The Bedford KB was the version of the Isuzu Faster compact pickup offered by Bedford, the European commercial vehicle subsidiary of General Motors. The first generation arrived in 1972, and the Bedford KB name continued on the second generation in the UK.
Bedford KB at a glance
| Maker | Bedford, a badge-engineered Isuzu Faster |
|---|---|
| Class | compact pickup truck |
| First generation | 1972, KB20 and KB25 |
| Second generation | 1980, sold in the UK as the Bedford KB |
| Chassis | ladder frame |
| Front suspension | independent A-arm |
| Rear suspension | live axle on leaf springs |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm; 2,995 mm on the KB25 |
| Cargo bay | 1,855 mm; 2,290 mm on the KB25 |
| Petrol engine | 1.6-litre SOHC four, 94 PS |
| Diesel engine | 2.0-litre four (KBD), 62 PS |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive; 4×4 KB40 from 1978 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only. Only the Bedford KB material from the Isuzu Faster article is used; the rest of that article describes the Isuzu and Chevrolet versions.
History of the Bedford KB
Bedford’s version of the Faster
Isuzu introduced the KB20 and KB25 series Faster pickup in 1972. The regular-wheelbase models were designated 20, while 25 referred to the longer version, and the pickup was derived from the Isuzu Florian, sharing many components including the doors and front-end assembly. In most export markets Isuzu rebranded the Faster as the Isuzu KB, and the Faster was also distributed through General Motors retail channels as the Chevrolet LUV. Bedford, the European commercial vehicle subsidiary of GM, offered the same vehicle under the Bedford KB name.
The Faster used a traditional pickup chassis with a ladder frame and a leaf-spring live axle at the rear; at the front the A-arm suspension was independent. The 2,600 mm wheelbase was similar to its competitors, as was the 1,855 mm cargo bay. A long-wheelbase version, the KB25, had 2,995 mm between the axles and a 2,290 mm bed. In 1978 a four-wheel-drive version became available with the KB40 chassis code, sold in Japan as the Faster Rodeo, and there was also a double-cab version on the longer chassis. Sales of the first generation ended in 1980.
Engines and the second generation
The engine used in most markets was a carburetted 1.6-litre gasoline SOHC inline-four of 94 PS, complemented by a 2.0-litre diesel four, the KBD, which produced 62 PS. Top speeds were 145 km/h and 115 km/h for the petrol and diesel versions respectively. In Japan an overhead-valve engine was fitted originally.
The second generation arrived in 1980. It had a completely new body but kept the same chassis as its predecessor, and sales in the UK continued as the Bedford KB. The second generation was more commonly marketed worldwide under the Isuzu label, either as the Isuzu KB or simply as the Pick Up.
Design and features
- Ladder-frame chassis: a traditional pickup layout with a leaf-spring live axle at the rear.
- Independent front suspension: A-arm suspension at the front, as on the Isuzu Faster.
- Two wheelbases: the 2,600 mm KB20 and the 2,995 mm KB25 with a longer cargo bed.
- Petrol or diesel: a 94 PS 1.6-litre petrol four or a 62 PS 2.0-litre diesel.
- Four-wheel drive: the KB40 chassis code arrived in 1978.
Bedford KB versions
- KB20: the short-wheelbase first-generation pickup.
- KB25: the long-wheelbase version with a 2,290 mm bed.
- KB40: the four-wheel-drive version introduced in 1978.
- Double cab: a four-door body on the longer chassis.
- Second-generation Bedford KB: the 1980 model with a new body on the old chassis.
Another Isuzu-based Bedford is the Bedford Midi van; the larger Bedford CF was Bedford’s own design. More models are in the Bedford collection.
Video: BEDFORD KB-25 PICK-UP -80
Video by Romu Kortelainen on YouTube.
Sources
- Isuzu Faster, English Wikipedia: Bedford KB, chassis, engines, generations
