We can still manage mechanical mayhem....

It strikes me as odd.

Now, I have always run larger than average trucks.

For diverse reasons whilst my mates had things like Austin 1100's and allegros not to mention Cortinas my fleet had a Bedford type J Ambulance with a Lomas body

Today I run an IVECO 43-12 minibus which is about as old as the J was then but is carrying nothing like the mileage.

Comparison is an interesting thing since you might expect there to be progress aplenty.

First things lets get the cab out of the way. Driving position the bedford wins hands down. IVECO actually has ergonomics and it has power steering and ABS. Bedford was armstrong steering and JESUS CHRIST both feet brakes. NVH was also a thing bedford might have learnt about.

Then things unravel a bit, ride and handling are pretty much on a par, could not choose between them. I think maybe the Iveco is easier to handle in the sideways situation.

But, and here's the big but, the IVECO is rated at 4300 KG, get anywhere close to that and you really know.

The Bedford 3300Kg and the more you went over, the happier it got.

Really, when it was in total overload it was really happy.

I have just broken the IVECO - completly inconceivable for a Bedford.

But on paper too, the last bedford J (officially CDD) was built in 1975 with a 3300 cc petrol, and delivered about what the IVECO 2500 blown diesel does on paper.

In practice though the Bedford was a far more pleasant vehicle to live with, 4 speed and thats all it needed, once in top you were sorted, from about 15 to 80 it was there.

The IVECO requires a constant eye on the rev counter.

This would be OK if the IVECO could squeeze more out of a gallon than the Bedford.

But it can't.

So running the petrol bedford would cost a shed load less than the diesel IVECO today

Rhys