The Bedford JJL was an innovative but ultimately unsuccessful midibus model built by Bedford. The JJL could have been a success, but was ahead of its time in predicting the boom in the midibus market, as seen by the success of the Dennis Dart.
Only four JJLs were produced, along with a pre-production prototype, starting in 1979.[1] The production vehicles produced were as follows:[2][3]
Chassis number
Number plate
Bodywork code
Seating
Built
IRK0JL9008
UKK 335X
Marshall 260250
B24F
1981
IRK0JL9009
AVS 903T
Marshall 260251
B24F
November 1978
IRK0JL9010
EKX 648T
Marshall 260252
B24F
1978
IRK0JL9011
HKX 553V
Marshall 260253
B24F
November 1979
The build date of the first chassis may indicate that this was the prototype that was converted to a production bus, although the bodywork numbers and build dates conflict with those found in.[4][5][6]
Maidstone Borough Council took delivery of the JJLs in 1981/82.[7] UKK 335X and AVS 903T were sold to Brighton Buses, and then to Northern Bus, Sheffield in 1992.[4][5] EKX 648T also went to Brighton, but was scrapped in 1988 after a collision with a tree.[6] HKX 553V was sold to Bournemouth Transport (trading as Yellow Buses) in 1983, and then onto The Goodman Group,[8] where it saw service with Rambler and Goodmans coaches. It is the last JJL in service and has been exhibited at rallies. HKX553V was sold in 2018 to a collector from Aylesbury
In 1985, Bedford considered reviving the JJL.[9][10] Marshall SPV had the idea to reintroduce the JJL under the Marshall Bus brand, although the deal never caught on.[11] Tricentrol of Dunstable produced a short version of Bedford's YMQ chassis, the YMQ/S, ten years after the JJL.
^Bedford promotional leaflet for the JJL (see image)
^Online database of bus orders Archived 12 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine Bedford JJL chassis search
^Bedford midi revival? Commercial Motor 14 September 1985
^ ab"Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 37". Archived from the original on 19 May 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
^ ab"Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 36". Archived from the original on 19 May 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
^ ab"Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 38". Archived from the original on 19 May 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
^Southbus webpage Archived 4 September 2004 at the Wayback Machine Maidstone Municipal Transport, A brief history
^"Colin Parkers Yellow Buses enthusiast site". Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
^Marshall tests JLL demand Commercial Motor 26 October 1985
^More minibuses, but Marshall bides its time Commercial Motor 23 November 1985
^"Marshall tests 111. demand". Commercial Motor. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
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