Okay, hear me out: I know it sounds weird, but in a lot of ways, the 1959 to 1969 Bedford CA was a realization of a type of futuristic design concept, just disguised as a delivery van, and, as such, pretty much ignored in that context. Bedford was Vauxhall/GM’s British commercial vehicle division, and the CA was a very space-efficient and useful package: stubby little hood, sliding doors, and a ton of space inside. Packaging-wise, it felt like the sorts of cars of the future everyone was predicting in the 1930s, like the Stout Scarab:
Okay, sure, the Scarab had a rear engine, but if we tuck that engine up front in an almost-cabover kind of configuration, we end up with a very similar zeppelin-box-on-wheels result. I mean, look:
If that body was a bit more curved in the folk-aerodynamic ways of the era and you had a little table and couch inside the back there, you’d essentially be accomplishing the same things as the Stout Scarab. But, instead, it’s now a humble workhorse. Still, I see you, Bedford. I see what you could have been.
Hey, for fun, want to try making some captions for what that little girl is telling the delivery driver up top? I’ll put the picture here again, so you don’t need to scroll. Here’s three to get you started:
“Make it look like an accident.”
“Deal. If you can get it on two wheels turning out of the driveway, I’ll give you $50.”
“You work for me now.”
“Thank you for dropping me off. Please reset my visual subsystem so I may reboot and imprint on my new controller.”
I gave you a bonus one! Now you try.
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, in his worn gray party uniform was there to collect the little girl for wrong-think. “Big Brother has been watching you”, he said.
That’ll be 20 quid or my Dad finds out.
“Thank you for the cream kind sir. Do you happen to have any strawar berries in your panel wagon to go with it? Oooh, this cream is salty!”
“I don’t pay you to think. I pay you to drive. Now shut the fuck up and make the delivery.”
I’m hoping that with electric drivetrains we will see manufacturers taking more risks. Sure safety compliance takes away a bit but they have much more to work with now regarding packaging vs having to make room for a giant engine.
It would be like a Scout Scarab if it looked more like a Scout Scarab? What?
“Walker told me I have AIDS”
“Nexus 7 series?”
“So you are my real daddy after all.”
She’s just handing him the results of the paternity test.
Word on the street is that you’re my real dad.
Here, have some Claritin. There’s a lot of pollen this time of year.
So it’s agreed – we let Lee Harvey Oswald take the fall.
But I didn’t order any self-sealing stem bolts.
I’m sorry sir, Prince Andrew and Mr. Epstein just left, but Miss Maxwell can sign for the delivery.
I told you we have no state secretes in first grade, but here’s my hall pass
My name is Miri.
“Are you sure this is pure snow milkman?
You aren’t our regular milkman.
Warum hast du einen bösen englischen Lieferwagen, du Verräter?
On a more serious note, check the Bedford Dormobile and Utilabrake conversions of the CA. The Dormobile does have a little couch and table.
The Bedford looks like the inspiration for the Fiat Multipla.
(That’s a comment, not a caption.)
My brother said you had some tea for him. This doesn’t look like tea.
“Sorry, pal. I fell for that free candy gag once already.”
I see it as the driver talking to the girl.
Something something mommy…. don’t tell daddy…
Pull my finger
We’re done here. COTD.