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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:17 pm Post subject: My '28/29 Cowley Pickup |
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I bought this as a joint project with my dad in April.
This is one of the pictures from the ebay listing. We had looked at a number of other old commercials before we got this one (I particularly regret missing out on a 1936 Morris L2 postal van at auction which was pretty much what I wanted). I went and picked it up with one of my (t)rusty transits and brought it back to shropshire from Bury.
I will upload a few more pictures of the as arrived condition later/tomorrow. It has no history and no registration documents (now in process via the bullnose morris club) but we believe its a 1928/1929 changeover/hybrid model (should get more info from the BNMC when the dvla approve the registration). If anyone thinks they know anything about it please shout up (we have worked out the Darrowby connection and think it may be a film car - but no evidence of it being on camera to date). It was sold by Cheffins about 18 months ago from a deceased estate - but thats the limit of our knowledge.
So far we have done a few bits and pieces (fabricated damper bushes and the steering box bush, persuaded it to run nicely, changed fluids etc) and have new tyres an tubes to go on. A rewire is in the offing now (most of) the dash parts have been found from another localish enthusiast and hopefully it will be on the road soon.
Its not going to be tidied up and restored within an inch of its life. I like that its a bit rough round the edges! However thats at odds with my desire for a "nicer" bed and enclosed cab! |
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Rick Site Admin

Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22779 Location: UK
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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At the moment near Church Stretton but looking at moving shortly |
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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A few more pictures
and here it is on the way home!
As you can see the dashboard is all wrong (60's smiths gauges) and as it transpires the speedo rotates the wrong way too! I have found the switches and dash panel for it, along with a working clock and oil pressure gauge (just need to find an ammeter and speedo with silver face now!)
As it transpires it has a 1925 bullnose engine, sump and gearbox but with a flatnose head. We have tightened the dynastart chain (fiddly job) and a few other odds and sods... Its got the bullnose (smiths single jet) carb which is wrong for the car - so we have an SU for it - needs the correct linkage though
Before we use it it needs a complete rewire, shock absorbers need new friction material and bushes and a few cosmetic tweaks. There have been a few small changes since the pics but nothing major. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4850 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Fred Feast played
Jeff Mallock in (5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Perhaps one or more of these episodes will show it.
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0195704/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t19
and
John Rees played Geoff Mallock in the Simon Ward 1975 film _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Rick Site Admin

Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22779 Location: UK
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:06 am Post subject: |
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I have flicked through every episode on youtube that Jeff/Geoff Mallock is credited on and no luck. I'm too young to remember it being on the telly! |
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Rick Site Admin

Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22779 Location: UK
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1763 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe this was an early attempt before a more suitable vehicle came along? Thinking back to the books - seen the film a couple of times, but don't remember the series - Jeff Mallock was transporting live cows and the like back to his yard and would need something rather larger than this, lovely as it is. Perhaps they never did find a really suitable vehicle and simply avoided filming any scenes where it would have been needed? |
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Thats my thoughts too...
There were several scenes where jeff/geoff was using a large 4x4 ex mod morris (CS3?) For those duties.
It had a goods vehicle disk from the milk marketing board with a reg no of BAJ443 in the holder - but thats a much later reg! There are also a few other things suggesting it could have been a film vehicle (rudamentary dash, no rear lights, no weather proofing, no tailgate on the bed and only the sidelights wired) suggesting it was a quick sort out for filming... another give away is the applied dirt! |
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:43 am Post subject: |
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I took (trailered) it to the classic van/pickup show at Gaydon at the weekend. It attracted a lot of attention and had a few tantrums.
Its the first time I have actually driven it anywhere (other than 2 yards out of the garage). Gearbox is good, axle is good, brakes work ok but the engine was a bit of a pig... its started nicely (by hand) on friday and saturday morning, but saturday afternoon and sunday it wouldn't even think about it on the handle. (Ok on electric though).
Engine didn't run very well (needs the right carb putting on), but did get to 25ish mph (3rd gear). Clutch is also a bit iffy... it drags but also occasionally the pedal sticks down... but has full drive!
At least I now have a better idea of what needs doing to get it useable! |
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Well the fuel tank came off yesterday as we suspected a pin hole leak...
What we didn't expect was a mass of body filler plugging some rather large and disturbing holes...
We are currently stripping the paint so see the extent of the problem before we decide to repair or replace (we know someone with a couple of spare tanks!) |
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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Well I now have everything needed a dash lamp...
And as of this morning that now includes a V5C stating it was manufactured in 1928
So please meet BF7528  |
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