“PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WANT TO HAVE A PHOTO TAKEN IN FRONT OF THE VAN”
When he told his workmates he had a J type two mates offered their skills and occasional working bees were arranged.
Being an early export van it has a steel sub-floor in the back. Also unique is the rectangular side lights. They are the same as the Austin A90 Atlantic used and only featured on early J vans.
Ready made replacement panels are available from the UK but sometimes delivery times are not fast enough for eager restorers. Local metal shops were a great help as was an experienced welder found through a nearby Hot Rod club.
Eventually the panels arrived from Fairmile Restorations in the UK, welded into place and the van became a solid unit. Readying vans like these for paint requires hours of tapping and beating. Colours had been chosen and the interior had been painted. Guards and engine cowling had been sent to the local spray shop and were now glowing gloss black in the spare bedroom. Restoration was again interrupted when rescuer #2 received a work transfer and the J had to go! Work could not be refused and there was no prospect of a garage. Keeping the J was out of the question.
15 years had been so far been spent getting this van ready for the final hurdle. So close but yet J/R 4875 was still so vulnerable as without painting the ferrous oxide would take over again.
Justin Lewis was told of this van and quickly decided it would fit Yellow Express perfectly. After arriving at Vehicle Color Design Centre, things started to happen quickly. Within days a colour scheme was chosen based very closely on the original Yellow Express company livery. After being painted it was a case of putting things back together. An auto electrician was brought in to connect + to - and a mechanic to make sure it started. The roof which had been painted separately was bolted into place. Glass was installed and all the chromed pieces and parts from the cardboard boxes were refitted. The original Parts Manual made this task less complicated. Only eight weeks after arriving in Sydney J/R 4875 was registered and driven to take pride of place in the Yellow Express showroom at Victoria Road, Rozelle, where it now lives.
J/R 4875 would again do some local deliveries and promote the courier company. It received many positive stares. After 65 years the Morris J type van still makes people happy. When this van is out and about people of all ages want to have a photograph taken in front of the van.