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The Bedford SB
A brief history
The SB, Bedford's first forward control design was launched at the 1950 Commercial Motor Show as the replacement for the OB, and as a 33 seater, it was the companies largest design to date. It used a four speed synchromesh gearbox & hypoid rear axle, (five speed gearboxes were available as an optional extra by 1960), braking being of vacuum servo hydraulic type. It was also the first Bedford PSV chassis to be offered with a choice of petrol & diesel engines. The standard petrol engine was the 6 cylinder Bedford unit of 4.927 this was to remain in production throughout the life of the SB, SBG & SB3 Several variants of diesel engine were fitted to the SB, all 6 cylinder configuration. In 1953 the Perkins R6 of 5.562 litres was offered in the SBO, & in 1957 it was superseded by Bedford's own 4.927 litre diesel engine as the SBI. A Leyland 0.350 unit of 5.76 litres was also offered as the SB8, being more powerful, this was the choice of most large coach operators such as Grey-Green. In 1962 a larger Bedford engine of 5.42 litres was fitted to the SB5, & a year later, a Leyland 0.370 engine of 6.095 litres was available designated SBI3.
From 1968 General Motors computer classification for the SB series, became NJM, (diesel) & NFM (petrol), but they were rarely referred to under that code. The SB in all its variations proved to be the longest running PSV chassis from the Bedford factory spanning 37 years, surviving until the close of Bedford production in 1987.SB engine classification
SB, SBG, SB3, NFM 6 cylinder petrol 4.927 litres
SBO 6 cylinder diesel 5.562 litres (Perkins R6)
SB1 6 cylinder diesel 4.927 litres
SB5, NJM 6 cylinder diesel 5.42 litres
SB8 6 cylinder diesel 5.76 litres (Leyland 0.350)
SB13 6 cylinder diesel Leyland 0:370 litres
Wheelbase lengths
17ft 2in
18ft 0 in (from 1955)
Typical bodywork makes
Duple, Marshall, Plaxton, Strachans, Thurgood, Willowbrook, Wright, Yeates, Harrington, Mulliner and Burlingham
Recognition features
Earlier examples had the bulbous front cowl of the lorry derivative incorporated into the body builders own design, the Bedford name being displayed on a horizontal chrome bar at the top of the radiator grille. Later examples tended towards a one piece wrap round windscreen, flatter fronts & wider grilles. The Bedford insignia is usually prominent on the front panel. Many examples bodied by Strachens & Willowbrook were supplied for military use.
The SB in preservation
Although the Bedford SB was as popular with bus & coach operators as its forbear, the OB, as a preservation prospect it is not in the same league as the OB. Although from the authors records there are around 150 extant, many of these are caravans & are therefore no longer PSV's, the SB was a popular vehicle with New Age Travellers & many early models ended their days as caravans. Of those preserved/existing as buses & coaches, only around 30 are known to be restored &/or road worthy, although there are still many more, not listed, which are still in service, &/or unknown to the author.(We would welcome details of these vehicles please)One drawback to owning an SB, & in particular a petrol engined one, is the high fuel consumption, only 8 miles per gallon, almost twice that of an OB. With a diesel variant this should double to 16 to 18 mpg.
With a production run of over 30 years there are many body styles on offer, although it must be said that the Duple Vega & Super Vega styles of the mid 50's & early 60's, are the most popular with preservationists.
Lets look at some SB's in preservation. One of the oldest, & best, is Geoff Heels 1951 SB (PPH 698). New to Richmond of Epsom in 1951, this is one of the early style Duple bodies with the Bedford front cowl. In absolutely immaculate condition, Geoff has won an award with PPH 698 at almost every Bedford Gathering.
Moving forward five years, Lodge's of High Easter, a well respected current day coach operator, owns an SBG Duple Vega with the 'butterfly' front. New to Chiltona of Chilton Folit in 1956, MJB 481 was restored in Lodge's own workshops over a period of several years, to finally emerge in its resplendent Blue & Cream livery at the 2000 Bedford Gathering, which celebrated 50 years of the S type. The 'butterfly' front SB is THE classic SB in many eyes, & the most desirable. Sadly very few are in preservation, & of those that are very few are restored to the standard set by Lodge's. Another Essex coach operator, Don's of Dunmow have one of the few remaining Yeates Europa bodied SB's. NKY 161, which was new to Fairways of Bradford in 1957, is affectionately known as Nicky. The coach is a regular attendee at local rallies. Still with the Yeates Europa, another Europa, ex Smiths of Wood Norton, Norfolk, 5200 AH, was being restored by Richard Morant of Guist, after lying derelict for years at Smiths premises. 5200 AH was entered by Smiths in the 1959 Coach Rally when new. Unfortunately Richard was killed in a tragic accident in June 2010 & restoration has been put on hold. Another Yeates SB, 746 FEW, was new to Whippet of Fenstanton, Cambs. in 1962, an SB5, it has a Yeates Fiesta front entrance body, with modified chassis to allow the door ahead of the front axle. 746 FEW was found derelict at Martin Perry's, Wacton Coach Sales yard in 2000, & restoration is now well under way at Whippet's premises. Another more recent restoration is the 1959 Duple Super Vega WLO 685 which was restored at Cobus, Bridlington in 2008 for its owners Jon & Lyn Moore trading as Sidelines Coaches of Forncett St Peter. A later more stylish 1962 Duple Super Vega of Len & Maura Wright of Norwich. 675 OCV was acquired out of service from Birds of Hunstanton in the early 90's, & lovingly restored in its original livery of Crimson Tours, St Ives, Cornwall.
