Looking at an '82 Bedford CF250

[christyjade]

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!

 

[The laird]

That'll be a head turner

 

[rockape]

Early 80,s I had one which was originally an out patients bus, luckily with clear windows with the bonus of a higher roof, stripped out i made two single beds with a hammock type bed over the cab where my two small kids slept end to end
It worked well.

 

[christyjade]

That'll be a head turner

I would hope not because I would be broken down at the side of the road!!! :raofl:

It's a cutie, but an OLD cutie....

 

[harrow]

Am I correct that you do not have MOT testing on the IOM ? :idea-007::idea-007::idea-007:

The major risk is RUST apart from that everything can be fixed. :hammer::hammer::hammer:

Well even rust can be fixed if you have the skill or alot of money to pay someone else to do it :dance::dance::dance:

 

[christyjade]

Hi Harrow,

Yes no MOTs on the Isle of Man, but if we try and buy a vehicle from outside the IOM that's 3+ years old it has to go through the Manx test to get it on Manx plates (which isn't easy) which means we have a very limited market and thus everything more expensive Very frustrating.

Will deffo check for rust, they have said bodywork needs attention so I'm kind of expecting it!!

Thanks

 

[chrismilo]

Hi Harrow,

Yes no MOTs on the Isle of Man, but if we try and buy a vehicle from outside the IOM that's 3+ years old it has to go through the Manx test to get it on Manx plates (which isn't easy) which means we have a very limited market and thus everything more expensive Very frustrating.

Will deffo check for rust, they have said bodywork needs attention so I'm kind of expecting it!!

Thanks

Don't tell everyone there's no MoT on IoM we will all bring our rust buckets over there lol :lol-049::dog:
My V reg movano just got through tiny bit of welding and weight sensor seized no advisories

 

[christyjade]

Don't tell everyone there's no MoT on IoM we will all bring our rust buckets over there lol :lol-049::dog:
My V reg movano just got through tiny bit of welding and weight sensor seized no advisories

There are some right sheds on the roads here!!!

 

[pamjon]

Bedford

O f course this is only my opinion, I had three of these and they were the biggest load of junk I ever bought!! Should have learnt my lesson on the second. But then bought an old community bus and converted it to a camper. Yet again it broke down. Side slung engines were never any good, wait until you try and change the spark plugs! If I was you I would steer clear of it.
There are far better second hand camper vans for sale than them.
PJ

 

[El Veterano]

I had a CF back in the 90's. The gearbox isn't brillant as I recollect, very low geared as well, so it seems to be reving it's goulies off and not getting anywhere too quickly. The main problems to look out for is rust, then more rust and be prepared for between 12 and 15mpg tops (petrol).

 

[flyinghigh]

O f course this is only my opinion, I had three of these and they were the biggest load of junk I ever bought!! Should have learnt my lesson on the second. But then bought an old community bus and converted it to a camper. Yet again it broke down. Side slung engines were never any good, wait until you try and change the spark plugs! If I was you I would steer clear of it.
There are far better second hand camper vans for sale than them.
PJ

as said! be careful of the mechanics, replace timing belt or make sure it's been done, they suffered with cam cover oil leaks, spark plugs were the first with taper seat so very easy to over tighten them and equally
as easy to break them trying to get them out, i still have the flexible tool needed to adjust the tappit shims
under the camshaft, if you do buy it it's yours as i will never use it again, good luck

 

[Randonneur]

I imagine that spares would also be difficult to come by, especially on the IOM.

 

[Deleted member 775]

having owned a cf for quite a few years i dont have it now worst luck , heres my thoughts on them , yes they do suffer from rot not just rust , but what older car/van hasent got it ,most older mercs are riddled with the stuff , so check all the underside ,wheel arches will no doubt have been replaced or filled with body filler ,inner wheel arches can be troubled with rot so check those ,as with the cab steps .the one i had a compas drifter had the motorhome body by compass so was realy a converted pick up and the chassis on that type usualy have little problems exept at the front where the engine x member sits check that even on the van . mechanicaly if its the 2.3 slant engine ,yes there will be oil leaks ,usualy from the cam cover its a sod to cure even with a new gasket ,theres an old saying if you havent an oil leak then you have no oil in . cam belts doddle of a job to change ,about 20 mins no hundreds of pound bill there realy ,yes if you get one get it changed i do belive there an interference engine and the engine will suffer damage if the belt goes . mechanical parts arnt much of a problem but can be expensive ,body parts on the other hand especially steel ones are nigh on impossible to get ,and if you do find them they will cost dearly ,front wishbone suspenion bushes wear can be a problem check them there a pain to do without the right equipment but you can by refurbd one at a price . make shure the head as been converted to unleaded aswell oh later vans were fitted with the opel 2.0 engine ,and early diesels had the perkins later had a 2.0 ohv opel diesel engine .no they will never burn up the tarmac unless it got a rover v8 in ,but will plod along happily .verdict did i like my beddy yes ,would i have another yes but you realy need to be an enthusiast to own one .but join a cf club there's a few about ,there a must realy . oh i nearly forgot ,if its got drum brakes on the front your in for a laugh , disks are much better and arnt too difficult to retro fit . theres so much more i could add but it would take too long .

 

[phillybarbour]

Lovely looking van and a real head turner as said. If you enjoy tinkering with old vehicles and are prepared to spend time and money on constant maintenance go ahead. If your after a cheap to own and run van I would look elsewhere. I have not owned a CF but have owned several classic cars and it's constant care needed.

 

[sak]

If it is a petrol start it from cold and listen for big end rattle very common and they return really poor mpg

 

[RogerV]

I had a 1973 1.8ltr petrol CF for about ten years from 1980/1. I gave £1000 for it and spent less than £500 in maintenance, apart from tyres and a battery.

Until recently, it's the best motor I ever had. That's not to say it never gave me any trouble, but never anything I couldn't fix with a basic tool kit.

It was rust that finally did for it. It had been a parks department work vehicle before I got it and the mud had collected in the corners and corroded the bottom edges of every panel.

In a limited market such as the IoM I'd be inclined to go for it.

 

[christyjade]

Thanks so much for all your responses guys!! We went to view it last night, and we are still in 2 minds. After a few glasses of wine we were like "yeah f*** it lets buy it" now I have woken up and re-looked at the photos we took I am having second thoughts.

We LOVED it. Plain an simple, its got everything we need and it is a gorgeous little van. Only worry is neither of us is mechanical at all. So if something goes wrong its an RAC or a mechanic jobby.

They said the engine has been well looked after as they are also not mechanical at all and had it looked after by a local mechanic who has also written a little report on all the work he has done. He's an old fashioned mechanic who works on just old vehicles and they have had anything that needed doing done.

Body work has some bad rusting on the wheel arches. We are taking the photos to a body shop at lunch to try and get an estimate cost to get it all sorted, but if it's gonna cost a bomb to get looking smart again I don't think we will bother.

If we were using it for just UK & IOM trips I think I would just buy it. It's the thought of being in the Alps in Switzerland and having something go, and trying to get parts and get it fixed that worries me

ps I will be becoming a full member when I get a van! Your advice on here is priceless thank you

 

[pamjon]

Bedford cf

Just a thought for you, our Bedford CF Camper broke down just past Limoges in France and was taken to a garage. They would not lift the bonnet and it had to be transported back to England. However, this was about 23 years ago.
PJ

 

[listerdiesel]

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

 

[ricc]

i had a cf2 2.3 petrol ex minibus for a couple of years about 20 years ago. nowt memorable about it, was never brave enough to check the mpg, i dont recall any mechanical issues with it , just died of rust.