The lady in the van - where are they now?

[bunglebus]

Finally got round to watching this film last night, and it got me wondering - where are the Bedford CA (two were used in the film), Commer and Reliant now?

 

One of the Bedfords, WFO 833 MFO 833, was up for auction in 2016 but was unsold;

 

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2016-auctions/the-restoration-show-sale-2016/the-restoration-show-sale-2016-sale/cars/1957-bedford-ca-van

 

The Commer and Reliant are also on fake plates - what happened to them?

 

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

.....One of the Bedfords, WFO 833, was up for auction in 2016 but was unsold;

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2016-auctions/the-restoration-show-sale-2016/the-restoration-show-sale-2016-sale/cars/1957-bedford-ca-van

Quote: "....hand-painted Maggie Smith paintwork...."

That might be a reason why it didn't sell.

Sometimes, screen cars - if they survive the filming intact - don't have promising afterlives. Case in point is the TVR which featured in the John Travolta film "Swordfish". It was eventually acquired by a Belgian collector and as, far as I understand it, quite a lot was changed mechanically, so is no longer the car that it was for the film.

[LightBulbFun]

there was some talk about the film here, maybe someone in the post might know?

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/950689934973969/permalink/2334540803255535/

[barrett]

This is the Bedford that was used in the film:

 

https://www.instagram.com/bedford_to_budapest/

[warch]

It seems to have fallen into the (tattooed) hands of hipsters...

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just now, warch said:

It seems to have fallen into the (tattooed) hands of hipsters...

No old van is safe nowadays.

[barrett]

Why, cos the bloke has a beard? Looks like he's done a really nice job turning it from a nasty, over-restored show van to something that looks fantastic (I'm not a fan of faux-tina, but when done well as in this case it can look great) and is using it properly as 'a vehicle' rather than a static exhibit that gets pulled out for shows twice a year. He drove the flippin' thing to Budapest, that's pretty impressive if you ask me. It's not like it's had the engine ripped out and is now a trailer serving overpriced coffee on the South Bank or whatever, you guys need to lighten up ffs

[Uncle Jimmy]

Agreed, I think the Hipster hate has become a bit ott.

[Alan_Green]

I think he's satirising hipsters judging by the pics.  And I think he's one of us because he knows the in-house jokes.  This is the dash:   

[warch]

I didn't say anything derogatory about hipsters. I just saw an Instagram thread by a bloke with finely groomed facial hair regarding a road trip in a 50s van and assumed he was a hipster.

Sorry for inadvertently causing any offence, I'll see myself out.    

[bunglebus]

Glad to see that one being used

 Still leaves the other Bedford, the Commer and the Robin Reliant* to find

[skoda_fan]

I've never been entirely sure what a hipster is nor what one looks like. As I don't live in trendy north London I guess I never will. Anyway if he's putting it to good use then good luck to him.

[reb]

I've been accused of being a hipster because I'm a speccy git that dresses funny and is lightly tattooed. Really though I was always like this and probably always will be.

I think it's just used now to complain about us young people doing interesting things...

[Supernaut]

I've been called a 'car hipster' before because I tried to explain this place.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

2 hours ago, skoda_fan said:

... As I don't live in trendy north London ...

It's Grim Up North London....as purplebargeken will confirm.

[sheffcortinacentre]

The two ca's were featured in classic van & pickup a while back still in rude health.

[Jerzy Woking]

Shoreditch hipster.

[Skizzer]

Bedford chap may have slightly fussy facial hair but what he’s done with the CA van is fantastic and that Budapest trip looks both fun and heroic, so I don’t care.

Hope the Commer is still around, that looks very canny too.

[Cavcraft]

Plus, everyone knows only cool people have beards and tattooed hands.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Nout wrong with beards, I've had mine since before they were fashionable

Sent from my TA-1012 using Tapatalk

[cms206]

8 hours ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Shoreditch hipster.

I would go as far as to say that's quite a strong look... ?

[lesapandre]

 

[bunglebus]

Anyone got any info on the vehicles, rather than men with beards and tattoos?

[RRT22R]

I'd love to give that Commer a home.

(I have a beard - Not sure if it's relevant)

[Dembi]

The Commer is for sale now https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C2003887

[warninglight]

Only just noticed this thread!

I'm good friends with Tom - who owns the Bedford. Him and his dad bought both of the vans used in the film and had them matching in Dunlop livery.

Since taking it to Budapest he's had it around the Highlands and is currently swapping the engine and box for something more useable.

Hipster, possibly. Eccentric and very much into older motors and working on them rather than just for the 'look', definitely.

I'm in Scotland, he's near Dover, but we meet up every chance we get. He's a good egg.

 

[lesapandre]

Great movie - the short book it is based on is good too...

[DavidB]

I have to say I worked in Shoreditch a few years ago for six months - my first day there I was nearly hit by a penny farthing when I was on a zebra crossing, true story!

[Lord Sterling]

I'm guessing this was in the van used in the movie. It'd be interesting to find out what happened to the real van. I guess it was scrapped after she passed away in 1989.

I did watch the movie on a plane to Turkey once and found it quite an endearing movie. Naturally, upon my return to the UK, I bought the DVD.