker cover etc. Check operation of seats. Both slide but you have to be sat in them. Found key for doors but no door lock will operate via key. If it is the correct key.
Press new wheel bearing and spacer onto half shaft. Lube o ring on bearing and hammer back into axle. Secure seal flange and backplate. Refit drum and wheel and adjust brake. Lower to ground and torque up all wheels to 68nm. Inspect drivers door lock. Remove door panel and view mechanism inside door. Found lock barrel on handle not fitted correctly. Reposition barrel inside door and test. Ok. Refit door panel. Check passengers door locks from inside. Reposition handles.
Please hold caller… Our 1982 Bedford HA is now live
February 6, 2024
The beloved panel van formed a core moment in the automotive lives of so many. Maybe it was your first role of responsibility at work or it was an early runaround filled with friends and laughter, either way it was always there but have become a seldom sight in the UK classic car scene.
Just like this one, our 1982 Bedford HA.
Using the Vauxhall Viva as a base, the HA’s were first let loose on British roads in 1964 and would continue to play a key role in the high-street landscape up until production ended in the early 1980’s. A favourite with utility companies, the HA’s would wear a multitude of liveries throughout their production run including the Royal Mail, British Gas, British European Airways and the famous yellow and blue British Telecom livery like our van.
After their working life was over, many of these vans would find themselves on the driveways of young petrolheads across the UK as some of their first forays onto the open road, and into a special place in their automotive hearts.
Our 1982 Bedford HA has been subject to a comprehensive restoration by a previous owner who transformed KTS 92X into the beautiful panel van that you see today and pay tribute to the bright and eye-catching British Telecom vans of the 1970s/1980s as documented in the wonderful photos of the cars transformative journey.
Stripping our Bedford HA engine
February 27, 2019
Ady has got a big task ahead of him as he starts to look at dismantling our Bedford HA engine. As you can see from the pictures, the engine is currently in a very sorry state but it’s in very safe hands with our Ady. An engine like this will certainly not phase him. The engine is currently stripped and various parts have already been cleaned up and assessed for any wear of damage.
As we start to clean parts up in anticipation for the rebuild to commence.
A lot of work ahead on our Bedford HA
February 15, 2019
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]She’s already shown HUGE potential to be a big hit with both classic car and Butlin’s enthusiasts alike discussing the car’s history.
A lot of interested parties were hoping we would be cleaning up in the original condition to preserve the ‘patina’ but unfortunately he car is just too far gone. Not only that but the car arrived to us already stripping and blasted to reveal the bare naked shell and it is not for the faint hearted.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”26312,26313,26314,26315,26316,26317,26318,26319,26320,26321,26322,26323,26324,26326″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Arriving today: 1983 Bedford HA Van
February 12, 2019
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Arriving today we have our 1983 Bedford HA van.
Delivered to Butlins holiday camp in 1983 in company colours it is now believed to be the only one left in existence.
It is also a very rare four seater model.
Currently stripped, sand blasted, etch primed, there is nothing hidden and its ready for our technicians to start extensive welding on this ultra rare 1983, 1256cc 4 seater rarity.
It will require lots of welding, a full engine rebuild, new interior, re-wiring, re-chroming and everything else to convert this very special van back to it as new condition or better.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”26073,26074,26075,26076,26078,26079,26080,26081,26082,26083,26084,26085,26086,26087″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here is the car is its current state, before we start to get to work…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”26088,26089,26090,26091,26092,26093,26094,26095,26096,26097,26098,26099,26100,26101,26102,26103,26104,26105,26106″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
