Custom van update.

Some years ago, a picture appeared on the web of an early J type van, location unknown but the write up was in french.

Further details and pictures have been found on an Australian custom car forum site.
Seems apart from some of the body work everything else will be modern, so it would seem there are some very early J type vans spares going begging. (square side lamp model).

Thanks to Gray for finding these extra pictures.

Classic van and Pick up.

In the current edition of Classic van and pick up there is a brief write up of the J vans history, I think a couple of typo's have crept in but here it is in full so have a read and then go out and buy a current edition.

So Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
The joint writers of this blog are both away over the Christmas period, normal or abnormal service will be resumed in early January.

1000's of J type vans found in Australia.

Yes you read it right, 1000's of J type vans are flooding the shelves in Australia.

A picture of one of the recently found J type vans, seems it was a Cadburys  Chocolate delivery van from the faded sign writing and traces of chocolate and wrappers found inside.
The chassis number is un-clear but it seems to be a late production van. Further details of the van will be released as soon as I've finished eating.

June 1952 J type van for sale.

“This is a 1951 Morris J Type, dry stored for the past 38 years, still fitted with its original 1500cc side valve engine, 3-speed gearbox and back axle. The van is rolling easily, steering is working, gearbox is selecting all gears, but the engine is not turning. No major rust problems and the chassis is sound. Condition overall is very good. This is a genuine unmolested Irish van, ideal for restoration. The van is located in Co. Cork"

I just love the early front Morris minor bumper used as a rear bumper, some handles, gauges, glass etc are missing but are readily available. The nearside step looks a bit suspect but it is a good project. First registered in Dublin in June 1952.

Asking price is 3500 Euro's. 

The bad flooding on the east coast of the UK.

Sorry to hear about the bad flooding but its nice to see that some old vehicle owners braved the conditions and coped.

Is that a water cooled HRD?

What's been happening?

I've not posted much of late, also the joint author of this blog site has been rather quiet of late.
There has been many things going on in the J type world but I've not posted the details as I've not had the hard facts.
Most peoples restorations seem to have stalled and it seems the Oz and Nz owners are putting us to shame.
I've been busy doing overtime at work and I've had little time for much else.
The JB van was almost required for some filming but in the end an ambulance got the part.
It was through that enquiry that my Morris Minor was offered a part.
A days work for the BBC, a 1970's spy drama. So at short notice I dug the car out of storage and over two frosty nights I overhauled the brakes as I knew it would failed its MOT, that why I had stored it when the last MOT had expired.
I took the car for the MOT and it passed, so on the same day I applied on-line for its free Tax disc which arrived 4 days later.
So Monday 2nd December saw me fall out of bed at 4am, get in the car at 4.25 am and drive up the motorway to Birmingham, a distance of about 110 miles to the UNIT Base, for a coffee and a small breakfast.
I was then whisked into Hair and Make up, that was a laugh, as the guy said "not much to work with, is there" so after a quick comb I was ejected. Off I drove in convoy with ten other period vehicles to Birmingham airport. A mornings filming and by lunch time they had finished at that location. All the cars were released to go home, then two unlucky ones were selected to be used at the next location and they filmed to 7 PM. I'm glad I was not selected, so half a days work and a full days pay, result.
With the early finish I was able to do the return trip home in daylight.
Here is one picture from the filming with the 1960 Morris minor saloon right in front of the camera.

My Morris Minor saloon, centre stage, it's the first car I purchased and I've owned it now for 41 years.

J/R 30530 is for sale in Nz.

THIS VAN IS BACK ON MARKET FOR DEFINITE SALE
PLEASE NO 'TYRE KICKERS'
Note: This vehicle IS advertised elsewhere so it’s first in, first served.
See pictures attached, more coming in a couple of days.
Original Drivers and Workshop Manuals included, not very often this happens, along with any previous written history from previous owner if we still have.
I'm the third owner since new, I remember going to school in this van, even got to drive it too.
Was owned by local butcher since new and my father purchased off him once he retired....
Repowered with Renault engine and Toyota older style 5-speed gearbox (tough as blocks)
Needs bodywork repair, but this is certainly a good example at this price.
"As Is, Where Is" applies
Located in Palmerston North, New Zealand

Questions asked so far:

Can you please me whether this is in running order??
Close, but not quite, not been started for years, but was running on the road for years with the current repower configuration.
What's the situation with the rego and W.O.F. please??
No to both….. Plates dead and no WOF due to rust. Certainly repairable, but would take a lot of $/Labour.

Was your current repower ever certified when registered with the current plates on the van????
When it hit the road it was just before the certification law passed that meant all repowered vehicles needed a full certification to today’s standards so has no cert plate.

What is original under the van, i.e, drive axle, diff or brakes please???
All standard, incl. brakes and steering, except for the following:
1. Engine
2. Gearbox
3. Altered driveshaft (diff standard)
4. Austin Princess wiring loom & dash (to try to keep it more ‘British’)

Where is the majority of the rust??
Where body mounts to chassis maybe rusty as body slightly dropped on chassis at rear. Door apertures have some rust, but vehicle has been kept indoors since it went off the road. Roof and exterior are basically visually sound.
Original Factory Dimensions:
Length, 12' 5" (3.785m)
Width, 5’4" (1.626m)
Height, 6’7" (2.007m)
Wheelbase, 7' 2" (2.184m)
*Ground Clearance, 8" (20.3cm)
Turning Circle, 420" (10.67m)
*Weights:
Net chassis weight, 13 1/4 cwt (673 kg)
Net van weight, 20 5/8 cwt (1048 kg)
Max permissible gross load, 35 cwt (1778 kg)
Nb: * Van may sit a little higher due to springs being releafed when originally went back on the road and weight may differ due to replacement engine & gearbox.

A working J type van.

P.W's J van earning its keep delivering bread for the Poppy & Rye artisan bread shop.

The NEC show.

By now the Classic car show at the NEC is in full swing, setting up of the stands have been under way for the last few days.
Here are a couple of pictures of the J vans arriving on Wednesday.