The Bedford Beagle was an estate car conversion of the Bedford HA 8cwt van, which itself was based on the Vauxhall Viva HA. Most Bedford vehicles these days on the road are vans. These engines are available at enginesandgearboxes as used, reconditioned or secondhand. The conversions were undertaken by Martin Walter Ltd. Whilst the vans were very common at one time, the Beagle was altogether rarer and there are very few left today.

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The CF was first introduced in 1969 as a replacement for the CA & TJ series vans. It was Bedford's answer to the Ford Transit. Bedford decided to use the 'modern' overhead cam engine with the cam driven by a toother rubber drive belt and tilted at 45 degrees to give more room and to lower the center of gravity. It was quite an unusual engine for a van of that time. The diesel models used the old but trusty Perkins engines. The engines used were 1599cc (petrol) and 1760cc (diesel) for the lighter models and 1975cc (petrol) and 2523(diesel) for the heavier models. Chassis numbers consisted of 5 digits. The first 2 (97) indicated that it was a CF. The next one gave the vehicle size, 1 = 14/18cwt, 3 = 22cwt, 5 = 25cwt & 7 = 35cwt. The final 2 numbers are the body type. 60 = chassis/cab, 70 = van & 90 = chassis cowl.

In 1972 the petrol engine sizes were uprated to 1759cc & 2279cc by increasing the bore. A new variant was made available, 35cwt chassis/cab. By 1975 the models were identified by gross vehicle weight (GVW) and carried a badge over the front wheel arch, IE CF220 - 2.20Ton. An extra long wheelbase chassis/cab was also made available with a wheelbase of 140in, double rear wheels and powered by the 2279cc petrol engine. In 1977 a new GM diesel engine of 2064cc was introduced to replace the Perkins units. In 1980 the whole range was given a facelift. This is when the plastic grilled front end was introduced. Most owners incorrectly call this model the CF2. At the same time the range was modified and now consisted of CF230, CF250, CF280 & CF350. The engines were 1759 petrol for the 230 model with the rest having either the 2279cc petrol or the diesel, now increased to 2260cc. In 1984 the range was superceded by the CF2. Visually they were very similar the the CF1 with 1980 facelift. Only one engine was available, the 1979cc petrol. At this time the CF was also given front disk brakes. A Ferguson 4WD version was now available. This was based on the 350 model.

During the 1982 model era the following Engines combinations were available :-

1.8L Petrol giving 66 BHP @ 5000 RPM

2.3L Petrol giving 78 BHP @ 4600 RPM

2.3L Diesel giving 61 BHP @ 4000 RPM The CF was first introduced in 1969 as a replacement for the CA & TJ series vans. It was Bedford's answer to the Ford Transit.