Bedford VAL
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The Bedford VAL was a type of coach chassis built by Bedford Vehicles in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. It was unusual at the time for its multi-axle design, in a "chinese six" wheelplan, i.e. with two front steering axles.
Originally it was fitted with the Leyland O.400 straight-6 diesel engine. With this engine, the chassis was designated VAL14.
Over 900 VAL14s were built, from 1963 to 1966, with the largest orders coming from Wallace Arnold of Leeds, Seamarks of Westoning, Everall of Wolverhampton, and Bartons.
From 1967, the VAL70, with the slightly larger 466 cu in engine of Bedford's own manufacture, quickly superseded the VAL14.
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[edit] Bodywork
The VAL was built with a number of bodies from different coachbuilders. The majority of VAL14s were of Duple or Plaxton origin, although VAL14s were also bodied by several other manufacturers, including Harrington and Yeates.
Some VAL14s were given bus bodywork[1], including 10 by Marshall Bus for British European Airways, and 10 by Strachan for North Western.
[edit] In popular culture
The Bedford VAL gained widespread recognition through its use in the film The Italian Job. This vehicle was a Harrington Legionnaire, ALR453B, new in April 1964 to Batten[2]. After modification for the film the coach went back into coaching, being scrapped in the 1990s.
A Plaxton bodied example, URO913E featured in the 1967 Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour. This coach was new to Fox, Hayes, in 1967. A different coach, SCK56K, still a VAL, is used in Liverpool on a Beatles themed The Magical Mystery Tour (pictured).
[edit] References
- ^ Image of a Bedford VAL14 with Willowbrook bus bodywork
- ^ www.theitalianjob.com Vehicles of the film
- buslistsontheweb.co.uk Bedford VAL14 delivery list
- Bedford VAL enthusiast page
