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.

Saturday 12 October 2013

Last minute flurry of activity in the J type world before winter sets in.

The Austin 101 in the Scottish auction went for over £10k, the new owner has been pictured with his new purchase in various classic magazines, we hope to see the van at a few rallies in the midlands next year.
Mr Kelly Ashton in Australia has found and purchased another J van.
J/R 23000, dating from early 1954 was found on a farm. Its in poor shape and will yield some parts for other project vehicles around the world.
This is a "new" van to me so this makes it van 303/304 to survive, so about 0.623% of the production is still with us, I thought they were rare, but they seem to be getting more common.
I hope he passes on as many numbers as he can so I can to fill up my J van Data-base.
It's not in very good condition, both axles were removed a long time ago but it's got some good stuff still on it. Maybe one door cover for Canadian Charlie, plus two inner rear guards.
This is an old Tip Top Bakery van possibly 1953?
(I make it early 1954)


One of the vans Kelly use to own has been having a full restoration, the van looks stunning.
History of the vans is, JB/MR 43576, Ex Lindfield Laundry,1960-1971 Old guy in Duffy's Forest, 1971- 1974 Gerry Swan 1974-76, Tim Sparks 1976-78, Geoff Mellor, 77-79 Kelly Ashton, 79-94 Geoff Newham, 1995-
Both these items, pictures and words came from the MCJTV forum group, open to J van owners only, so they all know what their talking about. Owner drivers and restorers, if you have a J van, I urge you to join the group.

I've been busy of late, plenty of work at work and now the nights are drawing in hardly anytime to do any vehicle work at home. Apart from today when I gave the van a second coat of paint to the off side. I became a mass murderer, as I have to do all my van jobs out side I managed to kill about 20,000 flying bugs, they must love the smell of thinners and paint.

The van is looking better but I wonder what the overnight rain will do for the finish?

Right onto the next subject, a GPO van for sale on e-bay.
Link to the advert. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-JB-J-Austin-101-GPO-Van-/290994734588?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item43c0a345fc
No need to repeat the advert, its a nice GPO van, in good usable condition, use it or improve it.




TGC 770, JB/MR 42788, registered 27th November 1958.

Friday 11 October 2013

The only J type van in Norway.


Via the Facebook page "save the morris J type van" contact was made with the owner of the only Morris J van in Norway. Its a 1952 model.
The owner sent use some pictures and some history of his van.
View of the van in 1966.
it came 8 or 11 to Norway in 1952-53 and this one is the only one remaining of them. for some years ago a man called Baard Nilsen imported one right hand drive from England. so it is 2 now but only one that is sold new and have left hand drive okey:) my J van has done 30 000 km, it came to a very small town called Jondal on a steamboat in January 1953 and was used as an ambulance at the hospital here, it was taken out of service before we got road connection to the mainland. So it has never been outside Jondal after it arrived here, it was only 10 km roads to drive on. it is still in Jondal and I hope to keep it here for the rest of my time it is a bit fun to know that the car never has left the town.



Thursday 10 October 2013

Wednesday 2 October 2013

Overdue stripping.

I know I should have done it sooner, I should have stripped off the vinyl lettering as soon as the Buckingham Palace event was over. I just knew that they would leave a mark at the very least.
Well due to the excessive temperatures we had in early July, the Palace gardens reaching 31.2 degrees, the perimeter wall helping to keep any breeze out, I just knew I was going to have a problem.
Yes, also leaving them on till now has had a big effect.
The paint has changed and the ghost lettering can clearly be seen. Nothing for it but I must now rub down and repaint some of the panels on the van.
This is one of the many problems you encounter when "your van is for hire" a cost that must be factored in.
Magnetic signs are better but can also effect your vans paint work. If they get wet or if the signs are left on for long periods of time they seem to make the paintwork sweat.
Still I'm sure I would be bored without these extra little jobs. Now I just have to find the time as the nights draw in, to work on the van.
Just to tell you all, that ALL the side lamp castings have been sold, I have no more and I won't be getting another batch made. The only J parts I have for sale at the moment are the NEW rear shock absorbers mentioned in the last posting and a NEW Lucas headlamp bowl with chrome bezel, headlamp wiring loom and hollow mounting bolt. Picture to follow.

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.