Council web site research.

I mentioned some time ago that I have been looking at various council web sites and have been researching them to see if they have any "j type" vehicle records.

One of the best I have found is Gloucester Councils web site. These are the ones I have so far found.

KFH329 JR14117, EAST DEAN RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL,

KFH615 JR15204 GLOUCESTER NEWSPAPERS

MFH207 JR21562 GLOUCESTER DAIRY SUPPLY

NFH346 JR25614 S.J.TOWNSEND

NFH657 JR27230 L.H.FERRIS

OFH978 JR30237 GLOUCESTER CO-OP.

RFH737 JR35921 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " ".

SFH919 JBMR37817 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " .

UFH883 JBMR 4150X R.A.LEOPOLD, CHELTENHAM, BAKERY.

VFH234 JBMR42246 PARAGON LAUNDRY,CHELTENHAM

YFH144 JBMR4045X GLOUCESTER, CO-OP.

2070FH JBAR46987 GLOUCESTER CO-OP.

2071FH JBAR47276 GLOUCESTER CO-OP.

The chassis numbers with an "X" in them have a digit missing, these vehicles date from 1952 right up 1960, covering the J, JB and 101 versions, I would think that there were many other J types sold in Gloucestershire in the twelve year production run of the J type, maybe other records will be added over time.

Do check out your local council site, you never know what might be lurking on there.

Jarrahdale Machinery Museum, found by super surfer GD.

Yes another J type in a yard full of rusty metal, this is a Machinery Museum in WA, Australia. No details yet on the best vehicle in the yard. Anybody passing by, could you please pop in and get the chassis number and some history?

On a different note I have been scanning local council web sites, some have posted on line some of their vehicle licencing details, this was at a time they issued registration numbers and administered vehicle excise duty (tax discs) before the DVLA took it all over. One of the best councils web sites I have found so far found is Gloucester and I have been doing a bit of research on our vans. There are many errors in the lists, mainly with chassis numbers, all typo's when copying over thousands of documents.

I will be posting a few of the gem's I have found shortly. Why not have a look at your local councils site, it can be surprising what's out there. Freedom of information and all that.

As reported on Tinworm's site the "Trumans" van has been sold, we understand this has gone to a friend of a guy that already has two J type van, one JB and one project Austin 101.

Local people call me the Morris Man.

So because of this I sometimes have strange people and vehicles turn up.

An ex-G.P.O. van, very customised in many ways. Wrong grill, wrong front bumper, wrong indicators, wrong engine/gearbox and the tyres are perished as well.

Air horns mounted underneath the rear end.

A nice hand grenade gear knob, wrong seats, wrong door handles, wrong handbrake lever etc etc.
The rear end is home made, made in fact from bench seats. The pictures do not do this vehicle justice, its far far worse in the "flesh".
I don't think it needs a guard dog in the rear, nobody in their right mind would nick this thing..
Anyway this guy Bernard popped round as he wanted a thermostat for this beast. I said "no problem" and walked into my garage, on the way he remarked it has to be a 40 not a 50?
I said "what" Morris Minors have a standard 88 degree thermostat, what do you mean 40/50, that's very low for a thermostat. he then said " the engine is a 1300cc Morris Marina" I said "still that's very low for a thermostat, are you sure?"
Anyway we had a chat, he asked questions and I ask questions, he avoided answering most of mine. As he left for home, the nice smell of slipping clutch and the sound of a blown exhaust met my ears and nose, he said " I have to take it easy, yes it does need a bit of work." The old guy has only just bought the wreck, they saw him coming and I smelt him leave.

A new van? (nice wheels)

The picture below has been brought to my attention by Mike Parry,Chairman of the 6/80 and Morris Oxford club who also cater for our vans. Check out their web site here.www.680mo.org.uk Many thanks Mike.

Now this picture is on a blog site here. http://jok-r.skynetblogs.be/post/7340865/morris--j--1951

05-10-2009 MORRIS "J" 1951 Je suis assez fan de Rods et Customs (pas le magazine) et je ne sais pour quelle raison, j'apprécie tout particulièrement les "utilitaires" de cette trempe !Cette réalisation est dans la droite lignée des jouets Jada toys. Je CRAQUE ! !

Cliquez sur l'image pour comparer avec le modèle d'origine !

I understand this translates as " I am quite a fan of Rods and Customs (not the magazine) and I do not know why I particularly appreciate utility vehicles of this kind! This restoration is in the same mould as "Boys Toys". I can not resist!!

As you can see it is a 1951 vintage van, (or earlier as it has the square side lights). I have left a message on the blog site, I wonder if I will get any more details.

Spotted on e-bay by the great G.D.

The summers over, so what do you do with an ice cream van, why try an hire it out.

The starting bid price is 99, only us British will understand the "Pun" in this number.

I wonder if he will throw in a free flake?

Great news its the last day of the month, I've been paid so I can now go and buy the boring things of life like some food and petrol..

The latest from Magpies world of J types.

UEW 151, a fantastic 1957 JB van, spotted on a transporters low loader along with a tractor. Seen on the 12/7/09 at the Willinghams transport yard near Hull. The van came from the Hornsea area and I understand it was being transported down to Cornwall.Further pictures here of the JB tipper truck that recently sold on e-bay for £820.
Rather overloaded with the tyres and old petrol pump it has not turned a wheel in 25 years.
As you can see it is weed and nettle powered but has the optional windscreen heater vents fitted.
Showing signs of bad corrosion with holes at the top of the "A" post and the lower curved corner of the quarter light window.

Very heavy corrosion in the lower grill and from valence.

Chassis is also in a poor state and will need major work. For £820 this is a brave project or a very expensive source of a few spare parts. I do hope it is saved and I hope the new owner makes contact.

May I thank K.D. for all the pictures and information for this blog entry.

The Truman Van is for sale...

The current bid is £3150.66, reserve unknown, what work that has been done is to the highest standard, no expense spared.
It is a very "original van" apart from the many many new parts fitted. Pictures and full details as and when I'm sent them. (I no longer look at e-bay, I have better things to do and other things to waste my money on).
Check out the link Here http://morrisjbvan.blogspot.com/ to see the fantastic blog site record of the restoration.
Item number is 290353373187.

I have also been promised a set of pictures of the tipper truck that sold recently, (HBF 263) a very brave restoration project but it could be saved, (and should be). Purchased about 25 years ago it has lain in the open since then. The wooden back end is badly rotten and had been loaded with an old petrol pump and tractor tyres for many years. It is a JB version and still retains its original hand tipping mechanism. Also new to the J type world is UEW 151, seen on a transporter. Further details shortly.
Also please note, my new e-mail address for this site is

morris.jtype@yahoo.co.uk