The Morris J2 was a small, forward-control van (driver's cab on top of the engine) launched by Morris Commercial in 1956 and produced until 1967.[2] It was offered with the familiar B-series petrol engine, initially in 1,489 cc (90.9 cu in) form, but this was subsequently enlarged to 1,622 cc (99.0 cu in).[3]
| Morris J2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Morris Commercial |
| Also called | Austin 152 Austin J2 |
| Production | 1956–1967 |
| Assembly | United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Bogotá (Colombia)[1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Van |
| Body style | Van Pickup Minibus |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.5 L, 1.6 L B-series |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Morris J4 Morris 250 JU |
The Beatles were transported in a Morris J2 owned by their then-manager Allan Williams when he drove them to their first residency in Hamburg, Germany, in August 1960.[4]
Until 1961, the van was sold alongside the relatively old-fashioned and slightly smaller Morris JB-type. From 1960 the company also offered the slightly smaller Morris J4 which broadly followed the same overall architecture as the J2.[5]
The J2 van was marketed as both the Morris J2 and the Austin J2 or Austin 152.
The engine was normally separated from the driver by a steel cover, but its presence in the cab nevertheless ensured a warm journey after a couple of miles of running
The J2 was also used as the basis for various campervans
