Looking at an '82 Bedford CF250

[christyjade]

Thanks everyone for your advice! We are actually going to borrow the camper for the weekend to get it looked over and see how we get on with it. Don't want to say we will buy it and neither of us like driving it for more than 5 minutes!

I have a feeling we will go for it though as we really love it. May regret it later from looking at some of your posts!!! But ahh well... Lifes lessons hey haha :raofl:

ps Full Member now!

 

[ldvconvoy]

Expensive

Hi guys, was originally planning on converting a van but struggling to find something local (I'm on the Isle of Man so a small market!). The attached has come up for sale and wanted some opinions if possible....? Anything to look for if I go test it? Anyone owns / owned one? Thank you!

I used to own one years ago, although reliable it started having a lot of rust issues, in the end I had to scrap it because it was costing me a fortune to keep ahead of the rust. In your case to pay nearly £4000 and then pay out a lot more for bodywork repairs is not a good idea in my opinion. I would look for something else for that sort of money.

 

[ricc]

having reconsidered the issue , converting a a more modern panel van has to be the better option imho

 

[christyjade]

I used to own one years ago, although reliable it started having a lot of rust issues, in the end I had to scrap it because it was costing me a fortune to keep ahead of the rust. In your case to pay nearly £4000 and then pay out a lot more for bodywork repairs is not a good idea in my opinion. I would look for something else for that sort of money.

having reconsidered the issue , converting a a more modern panel van has to be the better option imho

Yes we have been looking for a panel van now since January!! Due to the very small market on the Isle of Man it's difficult to find a decent vehicle, and with no MOTs the ones we have seen in our price range are a bit of a state

We were planning on offering circa £2,500 for the Bedford as they have already dropped the price and think they want rid as they have bought a new 7.5m fancy motorhome to replace it!!

 

[Robmac]

Yes we have been looking for a panel van now since January!! Due to the very small market on the Isle of Man it's difficult to find a decent vehicle, and with no MOTs the ones we have seen in our price range are a bit of a state

We were planning on offering circa £2,500 for the Bedford as they have already dropped the price and think they want rid as they have bought a new 7.5m fancy motorhome to replace it!!

If you could get it at that price and just get a few years out of it, it would be worth it in my opinion.

I paid 10k for my last van, kept it for 5 years and sold it for 4k. It owed us nothing, we had countless holidays in it and met many new friends.

 

[Deleted member 775]

Yes we have been looking for a panel van now since January!! Due to the very small market on the Isle of Man it's difficult to find a decent vehicle, and with no MOTs the ones we have seen in our price range are a bit of a state

We were planning on offering circa £2,500 for the Bedford as they have already dropped the price and think they want rid as they have bought a new 7.5m fancy motorhome to replace it!!

if you can get it for two and a half then ok .but please check for rot ,rust is nothing and can be treated and kept on top of ,just a word of warning though that body work could run into a rather tidy sum ,especially with that what looks to be metallic finish its notoriously difficult to match properly and that colour my not be a stock colour especially for that year of van . if its base coat and lacquer then you may find that a complete panel will need to be sprayed as you cannot realy get a good lasting finish with the lacquer unless the whole panel is sprayed ,you cannot realy do a local paint job on one area of the panel ,

 

[christyjade]

If you could get it at that price and just get a few years out of it, it would be worth it in my opinion.

I paid 10k for my last van, kept it for 5 years and sold it for 4k. It owed us nothing, we had countless holidays in it and met many new friends.

if you can get it for two and a half then ok .but please check for rot ,rust is nothing and can be treated and kept on top of ,just a word of warning though that body work could run into a rather tidy sum ,especially with that what looks to be metallic finish its notoriously difficult to match properly and that colour my not be a stock colour especially for that year of van . if its base coat and lacquer then you may find that a complete panel will need to be sprayed as you cannot realy get a good lasting finish with the lacquer unless the whole panel is sprayed ,you cannot realy do a local paint job on one area of the panel ,

Yes we figured if we got it cheap enough it would do us for a good few happy memories in it and then we could sell it for parts if it dies a death!!!

Taking it to a garage on Saturday morning, going to ask them to check all the underneath for rust & rott and do a general check of it for us. Fingers crossed people!! :raofl:

 

[andyjanet]

1600 and 2000 engines have valve/piston clearance problems, but the 1800 and 2300 do not.

I worked at a Vauxhall/Bedford dealership in the 1970's when these were introduced, and they weren't that bad, especially compared to the old CA vans.

The gearbox on the 35cwt vans had modified bearings with nylon cages to keep noise down, I think Ford were using the taper seat plugs as well, the Delco distributor was a bit of a problem, especially as nothing else used it apart from the Victor car.

They made a few of them, but most went out in primer to customers or bodybuilders so were unprotected until painted.

The long rocker cover oil filter was an early casualty, that was shortened and a stiffener brazed in between the filler pipe and rocker cover.

Perkins engines were used to provide a diesel, but they were underpowered.

Peter

Was this at hamblins, I was there in the 80s, andy

 

[listerdiesel]

Was this at Hamblins, I was there in the 80s, andy

No, but we were a Hamblins customer when we moved to Rushden in 1986, Bob Hughes was workshop manager then and he stayed when they moved to the new place on Wellingborough Road. I remember Mr Hamblin well, he would often come into the garage and talk to customers. Pity they sold out.

My early days were at E J Baker, who had premises throughout Surrey.

The first (and only) new van we bought from Hamblins was a blue Astra diesel, M45DNV. We still have the number, it went on our later 2003 silver Astra van then onto our Discovery V8 which we still have.

Peter

 

[Deleted member 37170]

This was a CF that I bought when I lived on the Isle-of-Wight. I ripped out the petrol engine and fitted a Ford Transit Diesel in it. (Not easy)
Worked a treat! Also did some re-furb.

Love those old vans.