Morris Commercial J4
Encyclopedia
The Morris Commercial J4 was a 10 cwt (0.5 ton) forward control van
(driver's cab on top of the engine) launched by the Morris Commercial
subsidiary of the British Motor Corporation
(BMC) in 1960 and produced with two facelifts until 1974, available with the familiar B series petrol engine in 1622cc form and also, at extra cost, with a 1500 cc diesel unit. Stopping power came from drum brakes all round: there was no servo assistance. Suspension was similar to that on the Austin Cambridge
/Morris Oxford
of the time: the front independent suspension incorporated coil springs and hydraulic "Lever-type" shock absorbers while the rear springing was achieved by semi-elliptic leaf springs.
In the 1960s light vans were often named simply by their load capacity, and the van at the time was often called simply the Morris 10/12 cwt. (The "cwt
" was a pre-decimal unit of weight much used in Britain at the time and equivalent to approximately 50 kg: these names therefore denoted a load capacity of 500/600 kg. There was also a US cwt but this had a different value.)
The van was marketed first as both the Morris J4 and the Austin J4. Following the formation of the British Leyland Motor Corporation
in 1968, into which BMC, by then a subsidiary of British Motor Holdings
, had been absorbed, the van was branded as the BMC J4.
During its life the van underwent minor improvements under the metal. However, even in 1967 the vans were still shipped with synchromesh on the top three forward gears only. The engine lived in the driver's cabin between the two seats: the van was considered unusually noisy, even in the 1960s. A J4 petrol engined based motor caravan was tested by Britain's Autocar
magazine in 1967. It managed a maximum speed of 63 mph (101 km/h) and a time from 0-50 mph (80 km/h) of 20.2 seconds. The vehicle as tested weighed 2910 pounds (1,320 kg) and overall petrol consumption for the test came in at 22.7 mpgimp.
This van became a familiar sight on British streets collecting and delivering mail in the Royal Mail
livery of the Post Office. Although quite a successful light commercial, it sold mainly by virtue of keen pricing to large fleets, living after 1965 in the shadow of the all conquering front engined Ford Transit
, as did several other British built 60s/70s light commercials such as the Leyland Atlas, Commer FC and the formerly class leading but now ageing Bedford CA
. Indeed whilst competent as a van the Morris J4 offered a rather poor driving experience even by the standards of the day.
The J4 was replaced in 1974 by the front engined Sherpa van
, which utilised the rear panel work of the J4 virtually unchanged, this remaining in production in various forms until 2006.
) appears parked in the street on the cover of the Beatles Abbey Road
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
(driver's cab on top of the engine) launched by the Morris Commercial
Morris Commercial Cars
Morris Commercial Cars Limited was a British manufacturer of commercial vehicles founded by William Morris, who was also the founder of the Morris Motor Company.-History:...
subsidiary of the British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
(BMC) in 1960 and produced with two facelifts until 1974, available with the familiar B series petrol engine in 1622cc form and also, at extra cost, with a 1500 cc diesel unit. Stopping power came from drum brakes all round: there was no servo assistance. Suspension was similar to that on the Austin Cambridge
Austin Cambridge
The Austin Cambridge is a motor car range sold by the Austin Motor Company in several generations from September 1954 through to 1969 as cars and 1971 as light commercials. It replaced the A40 Somerset but was entirely new with modern unibody construction...
/Morris Oxford
Morris Oxford
After the Second World War the Oxford MO replaced the 10. It was introduced in 1948 and was produced until 1954. The design was shared with Nuffield Organisation stable-mate Wolseley 4/50....
of the time: the front independent suspension incorporated coil springs and hydraulic "Lever-type" shock absorbers while the rear springing was achieved by semi-elliptic leaf springs.
In the 1960s light vans were often named simply by their load capacity, and the van at the time was often called simply the Morris 10/12 cwt. (The "cwt
Hundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
" was a pre-decimal unit of weight much used in Britain at the time and equivalent to approximately 50 kg: these names therefore denoted a load capacity of 500/600 kg. There was also a US cwt but this had a different value.)
The van was marketed first as both the Morris J4 and the Austin J4. Following the formation of the British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd . It was partly nationalised in 1975 with the government creating a new holding company called British Leyland Ltd which became BL Ltd in 1978...
in 1968, into which BMC, by then a subsidiary of British Motor Holdings
British Motor Holdings
British Motor Holdings Limited was a British motor company known until 14 December 1966 as British Motor Corporation Limited .-History:...
, had been absorbed, the van was branded as the BMC J4.
During its life the van underwent minor improvements under the metal. However, even in 1967 the vans were still shipped with synchromesh on the top three forward gears only. The engine lived in the driver's cabin between the two seats: the van was considered unusually noisy, even in the 1960s. A J4 petrol engined based motor caravan was tested by Britain's Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
magazine in 1967. It managed a maximum speed of 63 mph (101 km/h) and a time from 0-50 mph (80 km/h) of 20.2 seconds. The vehicle as tested weighed 2910 pounds (1,320 kg) and overall petrol consumption for the test came in at 22.7 mpgimp.
This van became a familiar sight on British streets collecting and delivering mail in the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
livery of the Post Office. Although quite a successful light commercial, it sold mainly by virtue of keen pricing to large fleets, living after 1965 in the shadow of the all conquering front engined Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
, as did several other British built 60s/70s light commercials such as the Leyland Atlas, Commer FC and the formerly class leading but now ageing Bedford CA
Bedford CA
The Bedford CA was a distinctive pug-nosed light commercial vehicle produced between 1952 and 1969 by Vauxhall Motors subsidiary Bedford Vehicles, in Luton, United Kingdom....
. Indeed whilst competent as a van the Morris J4 offered a rather poor driving experience even by the standards of the day.
The J4 was replaced in 1974 by the front engined Sherpa van
LDV Pilot
The LDV Pilot is a panel van that was produced by LDV Limited from 1997 until 2006, and closely based on preceding models dating back to 1974 ....
, which utilised the rear panel work of the J4 virtually unchanged, this remaining in production in various forms until 2006.
Popular culture
A London Metropolitian Police J4 (usually referred to as a Black MariaBlack Maria
Black Maria may refer to:*Black Maria, a slang term for a police van used to transport prisoners*Edison's Black Maria, a film studio created by Thomas Edison- Music :*The Black Maria, a Canadian rock band...
) appears parked in the street on the cover of the Beatles Abbey Road
Abbey Road (album)
Abbey Road is the eleventh studio album released by the English rock band The Beatles and their last recorded. Though Let It Be was the last album released before the band's dissolution in 1970, work on Abbey Road began in April 1969...