Mega Super Service

Mega Super Service

For all Morris J type Vans, Morris JB vans and (BMC 50's vehicles)Torque! e-mail fiftiesvehicles@mail.com. The copyright of any photograph on this blog-site will remain with its owner. No infringement intended.

Friday 9 August 2013

RGK 535 is for sale again.

The e-bay advert states, Well where do I start... RGK 535. (Fleet number U69871, chassis J/R 32354, as quoted in the POVC Telecom Vehicle Guide, great value at £10.) I've been wanting one of these for years. bought this in Feb but now have decided to emigrate and everything has to go.
It is a 1950 telephone engineers van. I wanted to find a chassis cab to convert into an Ice cream van (yes Mr J type, AN ICE CREAM VAN) Aimed at Me? Just because I like originality.

As with all UK J types the history of this van is well known, when the heating engineer company in Bourne end finished with it, they retired it to their orchard for many years (they are still around, in business and I have spoken to the owner who remembers driving it up until the '70s!!)

The chassis is really good as is the cab area. The 2 rear doors are usable and I have acquired 2 spare ex royal mail side doors which are included. The body is very poor and if restoring to standard both sides will need replacing but it is a pretty straight forward job and the interior ribbing is all in situ and good nick. The roof panel is loose but intact. The engine was scrapped by the previous owner but this did not concern me as I was going to install a modern 3 cylinder diesel.
I have the original crank if someone who needs it which I will gladly give to them.
The V5c is in my name.
This van needs restoring in whatever guise is your cup of tea. A usable ice cream/vending van is worth around £100K so well worth doing.
Located in Suffolk.



A list of chassis number and registration dates.

J/R 010 10/1949--J/R 649 1949--J/R 755 1/1950--J/R 1061 12/1949--J/R 1102 12/1949--J/L 1518 1950--J/R 1612 03/1950--J/L 2935 1951--J/R 4491 11/1950--J/R 6050 12/1950--J/R 6187 1/1951--J/R 10916 12/1951--J/R 10972 1/1952--J/R 14776 12/1952--J/R 145931/1953--J/R 15455 1/1953--J/R 16261 03/1953--J/R 18124 1952--J/R 19902 12/1953--J/R 20658 02/1954--J/R 21720 12/1953--J/R 23555 1954--J/R 24274 1954--J/R 25618 12/1954--J/R 25079 1/1955--J/R 25741 05/1955--J/R 29869 11/1955--J/R 30963 11/1955--J/R 3183110/1955--J/R 32465 11/1955--J/R 33340 1/1956--J/R 35466 1/1957--J/R 35671 12/1956--JB/MR 37200 06/1957--JB/MR 39547 12/1957--JB/MR 39012 1/1958--JB/MR 39648 1/1958--JB/MR 42533 1/1959--JB/MR 42677 12/1958--JB/MR 43367 1959--JB/MR 45648 1/1960--JB/MR 45693 12/1959--JB/MR 46009 02/1960--JB/MR 47648 12/1960--JB/MR 47907 12/1960--JB/MR 48069 01/1961--JB/MR 48219 01/1961
Approximate Production data for each year.
1949 750 vehicles -1950 5347 -1951 5051 -19524098 -1953 5027 -1954 6000 -1955 6894 -19563169 -1957 3284 -1958 3131 -1959 2965 -19602516 -1961 362
Total produced 48620


Ardingly Vehicle Show 12/7/09. Picture taken by Clive Barker.