Historic vehicles
Displaying an oldie
We have just inherited a 1960s Bedford with an elevated roof. We have been told that it is quite rare, so would like to display it at local shows. We are not club people so would rather go it alone. Will this be difficult?
Peter Gibbs, Farnborough, Hants
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Answer
ALLAN SAYS
My usual advice with any old vehicle is to join a club, to get parts and advice, and cheaper insurance. You don't have to attend meetings or events if you do not wish to.
Look in Classic Car or Historic Memory magazines to find car shows. Your main problem going it alone is public liability insurance, which is a requirement at all events. Some events even require completion of a health risk assessment. Contact one of the insurance brokers in the classic magazines, but bear in mind this might cost over £50 per year, compared with about £20 for club membership, which would include such cover, even if you display on your own.
Vector wheels for a Bedford CF
I've looked everywhere to find 14-inch vector wheels like the ones on the A-Team van. I want to turn my Bedford CF into an A-Team replica and any help on finding these or any other parts, such as a roof spoiler or wheel arch flares would be appreciated
Angel Sunley, by email
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Answer
ALLAN SAYS
This is not my usual type of enquiry. The wheels on the A-Team van have a very deeply sunk rim, with wide low profile tyres, and these may prove too wide for the Bedford CF steering gear you have.
However, there is a website dedicated to A-Team fans, (www.ateamshrine.co.uk) with a forum, so advice may be available from other enthusiasts. . A major supplier of special wheels for customising vans is VanStyle (www.vanstyle.co.uk). They should also be able to assist you in your search for accessories. I wish you luck in your search, and look forward to seeing pictures of the finished van conversion.
Radial ply tyres
In a previous item you suggested improving road holding on a 1960s Bedford by fitting radial ply tyres. A friend of mine that used to run these vans tells me that this will lead to extra wear and tear on the steering, as they were designed for cross-ply tyres. Is this true?
David Goode, by e-mail
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Answer
ALLAN SAYS
Your friend is quite correct, as I think I made clear, but modern driving conditions call for updated vehicles. If the Bedford CA was being used as a commercial vehicle covering tens of thousand miles a year on daily deliveries, this would be a problem, but in my experience, most of these historic vehicles travel two or three thousand miles each year, so the increased strain will not be a problem.
If the tyres are kept at the correct pressure, and the steering is greased every three thousand miles as advised in the handbook, the safety advantage far outweighs any extra wear and tear. In the same way, these vehicles never needed the fitting of a brake servo, but in the year 2007 it is a worthy modification.
