| Bedford JJL | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bedford |
| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 1 |
| Floor type | Step entrance |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Bedford 330 |
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.
