Morris Commercial J4

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Morris J4
Manufacturer	Morris Commercial
Production	1960 – 1974
Successor	Leyland Sherpa
Class	Van

The Morris Commercial J4 was a 10 cwt 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 until 1974, available with the familiar B series petrol engine in 1622cc form and also with a 1500cc diesel. 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.

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 Ford Transit as did most 60s/70s light commercials. Indeed whilst competent as a van it offered a rather poor driving experience even by the standards of the day. The J4 was replaced in 1974 by the normal control Sherpa van, which utilised the rear panel work of the J4 virtually unchanged, this remaining in production in various forms until 2006.

[edit] References

• Harry Edwards. Morris Commercial Vehicles. Alan Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-0176-4.