The data base and period Post Office vans.

Well the J van data base spread sheet has been started. All known chassis numbers of vehicles that  have been noted in the last ten years are listed. Vehicles that are on the road, projects and even the many that have been for sale in newspapers, magazines and the good old internet.

I doubt the list is complete, vans are still being found, vans are still being scrapped and I bet many are in hiding. I even have a picture of a van at a rally taken less than 5 years ago and know nothing about it so cannot add it to the list yet!

I must point out that many Australian and New Zealand owners have been very quick off the mark and have produced many numbers of the major components. I suppose they were quick off the mark as they have better weather than we do at the moment. I still have to get my own gearbox number and I also want to check the date coding of my glass, to give a better idea when the body was manufactured.

On another note, I love looking at old films, street shots are great, you never know what your going to spot driving around in the back ground.

I have been sent a link to a 1961 video, its only 9 minutes long and for me the shots at the 5 minute marks are just great, the local Post Office yard with all the vans coming out.

Sorry cannot post the link to the video as its under copyright.

 Six minor vans with adverts pasted directly onto the body work, they couldn't be bothered to use the standard issue sign boards. You can just see the n/s/f corner of a J van .

 J van fleet number 42583, are you still about? I have contacted the POVC to see if they can give me the registration number for this van.

 Nine minor vans and two J types. The Minor van with the black wings is a rare "rubber wing" van, these wings were made by Dunlop out of old melted down Wellington boots.

As we have had a bit of bad weather the 52 year old Morris Minor saloon has been my daily transport this week, just too cold for biking. With a couple of nights dropping down to minus seven and a night of thick freezing fog the car was the best option.

I took the picture below at 12:12 on the 12/12/12 and shows we had a slight dusting of snow on top of a hard frost.

I hope the weather where you are is better and also there are No mad armed Americans wandering around your local school.