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, 30 November 2012

Body number plates.

I have another "bee in my bonnet " very un-apt for a bonnet less J van.
Our vans have chassis number and these are recorded on the vehicle "log book".
It has been recently felt that BODY numbers should also be recorded while we still can.
The reason, well lately some vans have turned up that have lost their chassis plates as they have been stripped of parts/larger engines fitted etc and also with out the "registration plates" it is very difficult to date a J type.
You can of course date it from the Triplex glass code if the glass exists.
Now I would like to go one step further and the Oz and Nz group (MCJTV) have been a great help in various owners supplying data.
I would like to record the following.
 Front axle number
 Rear axle number,
Chassis number,
Engine number (original if known),
Gearbox number and
Body number.
(Remember this has never been recorded apart from on the factory production record).

The Body number is on the right hand side of the Nuffield Metal Products plate, Fixed to the body behind the grill and below the radiator. In this case body J 41842.
Why do I want to do this? To help others, the list of year by year production figures at the bottom of this blog have helped a few owners to date their vans, body numbers could help to increase the accuracy of this list.
This could help owners who have had age related Number plates issued and also project vehicles out there that have NO identity.
As there could be a small risk of vehicle identity theft, this data base would NOT be published but genuine enquires would be answered.
Owners names, addresses, phone number, e-mail address or vehicle registration numbers are NOT required and will not be recorded.
I doubt I will get more than a handful but I hope at least the owners that are currently doing restoration projects will take the time to make a note of their Body number. Go on surprise me, give me all your numbers.

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.