5003 NX flew the flag for the J-type Register and for Haymarket Publications at the Classic Car Boot Sale at the Southbank, London, over the weekend of 15th/16th March. The Vintage Festival team had transformed Queen’s Walk into a paradise of all things vintage – fashion, vinyl, homewares, pop and automotive culture. With street food sold from classic Citroen and Renault vans and music from the top of a double-decker, it was a vintage-lover’s dream weekend. The weather was fine both days, not a hint of rain and not even much of a breeze. Attendance was high and the whole show had a great vibe about it.

Peter Bateman sends this update regarding a couple of vans currently being worked on in Australia:

The Oz J fraternity have about 12 J’s in reconstruction this year. And that is not counting the V6 Hot Rod just completed by OzRods in Brisbane.

JB 41298 is to be sign written ‘the Upholsterer’ and is almost ready for its trip to the New South Wales registration department following a two year rebuild. This van is almost original. Will Hughes, upholsterer and custodian of the van, hopes to visit Mr Ferguson, the original owner, on one of his first drives. It will only be a journey of 250 kilometres, lovely distance to get to know the van. The Ferguson family had 14 J type vans in their Golden Crust bakery at Goulburn, NSW.

The second revitalisation is of the old Golden Galley Clothing van from central NSW. This van, whilst keeping a very original J type look and feel is fitted with a Ford Mustang V8 coupled to a Jaguar rear end. As with many Oz J’s using a larger engine we find the Mitsubishi L300 a convenient chassis to use. Those who have never been in a J type with disc brakes, power steering and a surfeit of Vrooooom AND handling will be left with a big grin on their faces.

To those who have sentiments of sacrilege at such a thought I’d just like to say the custodian of the V8 has another two J projects and both will be original.

By the by, the 12 projects mentioned are those currently in progress. There are others just a little further away. There is no stopping the J in Oz.

Peter Bateman Sydney March 2014

Peter was also surprised to see Kelly Ashton’s son AJ playing on a computer game that featured a J! Go to

http://kizi.com/games/rich-cars-3 to see what it’s all about, but don’t expect to understand how to play it!

Gray Southard sent in this wonderful shot of a J-type found on the internet.

Blagg Bros. Tarporley

Mike Greenwood passed on this beauty for the Register archives!

UJF 294

Thanks to both of you!

J-enthusiast and ex-owner Iain Booth has emailed us this scan of a page in a recent publication.

Don’t all rush out to try and buy what appears to be a very reasonably priced van, we are told it has already sold!

If by any chance the new owner is reading this, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you and hope to add your van’s chassis number to our records. Congratulations on owning this lovely van, you have what is probably the bargain of the decade!

The February-May 2014 Oxford Diecast Release Programme contains THREE new models using the 1:76 (OO-gauge) J-type castings. These are:

76MJ005: Post Office Telephones Planning Van – From the photo this seems to be the first of the Oxford Diecast J-type models not to have the window rubber printing effect, and is much better for it!

76MJ006: Carters Steam Fair Ice Cream Van – This is a rework of the Facchino’s model, so does not look much like the real vehicle (see photo in gallery, which shows that the real vehicle – a Whitby replica – is wider-bodied and without rear wheelarches).

76MJ008: Southdown – From the photo this seems to repeat the flaws of their Royal Mail model (76MJ004), and to add a few more. The silver-printed window surrounds (on both models) are just ridiculous! These models also repeat a mistake made on the 1:43 scale Corgi model, by giving the models printed indications of semaphore turn indicators fitted into the bodywork by the trailing edge of each side door opening. When fitted (infrequently) these were fixed to the forward-facing edge of each opening. Difficult to model, but in the circumstances surely better to leave off than do incorrectly.

When the Register learnt that Oxford Diecast were considering making models of the J-type, every help was offered and their Design Manager even measured and photographed 5003 NX in the primary research process. There’s really no excuse for these models being anything other than accurate, except where manufacturing processes involve compromise.

There does not seem to be a 76MJ007 listed, more details as and when.

The 1:24th scale J-type model that was mastered by Phil Knight, one of our J-type owning Register members in Australia, is now available to purchase. It is listed for sale at www.thepartsbox.com as a complete kit (code number 1426), or body kit only (code number 1427). The body-only kit caters for those intrepid Aussies wishing to make a model of one of the custom J-types that exist over there. Prices are 1426: $82.50 + postage, and 1427: $35.20 + postage. I wonder how many of these kits will find their way to the UK?

If you are interested in purchasing one, visit:www.thepartsbox.com

The models are also available on ebay, but at higher prices than those quoted by The Parts Box

Six J type vans drove to the Australia Day CARnivale display in Sydney on Sunday. I have to thank Andrew Trollope and Susan for coming all the way from Melbourne to drive a van to the event. Their help was great. All of the vans from 2013 attended and this year we had an addition of the old Norge Village Dry Cleaners van (featured on the cover of the J type book by D Allison and H Pitcher) in its new livery of the Sydney Packaging Company. This van has been nicely prepared and is now in daily use. It still has the Holden red motor it had when in Tasmania although the brakes and undercarriage have been improved.

I continue to be amazed at the positive sentiments the public has towards the J type. Many were only too happy to stop and tell their personal J type yarn and others just wanted to get into the drivers seat for a photo. I was told of a J which was deck cargo on a coastal steamer going around the Pacific Islands. When in port it was hoisted off onto dry land and provided transport for the crew whilst waiting for the cargo to be unloaded.

Also I was given a photo of Kelvin Mowtell and his company vehicle. It was J type in Ramset (NZ) livery. Kelvin still has great memories of that van. As a young surfer the J was a perfect company ‘car’ as on week-ends he simply popped his surf board and mates into the back and headed to the best breaks.

The 2015 CARnivale will see more J type vans. Let us aim for….

Peter Bateman Sydney January 2014

Australia Day 2014 is on Sunday January 26 and if you are in Sydney and would like to see a running J type or three look for us at CARnivale in Macquarie Street, Sydney. We expect to be outside the Hyde Park Barracks as per last year. Should you be unable to attend please visit this page next week and see a post of our Sydney Juxtaposition!  Peter Bateman

Photo shows last year’s get-together!

Another van previously unknown to the Register has surfaced, this time in Scotland. Registered HST 655, we reckon this to be an early 1955-registered van.

A post to let all members know that there is a Review working its way through the clogged-up postal system, it’s most likely to land on your hall floor after Christmas as I just ran out of time.

We have heard that the Irish van has gone to a good home, thanks to the ex-owner for letting us know.

We have also had contact with an owner in Scotland whose van seems to be unknown to us until now. More details to follow!

Wendy Clipstone visited Register HQ for a couple of days, armed with some ‘Joyville’ tins. Bringing Cadbury tins all the way from Australia to the home of Cadbury’s – we thought it a great opportunity for a photo shoot. There are 8 of these tins for sale, if any member would like one please email. They are £10 + p and p (which I’ll establish after Christmas).