Saw this pic. on Flickr, Apologies if I have offended anyone by putting it on here but it,s a great pic which shows how trucks have grown over the years.
Remember the “S” Type Bedford was called the BIG Bedford!
Cheers,
Bassman
I’m constantly amazed at how huge cabs have become since “I were a lad” many years ago, yet I didn’t notice it all happening at the time. Apart from silly things like Magnums and Crusaders, of course.
And I wouldn’t apologise for that pic, bassman, it’s a great one.
Retired Old ■■■■:
I’m constantly amazed at how huge cabs have become since “I were a lad” many years ago, yet I didn’t notice it all happening at the time. Apart from silly things like Magnums and Crusaders, of course.
And I wouldn’t apologise for that pic, bassman, it’s a great one.
Yes ROF, the first time that I drove an S80 Foden it seemed HUGE, then I was given a Sed Ak 400 as ‘my’ truck and that was bigger still! 
Last year I sat in the cab of a newish MAN unit and nearly had vertigo! 
Pete.
I remember pulling in at Prees Heath on a Sunday about 12 years ago next to the transport cafes, and the Cheshire run lorries were pulling in. A Volvo F88 happened to park next to a Renault Magnum which was a normal drivers lorry having a break… The Volvo F88 was a big unit in its day, but it brought home to me just how the size of lorries had grown over the years. The Magnum which is still one of the biggest dwarfed the F88. Now the Dafs, Mercs, Scania’s, Volvo’s and the rest are all big.
Cheers Dave.
Hi,
I know the subject isn’t quite Bedford but I would think we all had impressions of how big a truck cab seemed. I recall the first time I got in an LV cabbed ERF and thinking how big it was ,likewise the Foden S80,which despite it’s size ,didn’t have a lot of room for the driver, but their forerunners ie, the KV ERF and the “Mickey Mouse” cabbed Fodens didn’t give that impression.
The Volvo’s especially the FL’s and the FM;s had quite compact cabs and it proved that bigger wasn’t alway’s better In saying that I am not starting an argument about how big a cab should be , it’s horses for courses.
It’s funny but you never hear of a" BIG" Volvo or a “BIG” DAF, but the “S” type Bedford was always the “BIG” Bedford.
Cheers Bassman
Compared to the rest of Bedford’s range, it was HUGE at the time. We had been used to O-models, ex-WD WOs and the first of the A-models with either the Bedford six cylinder petrol or the Perkins diesel. When the first S-type entered the yard with petrol engine, the first question was, “Will it still pop & bang unless it’s kept fully tuned?” It did! But the cab was so high off the ground that the shorter drivers used to take two steps to climb in. Us taller (and younger) chaps could mount by using the one provided step. Nowadays, manufactures provide what amounts to a ladder on their cabs. No more jumping down forwards while reaching behind you slamming the door with the left hand!
This A Type Bedford New to G.Lowdon Ltd, Seaton Burn was driven by George Lowdon Junior Who has sadley just passed away at the age of 75, George who was a great pal of mine will be missed by all,RIP, George, Regards Larry.
We had on similar to that, with a P6 in. It had a platform body with removable livestock container. My old chap’s was a tipper but had the petrol engine and was a little earlier, with the sidelights set into the front wings.
Retired Old ■■■■:
We had on similar to that, with a P6 in. It had a platform body with removable livestock container. My old chap’s was a tipper but had the petrol engine and was a little earlier, with the sidelights set into the front wings.
Hi ROF, I drove a 1953 A Type with the P6 engine it had the sidelamps on the corner of the wings, It was a flying machine, It was capable of hauling 8 tons no probs, I used to run to Manchester loaded both ways, 2nd gear over the Standege mind you, Plus it had very good brakes I must say, It had a long overhang body so it had to be loaded accordingly, The good old days when other drivers would stop and assist you if you were changing a wheel, Drivers today are not allowed do do this HAS, Put a stop to it, Of course that’s if present day drivers would know how to do it, I think not, Of course firms don’t have spare wheels anyway, If I could turn the clock back I would do it all again, My good Lady thinks Im a sad old bugger when I mention driving these old motors, I just tell her, Im still here pet and that cant be bad in my book, Regards Larry.
I’m SO glad you didn’t use the word “barge”! 
Lawrence Dunbar:
This A Type Bedford New to G.Lowdon Ltd, Seaton Burn was driven by George Lowdon Junior Who has sadley just passed away at the age of 75, George who was a great pal of mine will be missed by all,RIP, George, Regards Larry.0
always had a soft spot for the A type spent many cold hours but happy ones with me dad an old petrol one he drove for a few years, the 2 man passenger seat always coming lose and me feet on piles of old hemp ropes and smell of oil, happy days
Saviem kicked this thread off, so here a french registered one for him, on its way to being renovated…
Retired Old ■■■■:
I’m SO glad you didn’t use the word “barge”!
East of Swiss this summer.
Norway in 1975.
Hi, toshboy. Any idea who built the odd cabs on those A-series of Amey’s?