(Updated 10/5/2025) A late spring Saturday, unseasonably warm, even hot. The choice was the chores or exercising the MX-5 with the roof down and a picnic in the boot. An old railway line turned into footpath/cyclepath/bridleway in rural Suffolk, an hour away, seemed a good bet. Seems like we made the right choice.
In the small market town of Clare, we saw this 1949 Bedford OB coach, still being used for private hire for weekend trips, weddings and the like around the area.
It is owned, and has been since it was sold into preservation in 1975, by a local family owned coach and local bus service business.
The Bedford OB first came out as bus and coach chassis in 1939, and after war time production for military and municipal use and predominantly with simpler bodywork, series civilian production ran to 1951.
Mechanically, this was a perfectly conventional product. It had a 4.9 litre petrol engine, a four speed gearbox and semi-elliptic springs all round. There were servo assisted drum brakes, a cruising speed of 40 mph and a distinctive whine from the gearbox.
The most common body was the Duple Vista, as seen here, co-developed with Bedford, though other bodies were available. Many were also exported, often just as a chassis, and there is strong OB community in Australia for example.
In total some 17,000 were produced, and there are estimated to be around 200 still in existence, perhaps half of them on the road.
This shot is from the 75th anniversary at the former Vauxhall-Bedford proving ground at Millbrook, north of Luton.
If you haven’t got a red convertible, not a bad way to travel around Suffolk!
OLB Bedford trucks were common in NZ my uncle had one for decades but relegated to farm duties and not used on the road from the mid 60s, Bus versions were everywhere but now only seen in museums preserved or restored, the mighty 214 cube Bedford six was a popular bolt in swap for the chevy sedans and coupes it would run an extra 1000rpm over the stovebolt with its full pressure crankshaft lubrication, nice to see one still in use.
What a delightful old bus! Riding on it would definitely be worth the trip from nearly anywhere.
I do wonder what, if anything, has been changed / modified / upgraded over time. If these are still pretty much as they left the factory, that makes these buses doubly impressive.
Glacier National Park (I think that’s the one) in the US still has some White brand buses which have been in service since the 1930s. However, they have had several different drivetrains used in them over time, the most recent being 5.4 liter Ford V8s that will burn E85.
I understand that during the 1970s/80s restoration, most of the wood in the body frames was replaced. The interior is still mostly original, apart from the driver’s seat.
Still, looks good to me.
Strictly speaking, it doesn’t fit the bill, but to me this is the quintessential charabanc.
If a 50s British movie is going to feature a coach trip, this is what is going to come along.
Beautiful style. Prettiest coach ever.
Great post – and an iconic bus. I was just watching an episode of Foyles War the other day and one of these appeared. Jim.
Love it! How nice to read a story about a British vehicle that doesn’t end in tragedy.
I am fascinated by the sliding door that is accommodated by the recessed bodywork. Someone probably suggested that the sliding door could just slide out beyond the straight side of the coach (as every American minivan has ever done) only to be met by incredulous stares and someone saying that such a design would not be properly done.
We appreciate your skipping out on chores for our benefit. 🙂
About that door: I remember old late-thirties AEC buses in seventies Melbourne that had doors that slid within the bodywork. Not a luxury coach, just a regular city bus. I still remember the ‘clunk’ of the wood-framed door sliding into its pocket.
I wonder how many film credits this bus has? I’m sure I’ve seen it in some period TV shows, or a similar bus,.
Me too!
This one is at Transport world Invercargill NZ local body its done over half a million miles a testament to how good Bedfords really were long ago and why we loved them over here, OLB chassis.
Bedford was a great success story for many years; there’s lots of old ones still around all over the world. Somewhere along the way it all went wrong. Deadly Sin territory I suspect.
Lovely old bus, Roger! I have enjoyed reading your essay. Uncle Mellow receives plaudits for introducing me to the Charabanc. i pursued this information on the internet. It led me to wakes weeks and much of your history for the working class in mill towns in Northern England and The Midlands. I enjoy learning new things each day. Three cheers to both of you gents!
What a beauty .
-Nate
What a pretty old thing. I too reckon it’s had a few acting roles over time, like All Antique Creatures Get Murdered In Midsommar by Foyle’s Roadshow or something.
Oz post-war OB Bedfords looked rather different. GM-H converted the CKD chassis to forward control, and added a futuristic alloy body with enclosed wheels. I rode in the replacement SB bus (from ’52) as a kid, and loved it. No plonky stinky AEC or Leyland diesels: the rattly, alloy-wrapped Bedfords petrolled along a very decent clip, especially if driven flat-stick by Mad Tom (as we slightly-terrified kids named him). Don’t think Tom would get the job today, somehow…
Here’s a link to an excellent page on the Aussie OB’s.
https://driverclassics.com.au/heritage-fleet/1947-bedford-ob#bedford-ob-story