In Black Maria guise the J4 was granted instant fame by the Abbey Road front cover and Withnail & I – ‘Get in the back of the van!’ The fact that it was variously badged as an Austin, a Morris, a BMC and an Austin-Morris hints at the corporate chaos that was the British Motor Corporation/British Leyland but despite being rendered an anachronism overnight by the Transit, production continued until 1974 in the UK and 1989 in Spain. Immortalized in the classic Peter Sellers film The Wrong Arm of the Law – ‘Do me a favour, it’s falling apart!’Ī top speed of 63 mph, an engine mounted between the front seats and steering often recalled by retired police officers and postmen as ‘somewhat imprecise’ – the J4 could be best described as ‘utilitarian transport’. Popular with dairies, as the Dormobile camper, an ambulance and a ‘Tonibell’ ice cream van (complete with a model cow on the roof) the Bedford offered a certain sense of style and quite agreeable handling thanks to its independent front suspension. Between 19 this was the van of choice for any tradesman who favoured Gene Vincent hairstyles, Woodbines and driving at 50 mph with the sliding doors open.
