1. A Morris J2 Van bodied by Caffyns.
Firstly on this J2 page, another photo from Les' extensive archives. This image shows a Morris J2 van that was bodied by Caffyns' body building works at Park Farm Estate in Folkestone, Kent. The van has been signwritten in the colours of Edwards (bakery) of East Street,
Tonbridge, also in Kent. A roller-shutter door has been fitted, and sliding bread trays installed.
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The J2 van was first seen in 1956, and sold well until being replaced in 1967. Whereas the earlier J and JB vans had a
separate chassis, BMC moved to chassis-less construction with the J2. Despite switching to a monocoque construction,
the basic J2 platform allowed BMC to sell not only the van, but also pickup and minibus versions. The vehicle shown here however
would have been supplied as a chassis and cab, quite a common option with light vans, so that specialist coachwork
could be fitted by an outside coachbuilder which, in this case, turned out to be Caffyns. Perhaps the most numerous version
of the J2 surviving to this day is the campervan, a number of which are still in use. Rarest is the near-extinct J2 Pickup, a period photo of which can also be found on this page. Both Austin (152) and Morris (J2) variations of this light commercial were available.
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The J2 was initially powered by the familiar BMC 1.5 B Series engine, as found in many cars of the time. This would later evolve
into the 1622cc version in line with those fitted to Morris Oxfords and Austin Cambridges of the day. For people who valued
economy over pace, a diesel option was also offered. In 1967 sale of the J2 range ended, being replaced by the 250JU which
was in effect a re-designed J2.
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2. A RAF Morris J2 minibus.
Next, a line-up of RAF vehicles with a Morris J2 minibus parked nearest to the camera. All the vehicles bear evidence of RAF ownership, perhaps someone out there recognises the Morris' registration code 78 AR 56 and could hazard a guess as to these vehicles' location? Alongside the J2 is a Ford Thames ET6, or 4D if the diesel version, bodied as an ambulance. Note the bell fitted to the front wing. Furthest away are two Austin K9s, the military Austin based around the civilian Loadstar of the 1950s.
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3. A J2 public address van.
Photograph number 3 for this Morris van page sees a J2, with windows, acting as a speaker van for H. Bennett's public address service. The event was a school sports day on 5th July 1963, probably in the Farnworth area as the signwriting on the van announces that Bennett's was based in that town.
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4. A builder's pickup.
Ben got in touch, having found the site while researching J2s online. He's in the building trade, and in the 1960s the family firm ran a Morris J2 pickup. As already discussed, these are seriously rare vehicles today and while he'd be keen to buy another, for nostalgic reasons, the chances of one turning up are slim. My thanks to Ben for sending over a photo of the family's old Morris. Is that a BMC Driver's Club badge affixed to the front grille?
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Return to Old Photographs of Cars - Page 4.
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