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The Bedford TK was a truck manufactured by Bedford. Launched in 1960 to replace the Bedford S type, the TK was scheduled to be replaced by the Bedford TL in 1981, but manufacturing of the TK continued as a cheaper alternative. A military 4x4 version, the Bedford MK (later MJ),[1] was also produced. After Bedford's Dunstable factory was sold in 1987 to AWD, the TK restarted production for military only use until 1992 when AWD was placed in receivership.

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Bedford TK
1971 Bedford TK
Overview
Manufacturer	Bedford AWD
Also called	Bedford MK Bedford MJ
Production	1960–1986 (Bedford) 1988-1992 (AWD)
Assembly	Dunstable,England Petone, New Zealand Australia
Body and chassis
Class	Commercial vehicle, military vehicle
Body style	Chassis cab, flatbed, troop carrier, tipper, recovery vehicle
Layout	Longitudinal front engine Two-wheel drive (TK) Four-wheel drive (MK)
Powertrain
Engine	Bedford Leyland Perkins
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3.96 metres
Length	6.58 metres
Width	2.49 metres
Height	2.50 metres (cap) 3.40 metres (tarpaulin)
Kerb weight	5.1 tons
Chronology
Predecessor	Bedford S type Bedford RL
Successor	Bedford TL

History and use

The TK range replaced the Bedford S type in 1960, and served as the basis for a variety of derivatives, including fire engines, military, horse carriers, tippers, flatbed trucks, and other specialist utilities.[2] A General Post Office (later British Telecom) version used for installing telegraph poles was known as the Pole King.[3]

Available with inline four or inline six cylinder petrol and diesel engines from Bedford, Leyland and Perkins, the TK was the quintessential light truck in the United Kingdom through most of the 1960s and 1970s, competing with the similar Ford D series.[4] It was available in rigid form, and also as a light tractor unit normally using the Scammell coupling form of semi-trailer attachment.

In 1981, Bedford introduced turbocharging to the "Red Series" 3.6-litre and 5.4-litre diesel engines, now producing 72 bhp and 102 bhp respectively.[5]

TKs were assembled for many years by General Motors New Zealand (GMNZ) at its Petone truck plant. The model was very popular and competed with the like of the also locally assembled Ford D series. It was succeeded by the TM series and GMNZ later switched source to launch a range of Bedford-by-Isuzu models assembled locally from kits shipped from Japan. Over 500,000 were produced.[6] They were also assembled by Holden in Australia.[7]

MK/MJ

The Bedford MK/MJ was a 4x4 variant of the TK used in large numbers by the British Armed Forces and others. The Bedford MK was introduced in 1970 to replace the Bedford RL. It was very successful with over 50,000 produced.[8] The MK/MJ was produced in many variants. From April 1981, Bedford changed the designation of the MK to MJ as the K multi-fuel engine was superseded by the J diesel engine. It was confirmed in March 2014 that, with the exception of a handful of light recovery vehicles, all British Army Bedford MK/MJ trucks had been disposed of, replaced by RMMV HX60 4x4 trucks.[1]

After Bedford's Dunstable factory was sold in 1987 to AWD, the MK restarted production for military only use[9] until 1992 when AWD was placed in receivership.

References

External links

• Media related to Bedford TK / MK at Wikimedia Commons
• GPO Bedford TK Pole King installing telegraph poles on YouTube

На других языках

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[de] Bedford TK

Der Bedford TK ist ein Lkw-Modell, das von Bedford hergestellt wurde. Er ersetzte 1959 die Bedford S-Serie und diente als Basis für mehr als 100 verschiedenste Aufbauten mit drei verschiedenen Radständen, zum Beispiel Feuerwehrfahrzeuge, Militärfahrzeuge, Pferdetransporter, Kipper, Pritschenwagen und andere. Eine Version für die British Post Office (später British Telecom) war als Polecat bekannt und wurde zum Setzen von Telefonmasten eingesetzt. Die britischen Streitkräfte hatten lange den Bedford MK, die Allradvariante des TK, im Einsatz die den Bedford RL ersetzte.

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- [en] Bedford TK

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[ru] Bedford TK

Bedford TK был грузовиком с кабиной среднего класса, который производился компанией Bedford Vehicles с 1960 по 1986 год, а затем AWD Trucks с 1986 по 1992 год. Предполагалось, что в 1980 году на смену этому автомобилю придет грузовик Bedford TL. но производство ТЗ как более дешёвой альтернативы продолжалось.

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