1970 BEDFORD VAL 70
Vehicle Background:
Bedford vehicles were first produced in 1931, a venture by Vauxhall Motors into the commercial vehicle market. The name Bedford is derived from the name of the county (Bedfordshire) in which Vauxhall Motors established its operations in 1905.
Bus and coach chassis bearing the Bedford name first appeared late in 1931. They were adaptations of truck chassis in production at the time. The VAL was the first chassis designed by Bedford as a passenger carrying vehicle and had the unusual feature of two front steering axles and one rear axle.
The Bedford VAL 14 was released in Australia in 1964 and was fitted with a Leyland 400 cubic inch displacement (6.5 Litre capacity) diesel engine. Bedford developed their own larger and more powerful engine in 1967 and it became available in Australia in 1968. The engine capacity was 466 cubic inch displacement (7.6 litres capacity). The chassis with the larger Bedford engine was designated the Bedford VAL 70.
A total of 59 VAL 14's entered service in Australia in the 1964 to 1967 period, whilst 47 of the later VAL 70's were introduced between 1968 and 1975. Nine different Australian body builders constructed the bodies on the VAL's. A further two were fully imported with Belgian built Van Hool bodies.
This bus was delivered new on the 29 August, 1970 to Mr Cliff Perrett, the proprietor of Perrett's Coaches of Werris Creek. The total cost including chassis, engine, other mechanical components and the price for the body amounted to $22,160. Custom Coaches of Guildford, Sydney, N.S.W. built the body.
On the 8 April 1996, the bus was donated to the Association by the Perrett family on behalf of the Late Cliff Perrett of Werris Creek, N.S.W. A special hand over ceremony was held in the town. The event was filmed by Prime TV and screened later that night in their major evening news bulletin. At the time, Association members were participating in the annual Easter rally and were returning to Sydney with some 9 or 10 buses and trucks in convoy from Armidale in Northern N.S.W. Arrangements to accept the vehicle had previously been made as part of the week-ends festivities. The VAL 70 had been used in service right up until the hand over.
The Association is very much indebted to the Perrett family for their generosity.
SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: Six cylinder Bedford O.H.V. diesel of 466 C.I.D. (7.6 litres), developing 143 B.H.P. @ 2800 R.P.M.
TRANSMISSION: Turner five speed synchromesh gearbox with a two speed Bedford rear axle.
BRAKES: Hydraulic foot brake on all wheels air assisted. Mechanically operated park brake on the first four wheels with an auxiliary transmission brake on the rear axle housing.
