DO YOU REMEMBER – THE MORRIS J4?

If this 1964 Morris J4 seems familiar, it is probably because you have seen it on Heartbeat, The Royal, or Cradle to the Grave. Counting Stars of Leighton Buzzard is selling this rare surviving example of a van that once dominated the roads of the UK.

The British Motor Corporation unveiled the J4 at the 1960 Commercial Vehicle Show, a unique replacement for the running Morris J-Type/Austin 101. Its distinct appearance, resembling a box on wheels, was a standout feature. The BMC staff at Earls Court proudly showcased its 160-cu.-ft. load bay and the forward control layout, which allocated a significant 60% of the J4’s overall length for goods. The familiar 1.5-litre B-Series engine was a reassuring feature, promising minimal servicing issues.

The J4 entered a highly competitive sector of the market. If the Standard Atlas made comparatively little impression on commercial vehicle buyers, the Thames 400E and especially the Bedford CA were rivals with an established customer base. In addition, the Rootes Group launched the new Commer FC ‘Spacevan’ in 1960. Fortunately, Commercial Motor of 23^rd September thought the J4’s “general handling was particularly good”. However, a slightly later report warned: “I also found it difficult to give hand signals due to the small opening left when either section of the side windows was open”.

BMC offered the J4 as a Morris or Austin; apart from badging the two were identical but the corporation’s unwieldy dealership chains demanded separate marques. £470 was a reasonable sum for a panel van, even if a passenger seat, heater, chromium-plated bumpers, sun visors, a radio and, best of all, a spare wheel and tyre were optional extras. As was typical for that era, J4s departed the factory in primer, with light blue, charcoal grey, light grey, or mid-green paint finishes costing another £10. At least rubber mats on the cab floor and painted steel bumpers were standard equipment.

This J4 is especially intriguing for its gearbox. In early 1964, BMC’s in-house journal published a report saying the J4 and its larger J2 stablemate were now available with a Borg Warner Type 35 automatic transmission. The set-up made a great deal of sense for urban delivery work, saving on clutch wear. In that year, BMC replaced the 1.5-litre engine with the 1,622cc B-series unit.

By 1968, UK-market J4s wore ‘BMC’ badging, and from 1970 onwards, the last examples were sold as an ‘Austin-Morris’. The Sherpa replaced it in 1974. This writer has memories of well-used J4s being piloted with their open by Alvin Stardust lookalikes during the Big Heat of 1976, so this example evokes so many memories. There are the air vents beside the radiator grille to cool the occupants’ feet, those rather stylish tail lamps, and the wipers mounted above the windscreen.

Inside, the engine is mounted between the front seats, while the dashboard is free of distractions. As with the Mini and the Morris Minor, the central instrument dial made it easier for BMC to convert the J4 to left-hand drive. SAVA - Sociedad Anónima de Vehículos Automoviles - in Spain built many examples.

Above all, the J4 was once part of the fabric of everyday life; the Post Office, various police forces and countless businesses. Not to mention Abbey Road and Withnail and I.

With thanks to the owner for their permission to use the images. eBay