Benbros TV Series Mighty Midgets No.31 Covered Truck

Benbros used the AEC and Bedford cab & chassis castings as the basis for three more additions to the Mighty Midgets with No.31 Covered Truck being the next. Representing a canvas tilt over a dropside lorry, the body included a lot more detail than the earlier Delivery Van (No.23).

The AEC version was issued before the Bedford variation appeared and was painted metallic green with silver trim on grille and headlights. The wheels were unpainted metal on nail-head & crimped axles which continued on all the AEC variations. 'Benbros' and 'Made in England' were cast under the chassis.

After the first issue, the AEC shared at least three colours with the Bedford Covered Trucks, metallic blue, red (or orange-red) and mid-blue, so they were probably in production together. Silver trim continued to be applied although it was sometimes omitted on metallic blue AEC models.

With the Bedford cab & chassis, Benbros gave No.31 Covered Truck a bit more colour variety. The first version was metallic blue with unpainted metal wheels (round-head & crimped axles) with silver trim on grille, bumper and occaisionally the headlights.

Next there was a red or orange-red Bedford variation with similar wheels and trim, and then a run of darker or crimson-red models.

The Bedford version was also the only Covered Truck to be painted beige. Two versions of this were produced, the first with red trim and unpainted metal wheels, the second with silver trim and black plastic wheels.

The final Bedford model was a blue version (similar colour to the last AEC truck) with black plastic wheels.

No.31 Covered Truck was probably not very popular in its day because it is quite hard to find except for the red AEC. All the Bedfords are scarce but the beige and blue versions with black plastic wheels are rare.