Pinewood studios, then and now.

Some weeks ago I was given an old picture of my van taken in the 1970's, outside Pinewood film studios. I said I would take the van back to see how it has changed. This I did this morning as I have not used the van for a few weeks it was time to give it a run.Taken from an old photograph the original entrance to the studio, of course Lorry's and all the tradesmen had a side drive way, this entrance was for the "stars" and staff cars.
A slightly more grand entrance, the little Indian guy sitting in his box, who kindly let me park on the pavement while I took this picture this morning. I think he was letting me, very difficult to understand him or for him to understand what I wanted to do. At first he was saying "no filming" next "you want to come in?" maybe he thought I was on official business with my METROPOLITAN POLICE signs on the side of the van, still lots of waving as I drove off, I think in friendship. Or maybe he thought I was just another "mad" English idiot, driving a 50 year old van, at 8.30am on a bright but frosty Sunday morning.

To customise or not to customise?

I have been thinking about this, is it a bad thing? It's not my thing and it would be a shame in my view if the Brazilian van ended up modified. Mind you if the only person to take on the van wants to do this why not. Below is the well known 344CNM, now this has been around for many years in various forms.This second picture shows the very same van in 1977, yes 33 years ago it was captured on standard 8 cine film at a HOT ROD car show. At this time it had the doors hinged at the top, gull wing fashion (with both doors open it was over 13 feet wide). So in a way the old van was saved and has given the various owners over the years a great deal of pleasure and of course it has survived.

If you want to see this cine-film in full it is now on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJ-hTnWwNg its only 4.30 minutes long and the first view of the J is at 3.20 minutes.

What's the difference between the Boon's bread vanand the recent van found? The answer is 2, yes the chassis numbers are just two digits apart, so must have been in the same export batch in 1955.

This fantastic early van is for sale, the only person interested in it seems to be an American who likes to customise vehicles, not my thing but each to his own. It would be nice if we could put the American who might just throw away most of the mechanical items from this vehicle in touch with Charlie in Canada who is in desperate need of these very items as he un-customises his van and puts it basically back to standard.
Here are two screen shots of the latest Shreddies advert for the people who not yet seen it on television.

Just to drive away the winter blue's here is a nice pair of J's in the sunshine, yes a customised J can look very nice.

Views of Leeds in the 1950's.

16th July 1956, View showing tram no 561 on route 18 Cross Gates with tram on route 16 to New Inn Wortley also visible. Photograph taken at City Square. Post Office and Majestic cinema and ballroom can also be seen. Postal J type goes about its business.
12th July 1955. View looks east towards White Horse Street. Photo of a stone set road with cars and vans parked to sides. To the left a two storey factory and a four to five storey factory with chimney is on the corner of White Horse Street, possibly Dawson & Co or Rhodes and Co Printers.
Description:
4th January 1952. View shows a Leeds Public Health Department ambulance (a Morris van) after an accident, parked in a Leeds City Transport garage. There is a clear view of the Leeds coat of arms on the bodywork. Thanks again to the 6/80 and MO club for this gem.

If you are interested in seeing the shreddies video advert it is on "youtube" under "shreddies ding dong".

Since asking people NOT to use the comments link at the bottom of my postings I have gained two more, although pleased that people are reading my rantings, I cannot reply via this method, so in this instance, George who ever you are, where ever you are I cannot contact you!! I do not know you, I do not have your e-mail address, please, please, please e-mail me and I will reply with the information you need. morris.jtype@yahoo.co.uk

Further happenings in J type world.

If you were watching the television last night instead of working on your van you would have been rewarded with the sighting of a j type in the guise of a SHREDDIES delivery van in one of the advertising slots.

True it's only a fleeting glance but this could always lead to more work and maybe a starring role.
Below is the slightly customised van mentioned in the previous posting. Its is said to be a 1949 van so could be in the running for the oldest J type, until we can find out its chassis number, where it fits in the league table of J's will remain a mystery.
Below is a further picture of the recently found 1954/55 J type, showing the popular fitment of side windows so many end having fitted once they fall into civilian hands.

Two J types for sale and another found in New Zealand.

A new find in New Zealand, J/R 30530 a 1954/55 J type. In storage for about 11 years, currently in the back of a workshop. Lets hope restoration starts soon.
This Brazilian van is for sale, chassis number J/L 1543, asking price is very high but this is a very rare early van. A J van J/R 749 is in daily use in Australia and is regarded as the earliest J, while J/R 1061 is under restoration also in Australia. There is also a slightly customised van running around in Australia (none standard engine/gearbox/lights and paint job) but its on the road and being enjoyed, is said to be a 1949 van but I'm not sure of the chassis number. So currently the Brazilian van is 3rd or 4th oldest. If your interested in the van, e-mail me, I can give you a contact e-mail address.
Below is a van called "Duncan", this is for sale in Canada.


