In 2024, former long-term employee Alan Robinson rescued a large quantity of archive photographs from a skip when long-established coachbuilding business Papworth Coachworks finally closed. Here are a selection of bodies built on Bedford chassis…
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November 1960, second-generation Bedford CA 15cwt chassis with coachbuilt bodywork of composite construction. Finished blue with crackle-finish aluminium left unpainted.
Though it carries client branding, this 1958 SB Luton-head pantechnicon body was ordered by British Road Services, who handled Bruce Bedding distribution. The body was all-aluminium for lightness and thus maximum payload. The chassis weighed 2tons 10cwt, the whole vehicle just 3tons 15cwt.
Bedford 7-ton diesel chassis with pantechnicon body. Painted blue and white, roller blind shutter at rear and weighing 3tons 19cwt. Built by Papworth in June 1955
Dated July 1963, this photo shows a Papworth Coachworks ‘demonstration van mounted on Bedford 5-ton 151in wheelbase chassis and of composite construction’. A one-off, finished in ‘dark blue and pale mushroom, buikt for an instrument maker based in Beckenham, Kent.
Bedford RLH 4×4 3-ton petrol engine chassis with Papworth Coachworks double-dropside timber truck body, Completed in April 1965, in deep bronze green, for the Home Office.
1973 Bedford KGL 4×2 chassis cab fitted with box van. Supplied to the Ministry of Defence for conveyance of food and trolleys.
