Topic: Whaddyacallit #338 - Lucas-Chloride "Griffon" electric van on a Bedford basis

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?

If you did, please respond below and let us know the make and model of the car posted here.

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Thanks!

[knightfan26917]

I doubt it is any of these, but in some ways, I see bits of Dodge, Chevy AND Ford vans....



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"We believe in tomorrow, but we're stuck in today" ... Hall & Oates ... 'So Close (Yet So Far Away)'

[Ray B.]

It's not any of these, as you supposed, it's a special beast. But I am not on my own computer at the time to check my  files and see if there is a connection with one, sorry.

[Ray B.]

I've checked and there is no connection with either of those, as i thought.

[guido66]

Bedford CF2?

[Ray B.]

There is a Bedford under it for sure.

[guido66]

GM Griffon (it's an electric van!)

[Ray B.]

I'm not home and don't have my files at hand, but I seem to remember that you're right!

[Ray B.]

All right, Griffon is the model name. I am not sure under what name they were sold, but what I know is that GM's Bedford was only the basis.
Can you tell me what firm poowed it and made the conversion?

Locked for Guido66 72 hours.

[guido66]

Can I still answer this? In the mean time i've collected 20 points 

[Ray B.]

You can, as you already had given a correct answer before and I was just asking you to be more precise. I'll make you an expert after.

[guido66]

The conversion was done by Vehma International in Canada.

Participators in this General Motors G-van project were:
-Electric Power Researsch Institute (EPRI)
-Chloride EV systems
-Southern California Edison

[Ray B.]

I've seen this somewhere, but I have several other reliable sources that say different. Canada is not the right country.

[guido66]

Another try:  The car was built in England by Bedford and rebagded as a GM Griffon for the American Market

[Ray B.]

From several sources, it seems to have been a joint venture between Bedford and Lucas-Chloride. So I'll accept this answer.
The Griffon was a GM Bedford van converted to electric power by Lucas-Chloride in England. These vans used the Chloride tubular-cell lead-acid battery for energy storage. More than 100 of these vehicles saw extended service in Britain, and at least 30 were used in North America.

[knightfan26917]

I've checked and there is no connection with either of those, as i thought.

But it IS General Motors ... Chevy .  It was the windshield area that was the Chevy styling cues, imho....

LOL!  I know what you mean ... couldn't resist the joke ... .



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 = Sept 5-16, '09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"You know J.R. is making deals" ... Hank Williams Jr ... 'This Ain't Dallas'

[Ray B.]

You're right: there may have been, in that sense, a connection I didn't know of. What I meant is that it didn't wear a Chevy or Dodge or Ford badge, and it was not based on any of those.

[knightfan26917]

Ray,

No worries ... I knew what you meant (it not having one of those badges).

Here is a Chevy van pic ... the windshield area is remarkably similar, imho:
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2496/3461/31239230084_large.jpg



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"It almost seems like yesterday" ... Kenny Rogers ... '20 Years Ago'