The last AA (Automobile Association) model in the Esso Petrol Pump Series was No.4 Bedford Service Van. It is said that Sam Morris, owner of Morris & Stone, used Bedford vans for his business so perhaps that was why it was included in the range.

 

Cast in two parts, the model was a straightforward body & base design. The base fitted into a slot in the centre of the front bumper and was rivetted at the rear. 

 

Detail on the body casting was quite good on the front and sides of the model and depicted the characteristic sliding doors nicely. 'AA Road Service' was included on the van sides. Sadly, the rear of the model was much less accurate with no evidence of the access doors or bumper. 

 

Painted yellow in the colours of the AA, the side logo was picked out in black trim and also on some models the sliding door runner. On the grille silver trim was added. There was a bit of variation in the colour yellow with later versions having a lime-yellow colour in semi-matt finish.

 

The base was always painted semi-matt black. 'AA Road Service Bedford No.4' and 'Made in England' was cast lengthwise between the axles.

 

Two types of wheels were used on the Bedford van, large unpainted metal on early models and slightly smaller black painted metal ones on later models, both on flat-head & crimped axles.  

 

No.4 AA Bedford Van was probably quite popular and ran to four box types, the first three with the Esso Garage offer on the base flap with a leaflet included inside. Early boxes had no large number on the picture side but this was soon added and most of these also had the Garage offer over-stamped with cut-off date.

 

The last type of box had the Garage offer replaced by the number '4' on the base flap and inside there was a coupon to collect towards a large-scale Esso tanker model.

 

Although popular, the Bedford van with black wheels is not too hard to find but the early variation with unpainted wheels is quite rare.