Plaxton are well represented in the SB stakes with 591 SLG new to Thornley of Woodley in 1961. An SB3 with Embassy C41 bodywork, 519 SLG spent much of its working life with Miller Bros, of Foxton, Cambs. where it was retained after the sale of Millers to Cambus Holdings in 1992, by Bernard Miller. Later sold into preservation with Andrew Fowler of Holbeach Drove, Lincs. 591 SLG is now on the Isle of Wight in the ownership of Steve Cook.
Moving on to the final years of the SB5, or NJM, as it should now be called, there are still a number still in service. In Hertfordshire, C. G. Myall of Bassingbourn are rebuilding a 1986 Duple Dominant example C822 XCJ which was new to the company. PCE 637R a Plaxton bodied coach, again new to Myall in 1977 is 'resting', withdrawn, in the yard awaiting its turn for restoration..
Possibly the rarest SB body wise, is also at Myall's. Wright bodied SB5 (NJM) , A858 OVJ, is still in use with the company & in 2011 had body refurbishment to ensure its continued use, it was new to Myall & is nick named 'The Coffin' due to its angular styling. Myall also have withdrawn in their yard, SB5 Duple Vega 31 GNO 777H, derelict with accident damage, it was new to Whiffen of Finchingfield, & SB3 Duple, EYD 32C, now used as a store shed. Another SB5 with rare Duple 'Firefly' C41F body CTT 773C has in June 2010 been rescued by George Atkin of North Owersby, Lincs from a bus breakers yard in Herefordshire for restoration . This is only one of two Bedford bodied Firefly's known to survive, the other being 299 DWU now in Brittany. Anyone with Firefly spares please contact us at the Wakefield Files.
Whilst there are other SB's worthy of a mention here, space does not permit to give details, however one particular SB3 worth a mention was built as a mobile cinema in 1967 for the Ministry of Technology for more details on KJU 267E visit The Vintage Mobile Cinema web site http://www.vintagemobilecinema.co.uk/ The authors listing of extant SB's follows at the end of this feature.Buying an SB
As with the OB which we previously profiled in WAKEFIELD FILES, all the usual points raised there equally apply to the SB, i.e. corrosion & rot in the bodywork, & the various mechanical components. The SB is a larger vehicle & therefore needs more space to undertake any work, under cover facilities preferred. Some of the later body types will be all metal rather than wood framing, so other work such as welding & sheet metal work will need to be undertaken.
The spares situation for the chassis is good, with many parts being common to the lorry (& 'Green Goddess' fire appliance) variants, they should be available from a Bedford Genuine Parts stockist. (01580 892888)
SB PricesUnlike the OB, where to get a decent example you need to payout over £25000, (maybe a bit more) a good late 50's early 60's Duple Vega / Super Vega should be available for less than half that. A really good Super Vega example would be around £10000, and up to £15000 for the "butterfly front" Vega. There are not that many good restored ones out there so you may have to settle for one needing restoration. The later SB's (1970 onwards) do not command high prices, should be had for around £3000 for a fully restored example, whilst a non runner needing an MoT & TLC would be worth around £500.
Useful Contacts
Mechanical Spares
Bedford Genuine Parts 01580 89288 or Ditton Service Station http://www.bedfordparts.co.uk/contact.shtmlJohn Morter (new & used Bedford Spares) 01953 602581
Bernie Smith, Broughton, Northants tel 01536 790790 email vintagevehiclespares@btinternet.co.uk
chassis parts for OB, SB & V series, and more. (28 hp engines in stock)L.W Vass, Ampthill http://www.vass.co.uk/ (330 diesel engines, gearboxes etc)
W H Way & Sons, Pontypridd tel 01443 486171 or 07831 888912 (Andrew Way) (engines & gearboxes)
Past Parts, Bury St Edmunds (Brake cylinders) http://www.pastparts.co.uk/
Metal Mouldings, Unit 2-3 Guild Road, Bromsgrove B60 2BY tel 07534 454269 (alloy extrusion & herzim strip)
Water Pumps (Classic Water Pumps) http://www.classicwaterpumps.co.uk/
Bodywork repairs
Kenzie Coaches 01763 260288
Cobus UK (Steve Waggitt) Bridlington (01262 603829)
John Holdsworth (moquette & upholstery fabric) 01422 433000
Further Reading
Bedford Buses of The 1950's & 60's & Bedford Buses of The 1970's & 80's both Nostalgia Road Publications 01539 738832
Bus & Coach Preservation (Ian Allan, monthly) 01932 266622 (subscriptions)Vintage Vehicle Hire
Somerset Lewis Coaches (Stalbridge) Ltd, Templecombe Somerset. tel: 01963 363787.
Cornwall
King Harry Coaches, Falmouth tel: 01872 861913 / 01325 318868 email: kingharrycoaches@khc.co.ukDevonRon Greet, Broadhempston 01803 813039 www.rongreet.co.ukEssexLodges's Coaches, High Easter 01245 231262 www.lodgecoaches.co.ukNorfolk
Sidelines Coaches, Station Bungalow, Forncett St Peter 01508 531323 Sidelines coach hireNorth YorkshireCoastal & Country, Whitby 01947 602922 www.coastalandcountry.co.uk
(c)John Wakefield Feb 2012
If you have any information relating to any of the featured vehicles or know of any other vehicles, waiting to be rediscovered & could be featured on this website, please contact us by using one of the methods below
Telephone John Wakefield on 01223 843802
