Bedford VAL70 5562

Bedford Vehicles was established in April 1931 and was a part of Vauxhall Motors, the UK brand for the USA’s General Motors. Chassis bearing the Bedford name, replacing Chevrolet, appeared in late 1931 and included the LQ and OB used for small buses. The VAL was the first chassis designed by Bedford as a large passenger carrying coach and had the unusual feature of two front steering axles and one rear axle.

The Bedford VAL 14 was released in Australia in 1964 fitted with a Leyland 400 cubic inch (6.5litre) engine. Bedford developed their own larger and more powerful 466ci engine in 1967 which was released in Australia in 1968. The later was named the VAL 70. A total of 59 VAL 14s entered service in Australia between 1964 and 1967 and 47 of the later VAL 70s entered service between 1968 and 1975. Bodies were built by nine Australian companies whilst 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 built the body. It was registered as MO 5562. Perrett’s operated route and school services around Tamworth and Quirindi until 2008.

On the 8 April 1996, the bus was donated to the SBM by the Perrett family on behalf of the late Cliff Perrett. The VAL 70 had been used in service right up until the hand over. The SBM is very much indebted to the Perrett family for their generosity. The bus has undergone extensive refurbishment, involving some fairly serious repairs to body, interior, brakes and wheels. The bus was repainted and is now on display to the public.

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.

Body: Custom Coaches

Status:

On static display at Leichhardt