Our man in Kiwi-land, Bryce, has found another gem on the streets: a BMC J4 pop-up camper van. Looking all the world like a down-scaled 1960 Ford Econoline, the Morris J4 actually arrived that same year. And like the original E-line, it to was eventually replaced by the Sherpa, which also put the motor out front, although in a rather hideous way. Nothing hideous about this cutie, which even sports some nice Minilite type wheels.
How’s this for a nice vintage pairing? Bryce’s Hillman Minx pulled in behind the J4. What a cute face; love these old Brit vans.
The J4 was initially marketed both in Austin and Morris guise, but eventually became just the BMC J4. It was powered by the 1622cc B-Series four, as found in everything from the MGA to…this. And the 1500cc diesel version was also available. The J4’s cab had a rep for being particularly noisy; not too surprising.
In my hitchiking trip to California in 1972, I ran into a guy with a similar Bedford CA camper. I coveted it with all my heart. The interior was so cleverly laid out, yet it was so compact on the outside. Never mind how cute it was. The pug-mobile.
This J4 appears to be well-loved, and the beneficiary of some diligent upkeep; perhaps even a bit of remodeling.
Neat! At first glance I thought it WAS an Econoline.
All those vans were noisy I had a CA Bedford,slow noisy uncomfortable. The J4 is quite rare I know of another doing duty as a sign but this one is mint and in camper form a real find, my Sunday afternoon cruise was worthwhile
I don’t really remember these in NZ (though not having lived there for 25 years the memory might be fading) – were they not common? The Bedford’s I do remember well though.
Bryce – the photo says “Wellington” to me though I can’t quite say why (steep narrow street?)
Ghillie –
Burns rd Napier hill.
Thanks for that – I would never have guessed Napier Hill. I have only been there once that I can recall and that was a long time ago.
Bryce! Dude! You really need to do a COAL on your Hillman!
Get on it!
8^)
Just out of curiosity I googled the Morris Sherpa. You’re right…ugly!
Ugly definitely but the came with V8 Rover engines
seconded, Richard! That Hillman looks lovely!
I think I could really enjoy this. In my younger days it would have lived at the beach. Not smart, but fun.
I just looked up the Sherpa and don’t think it was all that bad. Surprised there hasn’t been a cult develop. Or has there?
Wow, it looks like you wouldn’t want to be too tall & sleep in it! Perhaps the most unusual vehicle to get a set of minilites?
Here is a Bedford CF van, much bigger & more like a Transit or US van – http://www.flickr.com/photos/73069659@N07/7695689926/in/pool-curbsideclassic/
So the engine’s between the seats? The quintessential small van configuration! I bet all the current Japanese small vans with this configuration was inspired with these, Japanese automobiles had a history of being inspired by the British…
Nice find Bryce! Haven’t seen one of those for a while.
I had completely forgotten these vans, thanks for showing this nice example. J4s were very common where i live but they have vitually dissapeared since the eighties… see the seventies restyling:
and then a classy example of utilitarian … don’t miss the rings on the grille
Love that old Brit iron
I remember our mobile grocer had a hand painted J4 in the ’70s but I dont remember seeing so many about after 1980ish. What was very common was the Commer Spacevan (later Dodge?) a really daft vehicle. They had strange reciprocating engines that kinda buzzed along and the sliding doors always seemed to open and shut as they went along.
The image of an angry telecom engineer buzzing by in a yellow Commer in the 1970s…good times!
Those Commer vans had a Hillman Super Minx buried in them great for parts
Was there any material difference between the Hillman Minx and the Humber 80? I know the front grille was different (and of course the name badges) but what else? I remember the Humber 80 being in two-toned livery with a cream roofline area, whereas the Hillman Minxes tended to be painted in monotone liveries. Is that correct? And the Singer Gazelle had a fancier paint scheme yet than the Humber 80, and also a floor change shift! Was the Gazelle engine more potent than the other two? They were good solid cars. I remember the Humber Hawk (4 cylinder) and the Super Snipe (6 cylinder?) also being nice cruisers.. 🙂 with a long imposing bonnet line.
The Hillman Minx and Humber 80 are identical other than hubcaps and badging model for model it really was badge engineering but only to circumvent NZs import restrictions Rootes NZ did it to every Minx since WW2 right thru to 66, Engines are the same but hp figures vary upon carburetion and compression ratio twin carbs were optional on Singer Gazelles and NZ got low compression motors to suit our crap fuel, Floor shifts were available on all models but Griffith Motors made remote conversions and twin carb manifolds for Minxs and 80s They also did a range of high compression pistons I knew of several Humber 80s that would pull 100mph, New Zealands first saloon car championship was won by a guy in a 59 Humber 80 and some well known race drivers began careers in them which cemented the rebadged Minx into local folklore but the Cortina arrived and the bigger Kent engines in lighter Anglias took their place, Yeah plenty of Supersnipes still around those are quite plentiful the rare ones are the Humber 80s and Minxs they were never worth much and got thrashed into the ground years ago mine is the 12th of the line with the finlets and I tried original but its not suitable for modern traffic so I run a Hunter diff ratio overdriven on 205/15 tyres with 1600 SuperMinx motor and full syncro box it actually goes ok.