Abels Trucks Through the Ages

Abels have been carrying out removals for more than 50 years.

Over this period a variety of trucks have been use by Abels in their fleet of removal vehicles.

In the two pictures shown below you can see two of our current trucks from the Abels Fleet.

To the right of the images is a 1941 Bedford MLD one of our historical trucks from the Abels Collection.

On Sunday 1st May the Abels Bedford MLD will take part in the London to Brighton Commercial Vehicles run. This starts from Crystal Palace SE19 2BA to Brighton seafront. Vehicles will start leaving from 7am with the last through at 9am (The Abels Bedford will have a start time of 8.50am) and then a stop in Pease Pottage before arriving on Madeira Drive Brighton approx. 10-11am for a display of commercial vehicles through the ages.

Details of the Abels 1941 Bedford MLD commercial vehicle DWP 40

It has a 6 cylinder 27.34 hp petrol engine, 4 speed crash gearbox with single dry plate clutch delivering power to a floating rear axle with spiral bevel final drive. Brakes were Lockheed hydraulic type and servo assisted operating on all four wheels.

The M series is a commercial vehicle chassis, the first variants of which were made by Bedford in 1939 mainly to support the war effort and production ran through to 1953. There were two wheelbase lengths offered; MS (short) 10’ 0” or ML (long) 11’ 11.”

Abels Bedford is an MLD and the D meaning dropside.

Following the war, it was bodied in 1951 as a removal van with a 750 cubic foot box and drop tail.

In 1983 restoration commenced lasting over a 7 year period till 1990.

In 2015 further restoration included a full repaint.