Small Bedford truck restoration - 15cwt MWD/OY hybrid
Discussion
Hi All,
My Brother and I have recently brought this project to have some fun with.....
It began life in 1941 as a military MWD version and was sold into civilian life in 1948 with the OY style cab fitted. Started as a builders truck and later turned into the tow/recovery truck for “ Crossleys” garage in Elland near Leeds.
When the garage closed down it was brought as a resto project but then sat in a dry barn for somewhere between 15-30 years ( We have spoken to this owner ) .
He then decided it was never going to get done so sold it to another chap who had it for two years before selling it a commercial truck dealer , who buys and sells military vehicles.
That’s where We saw it on eBay and thought , Why not ? :-)
Our restoration begins.......
Cheers
Geoff and Phil.
My Brother and I have recently brought this project to have some fun with.....
It began life in 1941 as a military MWD version and was sold into civilian life in 1948 with the OY style cab fitted. Started as a builders truck and later turned into the tow/recovery truck for “ Crossleys” garage in Elland near Leeds.
When the garage closed down it was brought as a resto project but then sat in a dry barn for somewhere between 15-30 years ( We have spoken to this owner ) .
He then decided it was never going to get done so sold it to another chap who had it for two years before selling it a commercial truck dealer , who buys and sells military vehicles.
That’s where We saw it on eBay and thought , Why not ? :-)
Our restoration begins.......
Cheers
Geoff and Phil.
Yes front end is standard for the OY style cab of that age , post war they had a rounder front.
Many ex military trucks were rebuilt from several survivors and the more comfortable cabs were fitted , originally the MWD style had open cabs with little weather protection.
There is a video online that shows a catalogue of these types for sale ( I’ll try and post a link later )
Many ex military trucks were rebuilt from several survivors and the more comfortable cabs were fitted , originally the MWD style had open cabs with little weather protection.
There is a video online that shows a catalogue of these types for sale ( I’ll try and post a link later )
Are you going to restore back to WMD service configuration, or keep it as it is, and was used for years in its post war civilian format?
A mate of mine back in the 90's had a military WMD with a rare Motley twin BREN gun mounting in the rear.....had good fun with that going to shows and events.
A mate of mine back in the 90's had a military WMD with a rare Motley twin BREN gun mounting in the rear.....had good fun with that going to shows and events.
Yes the cab is very spartan
the first thing we did when it was unloaded was to remove the rubber front mudguards as they were torn to bits and looked awful. We have not found any pictures of similar trucks with them fitted but I did find an ebay sale of a dunlop brochure for them.....
We have now removed the rear bed ( it was only held on by a couple of bolts having been off before ) to see what the chassis and running gear looks like ,
I will upload some pics later
The wiring is completely shot and has been bodged about to add extra light switches on the dash but it is very simple and wiring diagrams are easily found.
In fact copies of a lot of the original Bedford manuals have been obtained from a chap in Holland.
the first thing we did when it was unloaded was to remove the rubber front mudguards as they were torn to bits and looked awful. We have not found any pictures of similar trucks with them fitted but I did find an ebay sale of a dunlop brochure for them.....
We have now removed the rear bed ( it was only held on by a couple of bolts having been off before ) to see what the chassis and running gear looks like ,
I will upload some pics later
The wiring is completely shot and has been bodged about to add extra light switches on the dash but it is very simple and wiring diagrams are easily found.
In fact copies of a lot of the original Bedford manuals have been obtained from a chap in Holland.
Here is link to the video about how the ex military trucks were sold off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v5xOFh64TI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v5xOFh64TI
More disassembly today , the cab to chassis mount brackets have corroded ( aluminium ) and need replacing so have removed most of the cab floor panels to gain access.
Moved truck out into the sunshine to shuffle other stuff about and sweep the floor as there always seems to be rust flakes and dirt under the truck when we touch it.
Moved truck out into the sunshine to shuffle other stuff about and sweep the floor as there always seems to be rust flakes and dirt under the truck when we touch it.
Thanks for tje link from your model thread Geoff, watching with great interest. Such a lovely looking little truck.
Far down the road I know, but any thoughts on preserving the fabulous signwriting on the doors?
And originality, keeping the engine and 'box or open to a little modernising for ease of use? I only ask as a friend had a Dodge Beep and admitted to not using it enough because of the horrendous fuel consumption.
Enjoy!
Far down the road I know, but any thoughts on preserving the fabulous signwriting on the doors?
And originality, keeping the engine and 'box or open to a little modernising for ease of use? I only ask as a friend had a Dodge Beep and admitted to not using it enough because of the horrendous fuel consumption.
Enjoy!
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