Book reviews, July 1980, July 1980

“Bedford — GM’s British Commercial” by Michael Sedgwick. 112 pp. 91/2″ tt 61/4″ (Dalton Watson Ltd., 76 Wardour Street, London W1V 4AN £7.00).

This is Sedgwick’s contribution to the picture-books which Dalton Watson are publishing in the National Motor Museum Trust Book series. That it is a picture book is evident from the brevity of the different chapters, the text of which occupies a mere one-third of a page. However, this coverage in words is backed up by an exceedingly fine set of photographs, beautifully reproduced on high-grade glossy art-paper, covering the whole period of Bedford commercial vehicles and about every conceivable kind of body thereon, from the (also illustrated) Bedford-Buick private-car and Chevrolet trucks origins. Sedgwick also provides a short but informative Introduction, explaining how it all happened, until by 1935 Bedford commanded 63% of National truck exports and how Ford fought back, only to find that Bedford were on top again by 1976, leading in home sales and achieving a record export figure of nearly 70%. Over 2011 pictures point to Bedford versatility and efficiency during these periods and before, and there is a list of all Bedford models. from 1931 to date. — WB.