Campervan pondering

[crankedup]

Having missed the Austin and escaped the VW T2 jurgens I am still circling around for a suitable campervan.
Latest spots, and not many seem to come onto the market, is a Commer of 1966 which looks very nice, that’s on car and classic web site. Also. Bedford CA in Brightwells upcoming auction,
both vans around the £10k -£12k mark.
The commer boasts of much mechanical restoration, looks very smart and has a pop roof. The Bedford has had much many spent on bodywork and interior, again looks smart.
Both vans have a reasonable MOT history and I sense will be perfect for my weekend jaunts to
steam rallies and the like.
But which one to go for? Fortunate to be able to choose! The commer appears to have a slightly easier spare parts back up, but it’s a left hooker, whilst the Bedford shouldn’t present to many spares repairs problems and I can drive it with the drivers door open
Comments good bad or indifferent welcomed.

[aeropilot]

Commer looks nice, but I can't imagine how painfully slow and lethargic it will feel being an auto...........!!
I don't find the LHD being an issue, but, I've spent many years driving LHD drives in the UK anyway. Handy for any trips across the channel of course

I remember as kid going around in an uncles' Bedford CF with the doors open and not even wearing a seatbelt - different times.

CF would probably offer more room inside?

[crankedup]

Thanks for comments, I suppose I am well used to lethargic progress coming from towing with pre 1930’s car and caravan. But yes it will certainly provide a leisurely drive
Did you see the Bedford CA on the brightwells auction site? Must say the seats to bed looks less comfortable than the commer effort.
Have a feeling one of the two will be on my drive by the end of this month, all being well.

[Johnspex]

Bedford CA, sliding doors! No contest!!

[GoodOlBoy]

Another vote for sliding doors from me.

[aeropilot]

crankedup said:

Did you see the Bedford CA on the brightwells auction site?

Yes, CA gets my vote as well out of the two

[crankedup]

Thanks chaps, the dear old Bedford seems to tug at the heart strings just a smidge more than the Commer. Close though. Those sliding doors, a Summers day on the back roads of Suffolk certainly seem mighty nostalgic. Way to go.
Off to the auction next week.

[crankedup]

Rounding off this thread I came across this on fleabay. Decided it was worth the journey to view and secured with winning bid. All seems mechanically very good although the cosmetics are a little weak, that’s something easily put right though.

[finlo]

Tremendous grip!

[crankedup]

[aeropilot]

crankedup said:

Decided it was worth the journey to view

To Australia......

[Blackpuddin]

I take it you've seen this one, that got me stroking my beard yesterday?


Sounds attractively slow.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-Classic-Bedford-CF...f:0

[tapkaJohnD]

Is a "Mess van" an alternative campervan basis?

As there is no 'campervan' forum here, and recognising that the OP was after a 'classic' campervan, may I divert the thread, towards a low cost, modern camper van?

I've noticed that there is a steady trade in second hand "Mess" or "Welfare" vans, used in various trades to provide shelter and a toilet for workers onsite. They seem to be often provided with a toilet (required even more for old men than young workers!) with a hand washing sink, and a fixed table and seats with a microwave oven. Some have more, a counter/work surface with a cooking-type sink, 3-pin sockets and inverter with 'leisure' batteries, and insulation. None have a bed, but this would seem an excellent basis for conversion to a small campervan, suitable for one or two people attending events like the OP's steam rallies, or my race meetings etc.

Has anyone here done this? Problems, pitfalls and advice, please? DiY or professional conversion?

John

[cjb44]

Blackpuddin said:

I take it you've seen this one, that got me stroking my beard yesterday?


Sounds attractively slow.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-Classic-Bedford-CF...f:0

Interestingly the registration No on this van means it would have been registered in his hometown in Suffolk.

[cptsideways]

Ex had a really mint Bedford horsebox, with the dogleg box, it really was awful to drive & painfully slow by any standards. Being 6ft + meant I could not see where I was going.

Something like this it would be very tempting to fit something interesting in modern in the engine dept.

Sliding doors is the winner though

[Blackpuddin]

cjb44 said:

Blackpuddin said:

I take it you've seen this one, that got me stroking my beard yesterday?


Sounds attractively slow.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-Classic-Bedford-CF...f:0

Interestingly the registration No on this van means it would have been registered in his hometown in Suffolk.

I see it is '4 birth', hope he's cleaned the insides out a bit.
Are those front seats from a Granada Ghia?

[crankedup]

The Bedford CF looks to be in nice order, I had spotted it earlier but it’s just a little to modern for me!!
Plenty of vans coming in from France at the moment, that is vans not campers.As already mentioned some can be converted into a basic camper. I did consider this option but then the CA arrived on Ebay.
Be good if we had a classic camper and caravan forum on this site, the existing one caters for the moderns only it seems.

[N Dentressangle]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/barn-find-bedford-bulln...

Looks a real winner - beautiful patina to it, and hopefully just a bit of tidying needed. A coat of light grey kitchen unit paint will smarten that interior up no end.

Worth it for the speedo alone, I'd say:

[Ambleton]

I keep looking at Estafettes and wondering how long it'll be before I turn up at home with one, complete with a very angry wife, arms folded, tapping her foot...

[Blackpuddin]

That Bedford went for £5609. Wow. Charming enough but no MOT and the possibility of a biscuit chassis. Add on the cost of restoration and it's difficult to see it as anything other than a labour of love.