This photo nicely illustrates just what a challenge it was to fit this series of Bedfords with a set of front cab doors!
Not surprisingly, almost every 1950s Bedford fire engine conversion with a crew cab was designed like this example, with the driver and crew leader having to enter and exit through the back doors. These included all but one prototype Green Goddess and almost all of the custom bodies built by Alfred Miles, while the early HCB Angus custom cabs had a central sliding door. This solution was also adopted by Merrweather on the post 1957 AEC chassis, although their earlier units on bus chassis had a four door cab.
This meant that there had to be an open space behind the front seats, without a bulkhead, losing much or all of the storage for BA and other items - which were to be found on other makes which had proper front doors, including Dennis and most Commers of the sane vintage.
Loads of examples of these various types can be viewed on this site...
Not surprisingly, almost every 1950s Bedford fire engine conversion with a crew cab was designed like this example, with the driver and crew leader having to enter and exit through the back doors. These included all but one prototype Green Goddess and almost all of the custom bodies built by Alfred Miles, while the early HCB Angus custom cabs had a central sliding door. This solution was also adopted by Merrweather on the post 1957 AEC chassis, although their earlier units on bus chassis had a four door cab.
This meant that there had to be an open space behind the front seats, without a bulkhead, losing much or all of the storage for BA and other items - which were to be found on other makes which had proper front doors, including Dennis and most Commers of the sane vintage.
Loads of examples of these various types can be viewed on this site...
Added by Rob Johnson on 10 January 2019.