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76JA005 Paralanian

1:76 Scale

This month we have new castings, the Austins J2 Paralanian and the Morris J2 London ambulance. I didn’t really think when I decided to launch these about the size of the Paralanian, it was so big it didn’t fit the case, so we’ve modified the plinth with four cutouts, which means that this model sits lower. The J2 range was announced in June 1956 with a wheelbase of 7ft 6 ins and rated at 15cwt. The van cost £554 and the 12 seater minibus £625, if you wanted heaters it would cost £11 extra. The cab had two front panel designs to provide the Morris J2 and Austin 152 version which was a policy adopted by BMC. The van could be specified with either sliding or hinged cab doors, single or sliding rear doors. By 1965 the Morris front panel was dropped and the Austin front panel was adopted for both versions. The name Paralanian derived from the road in which the coachbuilders were based - Parry Lane, Bradford and it was the first modern compact coach built motor home and many came with these two tone finishes.