Australian Register member, Craig Richardson travelled the equivalent of Calais to Istanbul to rescue a J van. J/R 6005 is now on the Australian mainland being prepared to be at the Australian 70th anniversary in October. A full report on Craig’s weekend away will be in Review 47.
949 BYY has sold at auction for a very reasonable £13,000 +fees, and has found a new home with a Register member. More details to follow.
A rather strange bit of news to see out 2017. We can announce that Ray Kings’ Planners van, 949 BYY, has been consigned to a forthcoming auction at the Birmingham-based auction house of Biddle and Webb.
It has been placed in their January 13th auction of ‘jewellery, silver, watches and interiors’ starting at 10am. The van has not yet been allocated a lot number, but it has been valued at an estimated £10,000 to £12,000, plus buyer’s fees. For a van that is in running order and with an amount of bodywork requiring attention, this seems a surprisingly conservative estimate – it really should sell for more.
We cannot believe that this is what Ray would have wanted to happen to his van, but he passed away without leaving any will. This should be a lesson to us all!
We have been informed that the van and related items can be viewed at the following times:
Saturday 6th January, 10am-12noon
Thursday 11th January, 12noon-4pm
Friday 12th January, 10am to 4pm
Yes, it’s that time of year again! Our stand is set up and ready, just a few hours rest, a few hours sleep and we’ll be raring to go…
In Hall 3 we are surrounded by all manner of lovely automotive machinery, yet our vans still hold their own in such auspicious company. Come along and see for yourself, and please say ‘Hi’ to whoever is manning the stand.
Only three days to go ’til we’re setting up our stand at the Classic Motor Show. The Register is in Hall 3, Stand 240, near to the Morris-Commercial and Morris Minor van stands. If you are visiting, do come and find us.
We’re having 5003 NX on display (always useful as an office and storage) plus Gary Sumner’s Royal Mail van, and Mike Herritt’s is bringing the pick-up. Should make for a nice display…
See you there!
It is with great sadness that we pass on the news that long-time Register member Ray Kings passed away on the 8th October after a long illness.
In 949 BYY, Ray attended many Register get-togethers, all the way back to the heydays of Tatton Park. He is one of only a handful of owners to have attended all three Anniversary Rallies at Wythall in the same vehicle. BYY also graced our stands at the NEC more than once!
Ray always entertained with his stories of early days doing National Service, of working at Marsh and Baxter’s and later exploits whilst self-employed in his grp moulding business.
He will be sorely missed on the Rally scene.
Ray’s Funeral was on Thursday 19th October, at Stourbridge Crematorium.
A date for every J-type owner and enthusiast’s diary! We can confirm that the 2018 – 70th Anniversary of the introduction of the J-type van at the 1948 Commercial Motor Show – main get-together for the UK and Europe J-type owners and enthusiasts will be at The Transport Museum, Wythall near Birmingham, on the weekend of Father’s Day. This will be June 16th and 17th, 2018.
We will hope to follow this up with a good showing at the Gaydon Classic Van and Pick-up Show, date yet to be confirmed but usually in early August.
First, some sad news from Peter Bateman in Australia:
“Sadly we have to report the passing of Lloyd Harrington. Over the years Lloyd owned about 70 J vans, many ex-Melbourne Gas & Fuel and a fleet of 55 Js delivered bread from the bakery at 499 Canterbury Road, Vermont.
We pass our thoughts to his family. One day a Harrington’s Bread van will be restored in his memory.”
Gaydon came and went yesterday, 6th August. We managed 5 J-types at it, although one of the vans was on display in the Post Office vehicle line-up!
Many nice light commercials and lots of good conversations. It is turning into a great show.
The Register has organised the manufacture of a small batch of the chrome hoops for the grille panel of a J-type. We have not so far managed to organise the remanufacture of the centre strip, but enquiries are ongoing. The hoops are made from chrome-plated brass to the correct section. Having such a limited market, it is unlikely we will be having more made once these have been sold. The cost for the left-hand and right-hand hoops is £80 for the pair, plus post/packing which is yet to be established.
They are difficult items to package, so it would be preferred if members/purchasers might pay and reserve a set and collect them at the Classic Van and Pick-up Show at Gaydon (Sunday August 6th) or at the NEC show (10th-12th November) where we will have a stand in Hall 3. Otherwise, by prior arrangement they could be picked up from Register HQ in Moseley, Birmingham.
The Classic Van and Pick-up Show will be only the second outing for 5003 NX with its new paint finish. We are hoping to change the wheel colour to silver, but so many other things are getting in the way at the moment!
