The Bedford KB hit UK dealerships in the late 1970s and was pitched directly against the Ford P100, then known as the Cortina pickup. It was essentially a rebadged Isuzu KB although, unlike the Isuzu, the Bedford was only available as a single cab with a 4×2 layout.
Bedford KB: Background
In 1972, General Motors (the parent company of Bedford Vehicles) acquired a 34% stake in Isuzu. In the same year, Isuzu launched a pickup variant of its Florian car, called the KB, which interested the management at Bedford.
Because Isuzu had very little presence in Europe at the time, the two companies agreed that General Motors would sell and distribute the Japanese-made pickup under its European commercial brand.
The Bedford KB was replaced by the Bedford Brava (later the Vauxhall Brava) in 1988.
Bedford KB: Engine and Driveline
At the time of its launch in 1978, the KB was only available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine producing 79hp and 116Nm of torque. Two years later, a 46hp/99Nm 2.0-litre diesel engine (designated the KBD) was introduced, with both engines being paired to a four-speed gearbox.
You did get the option of a floor or column-mounted gear change, but neither had any impact on the performance; with a top speed of just 71mph from the diesel model, or a heady 90mph from the petrol engine, getting places took time.
Bedford KB: Payload and Practicality
The KB had a wheelbase of 2,990mm, a load length of 229mm and a width of 1,460mm, which meant the 3.34 square metre load bed was slightly larger than its main rival, the Ford P100. The heavy-duty ladder frame chassis was fitted with six cross-members to provide an impressive payload of up to 1,200kg and the towing capacity was around 1,800kg.
The seatbacks also folded down to provide a secret, covered storage space for small and expensive items.
Bedford KB: On the Road
Unlike most of its rivals, there was a bench seat in the cab that could accommodate the driver and two passengers. The independent A-arm front suspension was effective at cushioning the blows, although the leaf springs at the rear meant there was a lot of bouncing around when unladen. Meanwhile, the front disc brakes provided ample braking force, even when fully laden.
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