Posted on November 2nd, 2011
From Peter Bateman:
Progress is dedicated and thorough with J/R 4875. The custodian, Michael Freeman, has found many helpful folk near to his workshop to make new bits. Latest is his very accurate remaking of the original steel floor. The original panels, whilst in ‘serviceable but needy’ condition were remade and now are just like they should be. When Michael purchased the van a great deal of work had been done on the chassis and engine by the previous custodian some years ago. Michael has found that ‘playing around’ with the so called running chassis does have it’s merits! There were leaks in the fuel tank and carby! No longer though as fuel tank was easily removed, repaired and given a very good chemical seal. The carby just needed a little TLC.
It is great to see another lover of the mighty J take so much care in restoring 4875 to it’s former glory.
The pile of bits is a snap of the old floor (owners and enthusiasts in the UK will not have seen metal floor panels before!). The front shot shows the “new” grille which Michael got from Charles Williams (who restored J/R 1102 and J/R 8402) the third snap is the underside of one of the floor pieces. Then the handsome one is Michael Freeman and the bits in situ.
Posted on September 8th, 2011
J/R 4875 the ex John Beaton van #1 after making an 1800 kilometre (1125 mile) journey from Victoria to Queensland last Easter has been to the ‘exfoliant beautician’ (sandblasters) and is now ready for some metal work. Michael Freeman, who owned Kelly Ashton’s ex Lorraine Dry Cleaners J type in his youth has started this project with the intention of doing it once, doing it well. The only way to approach long term restoration. This van, which has an original steel floor and early shock absorber mountings is set to be a great addition to the almost 50 known J types in Australia. We will be watching this project closely.
Peter Bateman
Posted on August 27th, 2011
Intrepid Oz J-reporter PB writes:
This is a snap of a Winning van parked outside their head office in Danks Avenue Sydney whilst the building is being renovated.
The sign says it all. That’s J types for you!
PS – it is the ex Old Middleton Grain Store van which was restored by Paradise Garages in Sydney.
Posted on July 31st, 2011
Intrepid Oz J-reporter Peter Bateman emails:
I was in Brisbane on assignment last week and made time to go and see Michael Freeman. Michael has purchased the ex John Beaton van #1 from Victoria and I have been leading him astray. He had told me of the Pine Rivers Bakery van in a car graveyard and I asked if he could take me there as it is only 5 minutes from his home. As you can see it is deceased but the interesting bit is Michael showed me the J type Review # 19 from (I think) 2004/5 where you published a yarn from Ian Booth and in the story was a picture of this van!!! It had been supplied to you by Nairn Hindhaugh of Mountain Motor Books in Brisbane. I went through the Brisbane phone book and called him the minute I arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday night, after returning from Michael’s. Nairn, bless his cotton socks, was polite and not too disparaging. He told me he had taken that shot in the ’80s, which explains how good it looked in the review. Sadly it has gone.
It is so sad to see things ‘left’ for no good reason. There were Studebakers by the dozen in this man’s paddock. The interesting thing to note is that the shock absorber mounting points are later!!!! The lights are definitely original early J as they have the chrome badge on top and the side lights are rectangular. Michael was given these by the owner so we know that to be true We found a rusted out headlight surround complete with the chrome badge lying beside J/R 953. The original side valve engine is still in place. I did not check the number. It was a little precarious inside! The van has completely rusted off the chassis and the roof has collapsed in on itself. A sorry day indeed. Interesting to note the single door at the back. It is clear to see wooden shelving was inside the van for the sliding in and out of the loaves for the bread delivery. Also it had a 3 ply veneer lining inside as well which may have been for hygiene reasons or just to cool the van in the Queensland heat.
For more photos go to ‘2nd Oldest Survivor’ in the Morris~Commercial gallery.
Posted on April 5th, 2011
Intrepid J-reporter and J-finder general Peter Bateman has established that this van is in Australia. A photo had previously been seen on a European website, so it was thought it was nearer to the UK. As it is it is about four hours drive from Sydney so PB expects eventually to have an excuse to go see it.
It can be seen from one of the photos that chassis work has been carried out to enable it to ride low (maybe not as low as in the photos, surely) so it might just be a sensational custom when finished. Let’s hope the owner finds the enthusiasm to complete this unusual project.
Posted on March 28th, 2011
The owner/creator/builder of this wonderful modified J-type writes: “L300 front end bolted into place on original J Type rails. Has been modified with later Mitsubishi Express rack and pinion steering set up. Jag E-Type rear end bolts in too, but has retained most of the original ‘cage’ (Jag lingo for the pressed-metal housing that all the hotrodders discard). However, the trailing arms and bottom shock mounts have been arse-abouted with each other, that was so the rear spring-damper units could retain their original angles yet the top mounts could be simply welded on the outside of the chassis rails, rather than inside (Way too much angle and therefore massive preload) or the only other option of hacking into chassis rails to form top shock mount brackets, which would’ve been nigh impossible without losing too much strength of rails. In the cab area, my brief was to have every control and facility as ergonometrically identical as possible with the original set up. I have even made up a copy of the throttle pedal, but it runs on sealed bearings through the 1″ x 2″ RHS steering column supports. The Lonely brake pedal is actually a J-Type clutch pedal with a cross over shaft to the Ford Fairmont master cylinder/booster poking through the floor. The 1-inch SHS hinged engine cover allows the XJS Jag bucket seats to be in the same pozzy as per. The missing cowl will actually allow the passenger to travel completely NOT in the manner of a contortionist. Although, I must admit, that engine cowl made an excellent passenger’s footrest on long trips. There will obviously be an overgrown version of the radiator section of the cowl, and I figure it will extend from one side to the other, taking in the uprights of the steering column support. The tray will be retained somehow, as I couldn’t imagine a J without one.” Photographs and text copyright Kelly Ashton, March 2011
If anyone else out there would like their J-type featured in this blog, please send in a few photos and words to go with it. We would really like the blog area of the Register website to become a pro-active area for members to show what they’re up to.
