Royal Mail, British Gas and the GPO ran fleets of this van, and Bedford built 689,512 before retiring it in 1983.
Lead trim: HA 1,256 cc OHV four
Bedford HAHAE/HAV · 1964–1983
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FactRoyal Mail, British Gas and the GPO ran fleets of this van, and Bedford built 689,512 before retiring it in 1983.
The Bedford HA was a car-derived van introduced in August 1964 by Bedford (Vauxhall Motors) on the Vauxhall Viva (HA) family car, also known as the Bedford Beagle in estate form and the Bedford Roma in small campervan form (Roma: October 1967 to 1973) and sold in Australia as the Bedford Handi-Van from 1964 to 1970. It was extremely popular with UK utility companies (Royal Mail, British Rail, electricity boards, the GPO/British Telecom, British Gas). It was originally a 6 cwt (payload 670 lb, chassis code HAE) and a heavier 8 cwt (900 lb, HAV) van, with gross vehicle weights of 2,400 and 2,615 lb, the 8 cwt having a heavier rear axle, bigger tyres, a sixth rear spring leaf and more chrome trim; by the late 1970s these were the HA 110 and HA 130 (payloads 371 and 546 kg). Production ended in September 1983 with 689,512 built and it was replaced by a low-cost fleet version of the Bedford Astra Van. The engines were 1,057 cc (compression 7.3:1 against the Viva's 8.5:1; 47.8 hp gross or 40.3 hp net at 5,200 rpm), 1,159 cc from 1967 (a claimed 32.2 hp at 4,600 rpm) and 1,256 cc from 1972 (48 hp gross at 5,400 rpm or 39 hp net at 4,600 rpm; by 1977 only net ratings were quoted, up to 42.5 bhp at 4,800 rpm), so no horsepower is entered because the page mixes gross and net. Front engine, rear-wheel drive with a 4-speed manual; wheelbase 91.5 in (2,324 mm), length 150.2 in, width 59.4 in, height 59.5 in; kerb weight 1,540-1,575 lb (1965) and 1,651-1,706 lb (1977).
Collectors Spotted in the Bedford HA Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Bedford HA yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
3 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HA 1,057 cc OHV four (7.3:1) | 1964–1967 | 1.1 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| HA 1,159 cc OHV four | 1967–1972 | 1.2 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| HA 1,256 cc OHV four | 1972–1983 | 1.3 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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