Hey all,
We’ve just shared our latest mini-Digest; this edition celebrates the festive season and the role our beloved Js have played throughout the years.
If you don’t already receive our digital Digest, just drop us an email at jtyperegister@gmail.com and we’ll sort it out.
All free, always – no subscription required; our Register is now funded solely by donations.
New year, new process; as of 1st Feb 2025, we have opened up the entire website to anyone visiting! No more passwords, nor ‘Members only’ areas. The treasure trove of info, archive pics and more is open so that anyone, anywhere in the world, can find info about our beloved vans with ease.
Our digital Digest (our newsletter) is available to anyone that wants them and we now work solely from Donations, instead of annual subs. If you’d like to know more about this decision, or how you can donate, please check out Digest 12. If you don’t currently receive our Digest then all we need is an email address. Happy J-typing!
17th and 18th of June 2023. Wythall Transport museum.
How many vans turned up? 18 J-types and J/Bs, 2 Austin 101s and a ‘rogue’ J4!
So we managed an aggregate of 20 club vehicles over the two days, which was really pleasing. No records broken (not entirely unexpected) but a very nice selection of vans. Good to see a couple of unfinished vans too, which certainly gave members of the public an insight into what sort of work is required.
Our thanks to everyone who managed to get to the event, either as an entrant or spectator. It was a blast, eh!
All in all, a great weekend – until Sunday late afternoon when the promised storm broke, the heavens opening up with a downpour of near biblical proportions!
Which means that we’ve now all got to stay around and do it again in 5 years, when the J will celebrate the 80th Anniversary in 2028.
However, we have had the good news of a stand offer at this November’s Classic Motor Show at the NEC – which we have accepted of course. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Perfect Partners’, which seems to be a doddle for us with the Austin / Morris versions. Hope to see as many of you as possible at the NEC, look out for the discount members ticket offer which we shall publish soon…
Austin 101 and three J vans line up on Sunday morning.
A Sunday shot of part of the line-up.
a pair of GPO Planning vans turn up on Sunday morning, occasioning a light-hearted race to see who could unload fastest.
A beautifully restored J body.
A part-restoration, useful for showing how these vans go together.
A Meccano model of a J made many years ago.
Live steam, J vans and working buses, what’s not to love.
Thos who come to look are all ages.
J-types and live steam miniature locos, a great combination.
Friday Afternoon and the gathering has begun.
Great shot taken from the upper deck of an open topped double-decker.
The date: 17th and 18th of June 2023.
The location: Wythall Transport museum.
How many vans? That’s up to you!
We’re hoping to bring together as many of our favourite light-commercials as possible. Not only vans, but fans as well as we celebrate this incredible milestone!
The previous record, achieved at the 50th Rally in 1998 and matched at the 60th Rally in 2008, is 29 vehicles, so, if you own one, why not bring it to the event? Driven or trailered, restored or rusty – any classic ‘J’ or ‘Austin 101’ will be most welcome!
We’ve got a bunch of surprises ahead for those of you that turn up with/in a van… but that would be telling! Please let us know (email jtyperegister@gmail.com) if you’re planning on bringing something along for display so you don’t miss out!
Although the recent hiatus may have given the appearance that the register has closed its doors, we’re still kicking! The truth is that when there’s still so much chaos in the world it feels strange to write about our hobbies, our beloved vans. How can we bang on about J-type matters when there is so much suffering?
The reality is that we can offer little to alleviate any of it but we are not insensitive to these issues! All we can do is muddle on and carry on with our goals as best we can. The J-type Register’s goals have always been to:
Gather and collate information about the history of the vans.
List known survivors.
Act as a central pool of information regarding spares and restoration.
Encourage the use of these wonderful light commercials for the maximum enjoyment of owners and enthusiasts everywhere.
The Register is not, nor has it ever been, a ‘club’. Over the years we’ve tried to impartially help anyone with a J-type problem of any nature. We run on a small Register membership fee which helps cover the ongoing costs of maintaining the website and other outgoings such as insurance fees for cover at Rallies that we attend.
In return for payment of the Register fee there are pages on the website that are password-protected and not available to the casual visitor. One of these pages contains an offer of discounted tickets for the Classic Motor Show in November!
We will be attending the show at the NEC and we’ve lined up quite an unusual collection to display this year, but that’s as much as we’ll let slip for now! We will add more Show info over the next few days.
Do try to join us there, and make use of the member’s discount!
At last, something that we can ‘blog’ about that maybe signals the world getting back to some kind of normality. We have accepted the offer of a last minute stand at this year’s Classic Motor Show.
I had a phonecall from the organisers offering a smallish stand – room for two vans only – so ideal really. The stand offered (4-650) is right next to the Restoration Theatre which could make for a really interesting time and hopefully lots of additional interest in our vehicles. It certainly looks like there should be enough room for a table and a couple of well-spaced chairs, plus a couple of display boards.
Sunday the 9th is the day for what was the Classic Van and Pick-up Show at Gaydon. It has now been amalgamated with the annual Classic & Vintage Gathering, also moved forward from its original June date.
In any normal year the Register would be happy to display, but in these Covid19-sensitive times we have not felt that it is safe enough yet to poke our heads above the parapet, as it were.
Find out more at: www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/classic-and-vintage-commercial-show
d the Events page of the Register website and will make further changes as and when notified.
This coming Sunday, the 9th August, is the day for what was the Classic Van and Pick-up Show at Gaydon. It has now been amalgamated with the annual Classic & Vintage Gathering, also moved forward from its original June date.
In any normal year the Register would be happy to display, but in these Covid 19-sensitive times we have not felt that it is safe enough yet to poke our heads above the parapet, as it were.
Find out more at:
www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/classic-and-vintage-commercial-show
n the meantime keep safe, stay healthy and let’s all support each other.
