Design Engineers at Vauxhall Motors in Bedford, England suggested early in 1939 to the War Office, that they should develop a four wheel drive vehicle for military use. Work began on a low priority and continued until the outbreak of World War Two Production of various 4 x 2 models (including the OY 3 tonner) got underway. as did urgent work on the 4 x 4 prototype. The detailed specifications being approved in October 1939.

The first prototype started its approval trials a mere four months later in February 1940. Quantity production began a year later still in February 1941. In all 52,245 Bedford QLs were built before the end of hostilities in Europe. Almost forty years later some were still on service with the British Army