Yes, the Classic Motor Show at the NEC is over for another year. A great show in so many ways, I hope to add many more photographs and details tomorrow. Our thanks to Ray Herritts for bringing along his J/B and newly-restored Minor, and to the many members, J-enthusiasts and friends who attended.
Norton only started making the International in 1932, and we got two from the first year’s production on our stand! Another hectic report but details will have to wait for another day!
A hectic day, more time to load photos tomorrow, hopefully!
We’ve just got back from a session setting up the stand at the NEC. We’re in Hall 6, Stand number 115. We’ll load more images tomorrow!
Yes, two vans new to the Register have surfaced ‘down under’, one in Australia and one in New Zealand.
The Australian van has been saved by Register member Laurie Ballette. Remarkably, the van is from the same Tip Top Bakery fleet as the van he already has.
The NZ van is currently for sale on Trade Me.
More to follow…
Register-member Ken Bennett sends this photo of two J-type ice cream vans at the Classic Car Boot Sale, held over the weekend at Olympic Park in London.
Ken also alerted us to the article in Classic Van and Pick-up!
Click on any photo to enlarge.
Children are wonderful. Monique Vandeleur, daughter of Paul, was living away from home in a rented house in Brisbane five odd years ago.
South East Queensland has a hot sub-tropical climate and houses are built up off the ground on posts, or as the locals call them ‘stilts’. This slight elevation allows the hot humid air to circulate. It also provides much needed storage, undercover, away from Queensland’s penetrating sunlight. It was underneath that house Monique noticed the old yellow van. The Vandeleur family has an interest in Volkswagen Combi vans but this old yellow Morris unit collecting dust and cobwebs appealed to Monique.
After tireless pleading with her landlord, custodianship of the ABBCO Bread van # 13 – a 1954 J type – chassis J/R 23528, was arranged.
This Morris J is one of about nine from the ABBCO fleet, which found their way north to Queensland in the late 1970’s. Maurie Catlin, the long retired chief mechanic of ABBCO in Sydney, still recalls that sale. All those vans were in great working condition.
Since the van went to the Vandeleur home it has been cleaned and given a modicum of TLC. Brakes have been renovated, as have most mechanicals. A new wiring loom was installed and the usual rust problems in the sills repaired. Surprisingly, very little serious work was needed to get it running again. Considering the age and history of this hardworking van, this is remarkable.
September 7, 2014, Fathers Day in Oz and Paul went for his first major outing in a J type van. Being a very well behaved Morris J van, J/R 23528 was very happy to wait whilst it’s custodian enjoyed the fare of a French restaurant for brunch. Captivated onlookers smiled. Others with longer memories recalled J type vans making deliveries in their towns. Morris J type owners are accustomed to people smiling and being gleeful.
Monique’s discovery of the dusty yellow van made her dad very thrilled. What better vehicle to go on a Fathers Day drive?
Peter Bateman
Sydney Australia September 8, 2014
Certainly time to add some interesting stuff that has turned up this week.
Of major interest is a van previously unknown to the Register, which has surfaced after at least a decade in storage. It is a 1957-registered, low-mileage, one owner from new van prior to being purchased by its new owner. We await more details but do know it was one of a pair of vans used as ice cream vans although it doesnt have a raised roof. The standard steel body, which seems to be in remarkably good condition, has a serving hatch in the side windows. We are told that more info and photos are on their way…
From Australia Peter Bateman writes:
“Those blokes from Oz must have a special brew in their water supply. Only months after reporting the magnificent Queensland V6 J type Hot Rod (blog June 22, 2014) 1200 kilometres away in New South Wales another Morris JB van is being admired. The upholsterer Will Hughes not only has saved this van but is driving this 1958 JB EVERYWHERE!
Carrying the livery The Upholsterer is chassis # JB/R 41298 and was one of the Golden Crust Bakery fleet from Goulburn in southern NSW. It had been “grazing” in a paddock for many years when it was bought at auction with heaps of farm machinery. Will glimpsed it one dark night whilst it was being carted to his local metal recycler. One can only ponder the magic of chance on that important evening. Will grasped that serendipitous moment and now has a working gem, a beautiful restored JB”.
We have also received photos of PAF 764, the ex-Bryn Jones’ van now carrying neat graphics for ‘A Steph Back in Time’. Thanks to Ken Bennett for these.
