Bedelia dreams

I have just been reading 'It was the Nightingale' by Henry Williamson. He and his new wife Amber bought one in France just after the First World War and motored all the way down to the Pyrenees (adopting an otter cub on the way). There are some wonderful descriptions of the idiosyncracies of the vehicle along the way.

I am the latest "crazy" to have bought this splendid vehicle. Presently in France , it will eventually be leaving there once this ghastly pandemic is in retreat for Ireland where it will find a new home on The Wild Atlantic Way.

Leo Villa, Malcolm & Donald Campbell's mechanic was given a Bedalia & used it for a couple of years, driving in London in 1920. It is well described in one of the biographical articles he wrote for the 'Old Motor' magazine in the early 1970's.

In my opinion this piece by Toby Ross should immediately be removed from your site.It is a total fabrication. His description of finding the car and it's condition is a complete fiction and bears no relation whatsoever to the truth. The Photo shown is taken in my garage. I knew the car intimately and helped John Fitzpatrick with the purchase and shipping.
I find it reprehensible that Toby Ross ,who earned a commission out of this transaction,should years later make up a story totally misdescribing the car and his part in it's discovery. Maybe he thought his article amusing. I don't think owner does.

I recall seeing a picture of John's Bedelia along side his Sunbeam with V12 Sunbean Areo engine which is possibly the biggest contrast one could get. Mike Bullett has what appears to be the most widely used example in the U.K. whilst my wife and I were keen to see one when visiting the technical museum in Prague.

Good for you John. Whenever my wife questions my ownership of an AC Sociable, I remind her it could be worse - I could have a Bedelia. I love seeing them running, but I'm glad it's other people owning them. People say the same about my AC ...

Hi John. I am 100% with all the other comments supporting your approach for this crazy yet irresistible piece of motoring history.

I'd love to see current pictures if you have some

Kevin

"Bedelia, you're breaking my heart, you're shaking my confidence daily". I bet every owner of these wondrous gadgets knows that song...

John, I think your Bedilia is superb, glorious. Thank you for keeping it as such. It is this type of auto that makes life interesting. I have a pasion for all the "odd balls" put together over the years. I bet you get more looks than some of those snazy autos with 8 layers of paint and chrome galore. All my admiration.

i wanted one of them when i was younger i still have a dinky type toy somewhere
would be nice to see some now pictures

Dear John,

I had many questions, but all is now very clear to me. Thanks!

Regards,
Ariejan Bos

Dear John Fitzpatrick
Bravo for your words !!! in my land I also call "crazy", it is easy to refer to a third party that description when it actually happens, is that who qualifies thereby not culturally up to who is calling !! interesting would be a more detailed note on it, as well as, a photographic review !! have always called my attention the Bedelia, simplicity is absolutely brilliant! .-

Bravo John Fitzpatrick !

I am the "crazy Australian" who bought and who still owns the Bedelia ( which I am not currently attempting desperately to sell )
Toby's article ,whilst no doubt entertaining ,is almost totally inaccurate.
The bedelia was advertised in La Vie Auto and a friend emailed me the ad. I still have a copy of it. I asked my friend if he would buy it for me ,as I had been after a Bedelia for many years. He in turn asked Toby Ross to buy it on my behalf from the brocanteur in Nimes who owned it . I have the receipt from the brocanteur.
The car had been stored for a great many years but was totally complete. In the day it had been modified by the fitting of a fixed front axle with sliding pillars and the engine had been changed to a 1915 BSA. I have rebuilt the car mechanically but left it cosmetically as it was found. I have not attempted to 'de- modify' it as the mods obviously occurred a long time ago.
The wooden chassis and other woodwork is amazingly sound and has not been touched .I weigh over 90 k and have driven it many times without incident. It 's a delight to drive and runs along very happily at 60k . It's a bit complicated to drive at times ,but that is the challenge and I would have thought it's why we own such vehicles.
To my knowledge there are only about 15 Bedelias left out of the thousands that must have been made.
There's a saying that Toby might consider---" those who know can't explain. Those who don't know will never understand"