| Manufacturer | Bedford Vehicles |
|---|---|
| Production | 1959–1980s |
| Class | Commercial vehicle, military vehicle |
| Body style | chassis cab, flatbed, troop carrier, tipper, recovery vehicle |
| Layout | Longitudinal front engine, four-wheel drive (4x4) |
| Engine | 103 bhp 6-cylinder diesel |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 3.962 meter |
| Length | 6.579 meter |
| Width | 2.489 meter |
| Height | 2.501 (cap) and 3.404 (tarpaulin) |
| Kerb weight | 5.1 ton |
The Bedford TK is a truck that was produced by the Vauxhall Motors-owned Bedford Vehicles company.
The TK range replaced the S type in 1959, and served as the basis for a variety of derivatives, including fire engines, military, horse boxes, tippers, flatbed trucks, and other specialist utilities. A General Post Office (later British Telecom) version used for installing telegraph poles was known as the "Polecat".
Available with an inline four or inline six cylinder petrol and diesel engines - the TK was the quintessential light truck in the UK through most of the 1960s and 1970s, competing with the similar Ford D series. It was available in rigid form, and also as a light tractor unit normally using the Scammell coupling form of semi-trailer attachment.
Bedford MKs - a 4x4 variant of the TK - are still used by the British Armed Forces[1]. The Bedford MK was introduced to replace the Bedford RL. It was very successful and by year end 1977 a total of 11,700 units had been produced for the British Army and overseas military services. The MK has been produced in many variants.