Home | News | Road Tests All Aboard The Bedford Bus Birthday Bash Home > News > General Motors > Bedford 31st May, 2009 One of the most enjoyed British classic vehicles of all-time is celebrating its 70th 'birthday' this year, and to mark the occasion Vauxhall is preparing to welcome as many surviving Bedford OB Buses and Coaches as possible back to its Bedfordshire base. The company is throwing open the doors of its Heritage Centre in Park Street, Luton, on Sunday 16th August 2009 for a public open day to mark the 70th anniversary of the vehicle, in a move that will see significant milestones celebrated at the venue from now on. In 2010, the Heritage Centre will celebrate 30 years of the Astra, with a similarly-themed open day. As well as what’s hoped to be the biggest ever gathering of OB buses – produced between 1939 and 1951 – a special area of the company’s head office site will be reserved for owners of classic Vauxhall and Bedford commercials wishing to celebrate a fine history of building such vehicles in the town. Guests arriving in classic cars or other vintage vehicles will have a reserved parking area, but unlike other classic vehicle shows they are welcome to arrive and leave at their leisure rather than stay all day, much in the mould of the ‘Drive it Day’ event held at Luton in April this year. There will also be a free-to-pitch autojumble, refreshments and a number of family-themed entertainments so the day can appeal to a broad cross section of the public. A further attraction will be a specially-sourced display of preserved police vehicles, including a former motorway patrol Vauxhall Senator, adding further colour to the day, not to mention the Heritage Centre itself – Vauxhall’s own museum housing over 60 of the company’s all-time classics from 1903 to the present day. At lunchtime, the convoy of OB buses will depart Luton for a trip to Bletchley Park, site of secret British codebreaking activities during WW2, with guests all wearing period costume – a fitting way to mark the 70th anniversary of a true Great British icon. Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more Bedford News ..... here More General Motors News ..... here More Motoring Event News ..... here More Historic Vehicle News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.