GPO Vehicles

ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS
TOOLS & TRANSPORT
VEHICLES
B 1301
Issue 2 (25/09/1962)

MOTOR TRANSPORT
General Purpose Car, Type 2 (Morris)

1. General
This Instruction describes the General Purpose Car, Type 2 (Morris) and its facilities. It has been specifically adopted to meet the requirements of Eng. Dept. and Regional Headquarters where journeys are frequently necessary. The vehicle is normally supplied for use on duties at these headquarter only.

2. Description
The vehiclele is a standard dual purpose type, of B.M.C. manufacture. It is of welded pressed-sheet-metal construction and has four passenger doors, plus rear access for the loading or unloading of equipment.

3. There are two versions in service.  The earlier version, referred to as Model A in this instruction, differs from the later version, Model B, mainly in external appearance.  A general view of Model A is shown in Fig. 1 and of Model B in Fig. 2.  Details quoted in brackets refer to the Model B.

Fig 1 - Model A

Fig 2 - Model B

4. Dimensions
The overall dimensions are: length 14 ft. 2.5 in. (14 ft. 10 in.), width 5 ft. 5 in. (5 ft. 3.5 in.) and height 5 ft. 3.5 (5 ft.)

5. Seating
Bench type seating of passenger car standard gives adequate comfort on long journeys for up to four officers.  A fifth officer can reasonably accommodated on the rear seat for short journeys.

The rear seat is arranged to fold for maximum stores/equipment carrying space.  To fold the rear seats, pull the rear seat cushion upright by means of the slot in the back of the cushion.  Release the seat back by pulling on the release cable located at the back of the seat back (on model B the seat back is simply pulled free) and fold it forward until level with the floor.  Take care that the slots in the seat back engage with the pins on the base of the seat cushion.

The front seat is adjustable.

6. Stores accommodation
With the rear seat in use a floor area 3 ft. 5 in. (3 ft. 3 in.) long x 4 ft. 4 in, (4 ft. 2.5 in.) wide is available at the rear for the carriage of equipment and stores; the capacity of this space is approximately 26 cu. ft.  With the rear seat folded the capacity is increased to approximately 30 cu. ft. and the length of the floor area to approximately 5 ft. 2 in. (5 ft. 1.75 in.).  Caution:- Care should be exercised when loading and unloading heavy items or items with sharp protrusions, to ensure that the interior fabric lining is not damaged. Concentrated loads should be placed on the equivalent of 1 in. wooden boards arranged across the floor area to distribute the weight.

7. Payload
The maximum payload that can be carried on the vehicle is 9 cwt. inclusive of the driver.  If in doubt a simple check can be made by weighing the vehicle in its moving condition, i.e. complete with contents, personnel, full petrol tank, etc.  The gross moving weight may not exceed 33 cwt. (32.5 cwt.).  Weighbridge charges incurred should he passed to Freight and Cartage.

8. Spare wheel and vehicle tools: Model A
The spare wheel is carried in a compartment beneath the rear portion of the body floor, access being gained to this compartment by removing the panel carrying the rear number plate; the panel is released by turning both handles mounted on the panel.  Two covered retaining chains suspend the removed panel clear of the aperture giving access to the compartment.

The vehicle tool kit is housed in the spare wheel compartment.  Two webbing straps are provided to secure the tool roll to the floor of the compartment.

9. Spare wheel and vehicle tools: Model B
The spare wheel is carried in a tray beneath the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle tools in a small compartment at the extreme rear of the body floor. Access to the spare wheel securing device is via the tool compartment.  The spare wheel tray is lowered by turning the screw located in the bottom of the tool compartment anti-clockwise, using the vehicle starting handle. The tray is raised by turning the screw clockwise.

10. Log book and first aid kit
Two compartments let into the fascia panel can accommodate the log book and similar items. The driver's first aid kit is located in the near-side compartment.

11. Ventilation
Adjustable quarter lights are fitted in the front door windows for ventilating the vehicle without draughts . All side door windows are openable and of the wind-down type.

12. Interior lighting
A roof-mounted interior light is provided.  Switching of this light is controlled by a combination of an automatic switch mounted on each front door pillar and a manually operated switch integral with the actual lamp fitting.  The act of opening either front door switches the lamp on and closing the door switches it off.  With both doors closed, the lamp is controlled by the integral switch.

13. Locking arrangements: Model A
The two near-side doors and the rear off-side door are locked by pushing their inside door handles forward.  The driver's door, the rear door and the spare wheel compartment are locked by means of the ignition key which is of the small Yale type.

14. Locking arrangements: Model B
The front doors, rear goods door and petrol filler cover are locked by means of the ignition key which is of the small Yale type.  To lock the front doors, turn the key slightly towards the front of the car, return it to the upright position and withdraw it.  To unlock the doors, turn the key slightly towards the rear of the car, return it to the upright position and withdraw it.  The front doors can be locked without using the key by pushing the interior door handle downwards prior to closing the door and holding the exterior push button depressed as the door is shut.  The rear passenger doors are locked by pushing the interior handles downwards.

15. Precaution
Do not drive the vehicle with the rear goods door open as exhaust fumes tend to be drawn into the vehicle interior.  In addition, with Model B the rear number plate is not displayed when the bottom door section is open.

16. Sign writing
Standard inscriptions for sign-writing are given in C 0015.

17. Re-enamelling and retouching
The outside of the vehicle has a synthetic enamel finish. Attempts to retouch any scratch or damaged part should not be made by the staff using the vehicle: work of this nature is undertaken by the Workshop Supervisor/Mechanic-in-Charge when necessary and during periodic overhauls.

18. Speed limit
The General Purpose Car, Type 2 (Morris) is classified as a dual purpose vehicle and is not subject to any general speed limit (see D 0022).

19. Towing
The General Purpose Car, Type 2 (Morris) is not suitable for towing any type of trailer nor for use as a power unit, and officers are forbidden to use or attempt to use the vehicle for these purposes.

20. Modifications
Attention is specially drawn to B 0012 as general purpose cars have frequently been subjected to unauthorized modifications. Furthermore, modifications which alter certain features of the vehicle layout or facilities could bring the vehicle within the speed limit for goods vehicles.

21. Provision
Demands for this vehicle for duties other than those mentioned in par. 1 should be treated as demands for non-standard vehicles and should be circulated via the Eng. Dept. (Cn3/3) using form A 18. Similarly, when a Region proposes to introduce a General Purpose Car, Type 2 (Morris) to duties other than those mentioned in par. 1, via the vehicle replacement program, form MTE 73 and any associated papers should be referred to the Eng. Dept. (Cn3/3) before the requirement is firmly advised to the RM.T.O.

Last revised: February 02, 2021