1920 – 1948
Light Car Derived Vans
Since the company’s birth in 1924, Morris Motors pioneered the concept of and had been building light vans, born out of well-proven car chassis like the Morris “Cowley Commercial Traveller”. Various light vans were also built based on it’s pre-war Morris Minor and Morris Eight, Morris Y10 and Morris Series Z. However, their most famous product arrived in 1948 with the unveiling of the Morris “J-type” light commercial van, a global icon with a revolutionary design, captivating the world at the Commercial Motor Show.
1948
An Icon Is Born
In a grand reveal at the 1948 Commercial Motor Show, Earls Court, London, alongside the very famous Morris Minor, the Morris “J-type” burst onto the scene, a British designed dazzling icon. With a distinct curvaceous roof and body, a V-shaped front adorned with a distinctive smiling, pear-shaped grille, and captivating features like a beautiful split windscreen and sliding doors, the J-type swiftly ascended to global acclaim.
1949 – 1961
A “BIG” LITTLE VAN
Bearing the mantra “bigger space, bigger profits”, the “J-type”, has a groundbreaking “load carrying to footprint” ratio unsurpassed by any vehicles since it was introduced in 1949. Its innovative forward-control packaging, low floor, and sliding doors made it the favoured choice for many fleets including The Co-Operative, John Lewis, Liberty of London, Lyons, Hovis, Mother’s Pride, Timpson, Macfisheries, Kenwood, Sainsburys, British Red Cross etc etc. The J-type was known as the “BIG little van”. It became the inspiration for the Morris Mini which became known as the “BIG little car”.
1949 – 1961
Variants on a single theme
The “J-type” wasn’t just a van; it was a versatile marketing canvas, sold as a van or chassis cab for coachbuilders and embraced by milkmen, bakers, and department stores. Variants included pick-up trucks, ambulances, milk-floats, mobile snack bars, ice cream vans, nine-seater minibuses, and even camper vans, earning admiration from worldwide renowned brands like John Lewis, Dunlop, Cadburys, Tiffany’s and many others. The J-type provided a perfect platform for a wide variety of body styles and for a whole spectrum of applications.
1949 – 1961
A Van To Build Business
In the Post-World War II world, the “J-type” became a symbol of business growth. It was instrumental in promoting business and entrepreneurship and a common sight on bustling high streets. Whether serving Walls Ice Cream, the RAC, or thriving independent businesses globally, the J-type proved to be a reliable, roomy, and robust servant providing independence and flexible employment to its custodians. It was considered as a source of profit to the owner and pleasure to the driver.
1949 – 1961
Postman’s Choice
Embracing its generous storage and manoeuvrability, the Royal Mail became the largest buyer of Morris vans, purchasing over 17,000 “J-types” for postal delivery and planning vans. The J-type’s practical design and operational excellence were resonated globally, with postal services from Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malta and many other countries using J-types as their postal van for many years. One of the postmen in New Zealand would not even allow his van to retire before he did!
1949 – 1961
Loved Around The World
The “J-type” spread its wings beyond Britain, reaching at least twenty countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Kenya, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Denmark, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Bahamas, Belgium, Holland, Malta, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Pakistan to name a few. The two biggest export markets were Australia and New Zealand with a CKD assembly plant in Melbourne. Australia’s equivalent of the RAC (The NRMA vehicle rescue service) fleet of 144 J types became legendary, covering an average 30,000 miles each vehicle per year and earning the moniker “The Mighty Js”.
1961
The J-Type Appeal Continues
After 13 triumphant years contributing to the joy and success of a great range of businesses, the Morris “J-type” was finally superseded by the Morris J4 in 1961. However, the J-type never left the public eye. It continues taking centre stage in many television and film productions. From battling Daleks in Doctor Who to starring as the ‘joymobile’ in a series of Cadbury’s chocolate advertisements, cementing its timeless charm.
2019
New Beginnings
November 2019 marked the genesis of a new chapter. Morris Commercial unveiled the stunning all new all electric Morris JE van in London Design Museum, a 21st century re-imagining of the iconic Morris J-type van, heralds a new electric future for the historic British brand. Fully designed and engineered in Britain, the new BEV light commercial vehicle is designed to take a timeless and quintessentially British design classic to a sustainable future.