1967 Bedford JO Truck

This April 1967 registered J0 pickup truck has the later 3.3-litre (3293cc) petrol engine and we understand that it spent 42 years in New Zealand before being reimported and registered in the UK in 2009.

It spent around five years with an owner in Leicestershire, followed by another few years near Kettering in Northants where it reportedly had a restoration of chassis and bodywork but very little was done with the mechanicals.

The current owner bought the vehicle in 2018 and has since had the engine and other mechanicals seen to - more detail of work done can be found in the History Highlights section.

As an enthusiast and occasional collector of commercials, he’d always wanted a J0 but they are usually hard to come by. The J0’s been garaged when not in use since its restoration and the vendor has only used the vehicle for the occasional recreational drive on mostly dry days and to show at commercial vehicle rallies. The need to fund other projects is forcing a rather reluctant sale.

It is no surprise that a vehicle like this, which has attended its share of classic and commercial vehicle shows that the external condition is fabulous. The paintwork is all but blemish free all round and positively gleams. The lower nose, sidesteps, pickup trim and sun visor (rarely fitted to vehicles in the less than sunny UK market) are all painted off white in contrast to the rest of the bodywork.

For a truck that was built fifty-three years ago and looks even older, the panel gaps and shutlines are very good. Chrome fittings, trims and rubber window seals appear in great condition too.

The 15-inch steel wheels are in great condition and are painted to match the body trim. They are complemented by chromed dish hubcaps and matching Excelsior period-look tyres - again all appearing in good condition.

Inside the truck, being a commercial, much of the interior on show is the same as the red exterior metal bodywork and is immaculately finished. The black vinyl bench-seat appears in very good order with no obvious wear or damage and the door cards look to be in a similarly good condition.

What is likely the original steering wheel has had a lace-up cover wrapped around the rim as it might have done in period. Looking through the wheel, the simple instrument panel shows only speed, mileage, water temperature and fuel levels.

An aftermarket retro-look Binatone Roadmaster stereo cassette player has been fitted to the underside of the front panel so as to minimise damage to the dash. The carpets are clean and intact, as is the headlining above.

Hopefully you’re getting the picture that this truck presents in an amazing condition but you don’t have to take our word for it. Why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ option and arrange a personal inspection to see first-hand just how marvellous this vehicle is.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay tells the same story as the rest of the vehicle, painted well and no evidence of anything other than very light surface rust on a few fittings. The six cylinder Cresta engine is clean and free of oil and is painted in a period green with a black rocker cover. All cables, lines and hoses look in good condition and electrical wiring is fabric braided for an authentic look.

The undersides of the truck are amazingly clean and largely rust free, testament to the very low mileage covered since its repaint in 2012. Being a commercial vehicle, everything structural and mechanical is on show and its ride height means that nothing can hide. The paint on the underbody and chassis members is solid, suspension parts are largely clean and the drivetrain mechanicals are in near show condition.

Clearly a show vehicle since its return to the UK, the inside of the rear load space is immaculate - unlike any pickup that’s had even light use - with few if any chips or scratches to the paintwork on the tailgate or the wood-topped sides. So good is the painted load bed that you can see your face in it. The spare wheel too looks untouched.

This Bedford J0 has been regularly if not annually tested since returning to the UK in 2009 and has had nothing but minor issues picked up on the MoT. The online record shows that it has been driven fewer than 1,000 miles in that time.

As it stands the car has had no valid MoT since April 2019 and, although exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it tested at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner and any subsequent purchasers but is also invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies.

The vendor has spent some decent money on the vehicle over the last few years renewing the mechanicals. As well as the following items, he’s also replaced the carburettor with an automatic choke (manual was unavailable). Consequently, it is now easier to start most of the time but in the cold it takes slightly longer.

Sep 2018 - engine rebuild £4,200

Aug 2018 - reconditioned starter motor £136

May 2018 - new exhaust £300

Apr 2018 - cables £48

Apr 2018 - fuel pump and lines £350

Jun 2012 - paint £423

It almost doesn’t matter whether the straight-six engine works or if the truck drives nicely - although it does very well on both counts and “runs as good as it looks” - this Bedford J0 is all about the show. And isn’t it just the greatest show at that?

The market for classic ‘50s and ‘60s American pickups has been buoyant for some time and lately things have gone the same way for home-grown light commercials. This fantastic example of a rare tradesman’s vehicle seems to want for nothing but a new owner who will continue to cherish it and show it off.

We think this pretty J0 will fetch between £30,000 and £45,000 - which sounds a lot for an old truck - but there are so few of these still running in the UK that you’d probably have to go to the other side of the world to find another for sale.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Reading; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that this vehicle may have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.