Posted on October 25th, 2012
Kelly Ashton’s V8 J type makes Rat Day 2012
It was promised in this blog many months ago that Sydney’s annual GoodGuys Rat Day would sport three J type vans. Optimism was there in spades but reality showed me to have fibbed. There in a dusty well worn patch of Gnawley Park, Taren Point was a large group of spectators paying compliments to only one J type van. Kelly Ashton’s Ford V8 powered J. Kelly had his J type exhibited “in the build” and what a crowd it pulled. Kelly was almost hoarse after fielding questions and compliments for four hours. As seems normal these days someone will turn up and wax lyrical about having a J in the past or one in the shed. This time it was Kelly who dragged me out of the crowd shouting “Pete, Pete here quick. This bloke knows of a few vans” and he proceeded to list this one and that and I just had to say, “You must be Steve Day”…Yes! the bloke almost fainted. Steve was the chap I bought JB 41717 from in 1981. We all had a jovial time but I could not get any “new” finds on that day.
Much work is still to be done on Kelly’s V8 J but that first showing has been & gone and the next one will come with SOUND!
I wake each morning wondering if today is that One day….
Peter Bateman – Syd’sKnee – Oz
Posted on October 9th, 2012
Our website featured in the editorial in October’s Classic and Sports Car magazine in an article about the 2012 awards at the NEC Classic Motor Show.
Posted on September 25th, 2012
The Goodwood Revival is over for another year, but what a great weekend it was. Check out the pictures for some of the delights.
On site over the weekend were SEVEN J-types: 221 EMF, 344 CNM, 477 XUK, 5003 NX, JSK 870, LDG 584 and LVJ 61, with TWO more in the car park on the Saturday. These were MJW 43 and MSK 194.
Posted on July 30th, 2012
JB/46628 is a very lucky J type. Phil Knight (the custodian) has been a model maker and model builder in his ‘spare’ time since forever! You know ‘spare time’,… time as in, going on holidays with the family, watching ‘uninteresting’ television, waiting for the kettle to boil or even the time other folk spend gasping on a ciggy? Phil’s model collection is best calculated by mathematicians but it does cover the walls of his workroom, study and large family lounge room. Comprehensive is a good word.
His latest feat is a JB, 1960 he says but I think he just went outside and measured up JB 46628. This photograph is of the ‘master’ body. There are about 36 other parts which go to make up the final kit, even the instrument binnacle is a stand alone piece.
A chap will need to devote a skilled hand to get Phil’s results but he assures me I could do it! I will need to be a very ‘controlled’ cove indeed. The detailing is commendable. Remember whilst looking at the van body in this snap everything has been made from scratch. Don’t bother to enquire of the hours spent. It’s only Phil’s “spare time”! Oh, the production run should start in late August.
Check out
http://www.thepartsbox.com/ Phil has done the master for his chum who owns the Partsbox and the model will be sold only thru them. Members might have some ‘spare time’.
Peter Bateman
Posted on July 17th, 2012
Tony Clipstone, the owner of J/R 649, the earliest known running J-type in the world, lost a courageous battle against cancer in Adelaide on the 15th July, 2012. He was 68.
Clipstone had a lifelong love of his beloved Morris vehicles and was the proud custodian of a Z van, a Minor van, an LC3 and an LC5. But his prize and passion was J/R 649. The LC5 fitted Tony’s madcap sense of humour as it enabled him to exercise his passion for the character of Claude Greengrass from the television program Heartbeat. His exploits at rallies and parties dressed as “Claude” were renowned.
It will forever be to Tony’s credit that J/R 649 has been preserved in original condition and unaltered.
Tony Clipstone was defined by his wit, humanity and sincerity. By profession he was a pharmacist. All comers were greeted with his openness and engaging personality. They were far too droll if they left without a smile. In the late ’90s, Tony ventured from his comfortable Adelaide home to live and work in the UK, as a pharmacist in North Wales. As an Aussie, he was able to entertain and bring a smile to the most crook (Aussie speak for unwell!) of Poms. Most found this bloke far too much fun and returned to his counter with any excuse for another remedy. He made friends easily and made all feel valued.
His farewell will be at Meadows, in the Adelaide Hills, and it is expected that the place will be overflowing. J/R 649 will of course, take pride of place. Tony Clipstone touched many; a gentleman whom it was an honour to have known. Tony is survived by his wife Wendy and mother Peg. Peter Bateman
J-owner Mike Slaney writes to inform us of the loss of another Australian J-owner and enthusiast, Chris Jackman, owner of an ex-Cripps Bakery J, now liveried as Jackman McRoss Bakers, which can be seen at http://www.jtypevan.com/morris-commercial/chassis-numbers-not-known/. Chris died suddenly at home, aged 42. He was a talented chef and mad about classic cars.
Posted on July 10th, 2012
Five Js and an Austin 101 line up at Ardingly over the weekend of the 8th/9th July. Well done to all the owners, this is a great sight to see!
Click on the ‘Blog’ button on the bar above to read all previous posts.
Posted on June 17th, 2012
I took 5003 NX along to the Father’s Day Event at Wythall Transport Museum. Which means that it’s now less than a year until the 65th Anniversary get-together in 2013. It’ll be at Wythall again, they did such a great job of helping to host the ’50th and ’60th. And being Father’s day on the Sunday there’ll be classic bus rides to be enjoyed, as well as other attractions. Forget counting the days ’til the Olympics, this is the one to get excited about!
Posted on June 11th, 2012
Gaydon Classic Commercial Show, 2012. Very mixed weather was the main aspect of Saturday at Gaydon, whilst the sun broke through on the Sunday and made for a great get-together. Vans in attendance were J/Bs 5003 NX, 495 YUB, 8444 UA, 949 BYY and 749 VRF; whilst flying the flag for the Austin side of the Register was 101 van, 585 TFM.
Members and owners/enthusiasts in attendance included, in no particular order, Bob Wall, Ray Herritts, Ray Kings, John Davies, Pam and Bob Mulholland, Dave Raven, Peter and Helen Smith, Dennis Bradley and Harvey Pitcher.
To see further photos go to the gallery at www.jtypevan.com/home/2012-gaydon-classic-commercial-show/
Posted on June 5th, 2012
At least two Morris J/B vans have enjoyed the Jubilee Celebrations over the first weekend of June. Roland Turner’s OBL 432 was used as advertising run up to the local village party on Saturday afternoon and evening, whilst the Pitcher family’s 5003 NX stood on display outside Birmingham Council House for a weekend of celebrations. Are there any other vans out there that took part in the Royal Celbrations? If so, we’d love to see photos which we could add to this blog.
Posted on May 25th, 2012
We have had contact from a J-owner in Canada, who found our website. He writes:
“I have J type van totally complete, not siezed. I aquired it about 10 years ago and is in storage till I find time to work on it. The question I have is this. The van has the clutch and brake as per usual but the throttle is in between these pedals in the centre. What can you tell me about these vans, how to determine year etc. I live in Saskatchewan Canada. This truck was used from new as a delivery truck for a local Co-op, I believe as a part of the war pay back program to pay off British debt. Any info would be appreciated, thanks Tony”.
This is a very rare left-hand drive J-type, of which only a handful survive! An early Dutch van, NF.85.99, which attended the ’50th Anniversary Celebrations also had a centre accelerator pedal. It would take a lot of getting used to! Tony has since supplied the van’s chassis number, which indicated a build date of March 1953. Thanks for the info Tony. Please stay in touch.
