Morris Minor Owners Club

Can anyone help me to date my pickup?
The reg no is ALA 979A chassis no: OJE1 162439
I believe it was reregistered in 1963 the original reg no was 237 HYO
The colour is now black but suspect it was white or blue at some stage in it’s life
I am also led to believe that it may have started life as a van belonging to GPO or Telecom

I am also led to believe the true date of 1st reg would be between 1959 – 1960
as there are tell-tell signs of it being an earlier model.
Thanx for your help

Can't help over date, but there MAY still be original colour on the rear of the rails along the inside of the pick-up bed, and unless someone was very thorough, behind the plates on the bulkhead. Other places it tends to stay are under the rubber that divides the bab and cab back, and the place where the cab back curves to meet the cab inside. Sure you've thought of all those though.

A reg is 1963, I dont recognise the OJE1 prefix to a chassis number, but Im no expert on LCVs all far as I know later models were MA prefixs to the chassis numbers so it could well be earlier. Sorry.

Certainly my '67 is MA. as are the rest. AFAIK, the records for LCVs were destroyed in a fire. RussLCV is (Ithink) compiling a new list, and may be able to help. Are you sure the OJE is the chassis number, not the body number?

bigginger wrote:Certainly my '67 is MA. as are the rest. AFAIK, the records for LCVs were destroyed in a fire. RussLCV is (Ithink) compiling a new list, and may be able to help. Are you sure the OJE is the chassis number, not the body number?

good point, maybe it is, the log book has not been returned yet so i will have to check on that

bigginger wrote:Can't help over date, but there MAY still be original colour on the rear of the rails along the inside of the pick-up bed, and unless someone was very thorough, behind the plates on the bulkhead. Other places it tends to stay are under the rubber that divides the bab and cab back, and the place where the cab back curves to meet the cab inside. Sure you've thought of all those though.

hi andrew, there are traces of blue on the body work
i also have some photo copys of the old reg docs (which is how i know the reg no has changed)
some say it was blue
and one says it was white
i tried a link to the lcv register but does not seem to work, does anyone have another link?

i have just checked previous mots and photo copys of log book and this is the correct vin no:
OJE1 162439

According to the Original Morris Minor book, it was a GPO Engineers van.It is between the numbers OJE 162096 (Oct63) and OJE176001(Aug 64)

Dear Alma,

Would you like to go out sometime you know for a date

I'm a 1963 guy with a big heart and recent plastic surgery

oops ..........Just reading it differently!

James

Rasputin wrote:According to the Original Morris Minor book, it was a GPO Engineers van.It is between the numbers OJE 162096 (Oct63) and OJE176001(Aug 64)

thanx rasputin

i have just found out
...........
OJE1 162439

O = Quarter ton (5 cwt)
J = Engineers van
E = Mid-Green
1 = RHD Home market

162439 = 161938th LCV off the production line during 1963 according to records, one of the last series IIIs

motherofgod wrote:Dear Alma,

Would you like to go out sometime you know for a date

I'm a 1963 guy with a big heart and recent plastic surgery

oops ..........Just reading it differently!

James

hi james
alma told me to tell you the following
...................

she happy to go on a date providing you are loaded (not sure what she means by that)

ps she says she do'nt mind plastic surgery as it may well blend with her polyfiller

one thing though, my understanding is that in 1962 the engine was upgraded to a 1098cc yet mine is a 948cc?

You may find traces of original colour if you remove the glove boxes and look at the paintwork behind. Only the few repaint here!

les wrote:You may find traces of original colour if you remove the glove boxes and look at the paintwork behind. Only the few repaint here!

Yep I painted there! And above the roof lining and behind all the rubbers and grommets

one thing though, my understanding is that in 1962 the engine was upgraded to a 1098cc yet mine is a 948cc?

Depends how long it was in storage before delivery anything is possible in the car industry in those days.

its 1963 they changed engine size , new models usually out october that year. yours is series 3 would be 948

OJE1 162439

O = Quarter ton (5 cwt)
J = Engineers van
E = Mid-Green
1 = RHD Home market

162439 = 161938th LCV off the production line during 1963 according to records, one of the last series IIIs

didnt know that another other interesting LCV prefixes?

Yep I painted there! And above the roof lining and behind all the rubbers and grommets

A proper job then!

I have spoken to Jay at length, Registartion number (original is NOT GPO) yet the chassis number is!!

So i guess when the reg was transferred, an ID from something may have been used as th edonor vehicle needs to be in the road to transfer the plate.

I am currently awaiting the body number that will confirm GPO or civilian

Cheers

Dating your pick up!!

Registered on; 12/10/63,OJE1/162439 was ORIGINALLY registered 440 GPO,fleet number U96437.

When sold off by the GPO the majority were re-regd using unused regn blocks.

Yours was obviously an ex-London van

(sister vehicle; 441 GPO(U96438) of LONDON WEST AREA became 298 HYO upon sale in May 1971)

Originally fitted with an 803cc engine & long g/stick box; (8MC/J/2???)

Puzzled by the white/blue colouring - ie NO green!!

Check the cab number on the n/s engine bay bulkhead; (x Z34193-4 P204?? x)

Only just noticed this post!!!

Hope this has been of help

Chris @ POMM