The very early rear axle and shock absorber mounts can be seen. (Locating brackets on axle shaft are a different length to later ones).
Chassis J/L 2937.
Centre mounted accelerator pedal.

Again if your interested please e-mail me, I do have a contact e-mail address.

Please e-mail me about anything on this site, do not use the comment link at the bottom, I'm currently running 21 Blog sites and I do not often look at each site for comments, sorry.

I also had a comment from a guy about the items I had for sale at the top of the blog, he was most upset, he was in desperate need of an item and felt it was unfair to advertise items for sale in this way. I should have advertised them in a classic car magazine so more people (e.g. him) would have know about the spares. Its a strange old world out there. I'm very happy how quick two of the items sold, cheques arriving the next day, (subject to them clearing), it makes a nice change when fellow J owners pay prompt and up front. I need the money, never been so broke, not since I bought my first house 32 years ago.

Hot news in J type world.

From hot Brazil comes even hotter news. The J type recently for sale has chassis number J/L 1543 making this an early 1950's production vehicle. Perhaps the 4TH oldest van in existence.

The front bumper bar has been removed and the front valance had suffered some damage, likewise the headlamps are not as good as the "advert pictures" below.


A full set of vehicle pictures can be seen via a link on the the right .

Also, on behalf of the owner I have started a blog on the restoration of another J type, registration number ONY 52. This is a work in progress both vehicle and blog site so do check it out often as it slowly takes shape. (Link on the right).

I have also started a "where are they now" site, many vehicles in the last thirty years that were in preservation and being rallied have dropped off the radar. Also recent restorations projects have changed hands, with your help send me pictures of vehicles that you haven't seen for a while and also details of vehicles at rallies/museums etc. Just very basic details, reg number/ state (rallied/repaired/scrapped) and location, just the county or maybe town/city. Link is on the right.

A nice period advert and what price a J type in 1953?

Well in August 1953 a chassis list price was £285 with purchase tax etc the total amount ends up as £340-9-1, yes the days of good old pounds shillings and pence.

A fully assembled van was £411 list, on the road £466-9-1, rather cheaper than they go for now. Thanks again to the great G.D. for these scans and lots of other J photographs I will upload to the J van picture album shortly.

Another J type project for sale.

Standard radiator fitted with an electric fan, rather a good idea.
Body work looks to be in good order and well polished.
View of the 1500 cc Nissan engine. A very interesting conversion, I would be interested to know how easy the job was to fit this type of engine, what about the clutch operation, propeller shaft modification engine and gearbox mounts. Just what is involved?
Rather a thick skim of filler on this side panel.
Nice repaired panels ready to bolt back on.

Here for sale my 1957 Morris commercial j type van in use up until November since then I have stripped the van ready for restoration Ive prepared or replaced/restored most parts including rear doors, all wings have been prepared and primed/powder coated, new floor has been made and lacquered ready for installation, the roof has been prepared and primed, the front grill has been restored including cutting out the bottom section and replacing rusted metal, prepared and primed. Van runs a 1.5 Nissan engine and gear box sale includes spare engine and manuals and booklets please contact Paul 07956421760

Starting price for the kit of parts is £4000.

The ex New Zealand van has arrived.

Looking splendid in the sunshine, the NZ van has been allowed into Australia and is soaking up the sun. I'm not envious, I bet they would love to be playing snowballs at minus 2 degrees and tonight it should drop to about minus 11. Still what ever the weather get out there and enjoy your J type. It can cope, trust me I know.

The journey to work.

The bike started OK, after I had thawed the ignition switch out, but both the choke lever and twist grip throttle were frozen solid.
So the J was pressed into service again.



The view from the driver seat as we moved along at 20MPH, very few other vehicles about during the rush hour, this road is normally "nose to tail".

Had to stop twice to clear the screen by hand, the poor old wiper just gave up.


The empty car park at work, all the bosses stayed away today but they had given us a nice memo yesterday, the long and the short of it was the weather is not their fault, if you don't turn up for work you will be docked a days pay. We have all been wondering if they filmed a version of "A Christmas Carol" here . Still without the bosses, far too much tea drinking occurred and there was not a snowball fight in the car park, we would never do a thing like that.
I hope the snow is not too bad where you are and I might have to put a couple of bags of sand in the back of the van for tomorrows trip.

The early postal van (SLO153) that was featured on this site recently has indeed gone to a new home in the south of France.
Also the green New Zealand van has arrived in Australia, it has yet to be fully fumigated and steamed cleaned to be allowed to enter the country.