It was launched at the 1950 Commercial Motor Show as the replacement for the Bedford OB.

[1] It was the first Bedford vehicle to have a "forward control" design, with the driver's seat located at the right of the engine and the front axle underneath.

Bodywork was provided by a wide range of builders, including Duple, Marshall, Plaxton, Harrington and Willowbrook.

[1] The Army, RAF and Royal Navy, plus several other government departments took large numbers of them.

The New Zealand Railways Road Services were the largest operator, purchasing over 1.200 primarily with New Zealand Motor Bodies bodywork with some fitted with Caterpillar C7 engines and Allison Transmissions.