The J2 was a small forward-control van introduced by Morris Commercial in 1956. Its driver sat above the engine, a layout that saved length, and the van was sold under both BMC marques as the Morris J2 and the Austin J2, the latter also called the Austin 152.
BMC J2 at a glance
| Maker | Morris Commercial, British Motor Corporation |
|---|---|
| Production | 1956–1967 |
| Type | small forward-control van |
| Layout | driver’s cab above the engine |
| Engine | BMC B-series petrol, 1,489 cc, later 1,622 cc |
| Also sold as | Austin J2, Austin 152 |
| Sold alongside | Morris JB-type until 1961 |
| Smaller stablemate | Morris J4 from 1960 |
| Famous use | took the Beatles to Hamburg in 1960 |
Based on the English Wikipedia article on the Morris Commercial J2; one source and a short article, so this page is shorter than usual.
History of the BMC J2
The Morris J2 was launched in 1956 as a small forward-control van, with the driver’s cab sitting on top of the engine. That arrangement made the van compact for its load space, and it became a common sight on British streets in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Power came from the familiar BMC B-series petrol engine, at first in 1,489 cc form and later enlarged to 1,622 cc. Until 1961 the J2 was sold alongside the older and slightly smaller Morris JB-type. From 1960 the company also offered the slightly smaller Morris J4, which followed broadly the same architecture.
The van was marketed under two names: as the Morris J2 and as the Austin J2 or Austin 152. One example entered popular culture when Allan Williams, then manager of the Beatles, drove the group to their first residency in Hamburg in August 1960 in a Morris J2.
Design and features
- Forward control: the cab sits over the engine, so the whole length of the van is available for cargo.
- B-series petrol engine: 1,489 cc at first, enlarged to 1,622 cc later.
- Two badges: sold as Morris J2 and as Austin J2 or Austin 152.
- Part of a family: sold alongside the Morris JB and later the smaller Morris J4.
BMC J2 versions
- Morris J2: the original version.
- Austin J2 / Austin 152: the same van under the Austin marque.
- Early 1,489 cc vans: the original engine size.
- Later 1,622 cc vans: the enlarged B-series engine.
The J2 was joined in 1960 by the smaller BMC J4, and its forward-control layout was carried on in later British vans. More BMC vehicles are in the BMC collection.
Sources
- Morris Commercial J2, English Wikipedia: production, engines, names, Beatles
