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Jun 21, 2012 15:49:27 GMT
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As much as I fancy a Bedford CA camper I reckon an early CF could be a better choice.
Ignoring mechanicals as they are easy to fix / source parts what about bodywork ? Do they rot like the Transits I've had in the past, any areas that signal a "tip of the iceberg" situation to repair, panels that are difficult to find etc.
Any info helpful
Thanks.
Paul h
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Jun 21, 2012 17:16:25 GMT
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I'm afraid I'm absolutely no help whatsoever on the parts/rust/working on side of things, I've never had one....but I can tell you they are awesome!
I was watching a film only the other night as was admiring the "American custom van" in it until it dawned on me it wasn't American at all, it was a CF! I'll have to find some pics to show you, it looked brilliant!
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Jun 21, 2012 17:17:16 GMT
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Jun 21, 2012 17:42:24 GMT
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the CF bedfords rotted in the same usual places as the transit footwells,bottom of doors ect, but if you view one look carefully at the roof gutters and the window pillars any in there will probably indicate rot you can,t see without a strip down.long time ago when they had a warranty the most common recall was knack-ed gearboxes.on the bright side a merc diesel sprinter engine and box fits very well.
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Jun 21, 2012 18:44:14 GMT
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owned one in 1987
good all rounder
wish i hadnt sold it
engine misfired a bit but think it was petrol starvation or fuel filter
body good as any other panel van of that era
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Jun 21, 2012 19:02:50 GMT
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Hi, depends what g/box they had. Car box = weak. ZF = strong and slick. TK box strong and slow.
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Jun 21, 2012 19:10:31 GMT
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Thanks.
I've had a few vans including the obigatory Transits (MKIII SWB HiTop and MKII Luton) but never been interested in CF's before. The Transits fell apart even though not very old (but nowhere near as bad as the LDV that replaced the Luton) hence me being wary of the CF. I'm not happy with my current Peugeot Expert as it's "soulless", complicated and horrendous price of parts so want to go back to something of my childhood era. ;D
Factory camper conversions seem to have a better life than works vans and that is what I'm after this time rather than a van to convert. A van / camper is only used occasionally by me (I've got Smart for everyday, Skoda Fabia diesel as familly car and 1972 Austin Sprite as a toy) so thirst isn't took much of a problem. Good job as the old petrol lumps are supposed to struggle to do 20 mpg and I'd plan on a diesel / autobox conversion idc anyway.
Paul h
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Jun 21, 2012 19:30:08 GMT
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Just remember if you go diesel you can't going inside the M25 without a hefty fine....If its shut and you divert off it could prove expensive..
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Mad Max
North West
May contain beard...
Posts: 497
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Jun 21, 2012 21:06:09 GMT
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,553 
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Jun 21, 2012 23:27:21 GMT
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My old man's got six of them, ranging from an uber-rare '69 Utilabus (with 1600 slant-four) to an '84 CF2 dropside which he still uses for clearance work/tat hauling as well as shows.
Great old buses, if I was looking for a camper I'd go for a late CF2 with 2-litre CIH Opel engine as fitted to the Ascona/Cavalier/Mk1 Carlton/Rekord as they are much more sprightly (and a fair bit more economical) then the old slant-four Vauxhall lump. I did use my dad's '76 2.3 slant-four powered CF luton as band transport on occasions, but at 15mpg not TOO often......
If you're set on a diesel similar rules apply. The Perkins lump fitted in Mk1 CF's is archaic, noisy and glacially slow. Dad's '74 CF250 wrecker has one of those in with a TK box, it's bloody hideous to drive (55mph top whack, no synchro left on the gearbox, impossibly heavy steering), and my favourite for that very reason. ;D
CF2's had the 2.3 GM diesel which is slightly less archaic, noisy and slow LOL. I have seen a CF2 fitted with a 2.3 turbodiesel from a Frontera, but it was never a factory option.
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Jun 22, 2012 11:46:51 GMT
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'72 Opel kadett coupe
'77 Opel kadett city sr
'92 Peugeot 309 Gti Goodwood
'93 Peugeot 205 GL auto
'88 Citroen BX 16v(Breaking)
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Jun 22, 2012 14:30:56 GMT
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Back in the days when the CF2 was a current van I was a Transit driver, but the company that used to service them had CF2s as replacement vans. i was always glad to get back in the Transit, the CF was nowhere near as nice to spend all day in.
I think they look better though, well the early ones anyway the CF2 front is just ugly.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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colc
Part of things
Posts: 222
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Yes ye olde slant 4 was not the best for fuel consumption, in fact a mate of mine put an RV8 in one, and found that it was more economical! Always found that they had a better ride than equivalent Transit, and better brakes, but the steering could be a tad "manly" [another thing that is actually better with an RV8, as the slant four is quite a bit heavier!
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Driving position wasn't as good I found, but you could change that in a custom van anyway.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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I do like CF's, I like them very much indeed. I'd like a nice twin rear-wheel panel van but I wouldn't even know where to start looking... I think that you have to take the same approach to a CF as you would with any 70's motor and just check absolutely everywhere for tin worm...!!!
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***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
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Jun 23, 2012 16:49:23 GMT
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Jun 23, 2012 19:03:35 GMT
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Love them, mk1's though. On my list of will actually buy some day. Missed a savage one last year and kicking myself since
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Club Retro Rides Member
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Graham
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,282
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Jun 23, 2012 20:22:50 GMT
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Here's my old one sold it about 6/7 years ago  |
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Maximum signature image height: 80 pixels
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Neil
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,485
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Jun 23, 2012 22:20:07 GMT
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Where's Suterman?!
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pasta
Part of things
Posts: 130
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Jun 23, 2012 22:26:23 GMT
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This was my old one. It's a '69 New Zealand built one, but the Bedford engine had been replaced with a Holden 289 Straight Six. Was a cool bus/home, we toured most of the North Island in it. Thirsty curse word though.  |
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