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Topic starter
25/06/2023 12:55 am
Only the Brits will relate, but Oxford Diecast does a series of Morris J2 vans and mini buses. BMC did make a pickup version but it has not (yet) been done in 43rd scale, so I simply made one from a van. These were circa 1958-62 (?) and yes there were a few sold in the USA with LHD. Powered by the BMC B series 1489cc engine with a column mounted four speed gearbox. This engine is more commonly seen in the MGA and Nash Metropolitan in the USA. Being an anglophile I just had to have a 43rd version and when I discovered this sad surviving example just 15 miles west of me in Veneta Oregon it was my inspiration.
And in miniature
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
25/06/2023 6:56 am
I appreciate it a lot! I love the corrugated interior of the bed. Very well done. Reminds me of a little Matchbox I have...
John Kuvakas reacted
25/06/2023 7:50 am
Very impressive John. I am amazed that you would find a Morris J2 so close to home. I have not seen them in North America, just the UK.
Love your rendition and modifications on the pickup, right down to the windshield wipers.
Karl Schnelle and John Kuvakas reacted
25/06/2023 9:25 am
Very well done John. I recall a good number of the vans in my home town in British Columbia back in the day but very few pickups. My father's friend bought a brand new Austin van of the same design.
John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
25/06/2023 4:01 pm
Very well done John. I recall a good number of the vans in my home town in British Columbia back in the day but very few pickups. My father's friend bought a brand new Austin van of the same design.
Jack, Oxford does two different grill designs. I can not tell if one is a Morris and one is an Austin or this was just a later model styling change for both. Any one know?
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
25/06/2023 5:27 pm
Very well done John. I recall a good number of the vans in my home town in British Columbia back in the day but very few pickups. My father's friend bought a brand new Austin van of the same design.
Jack, Oxford does two different grill designs. I can not tell if one is a Morris and one is an Austin or this was just a later model styling change for both. Any one know?
Hi John
The Morris versions had a taller, pear-shaped grille with vertical bars, while the Austins had a lower, wider grille with horizontal bars.
https://heritagemachines.com/restorations/1957-morris-j2-minibus/
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
David Green and Karl Schnelle reacted
25/06/2023 9:30 pm
That is an excellent job and those little vans are incredibly intriguing. I know absolutely nothing about them, but I want a couple. I am headed to eBay to check out what's up.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
Topic starter
25/06/2023 10:09 pm
John, I get mine directly from Oxford Diecast in the UK. Fair pricing and shipping and quite a selection of 43rd scale items.
https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/
And Chris, thanks for the heritage machines link, quite interesting and lots of details! I used a factory sales brochure for my conversion, my archives are well... pretty extensive.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
JayGolan reacted
26/06/2023 1:30 am
@chris-sweetman Here are examples of the Oxford Models Austin and Morris J2 van grille differences.
I have the Austin J2 van done as a camper; it is really well done and good value IMO.
26/06/2023 7:43 pm
Here is my Morris J2 from Matchbox - one of my fav's from childhood...
!
Jack Dodds reacted
27/06/2023 2:42 pm
@karl I have the first version - red and black decal, knobby dark gray plastic wheels, and crimped axle ends. Those Matchbox collectors can get pretty exacting when it comes to variations.
Karl Schnelle and Jack Dodds reacted