BMC 350 EA van history

Manufacturer:	BMC / Leyland
Production period:	1968 to 1984
Type:	commercial vehicle
designs:	Panel van , flatbed , minibus
Engines:	Gasoline 2.5 liters  Diesel 2.5 liters

In 1968, the BMC 350EA launched as the successor to the Morris LD Van / Austin 1000 / 1500kg Van . Following the merger of British Motor Corporation (BMC) and Leyland Motors into the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), the model was no longer marketed as Morris / Austin and production of the Leyland 2-tonner and Leyland 15/20 discontinued.

The 350 EA was therefore the group's first model to be offered as BMC from the beginning, while for example the BMC 250 JU or the BMC J4 were only renamed models.

Like its predecessor, it was a cab transporter with a built-in between driver and passenger seat engine whose power was transmitted to the rear axle with cardan shaft. From the predecessor he distinguished in the body area some details:

• The box van for door-to-door delivery now had two front sliding doors ex works.
• Minibus and ambulances had as already the flatbed front two folding doors.
• A semitrailer tractor was no longer produced, as this was the BMC FG alone in the segment provided.
• A chassis with engine (cowl) for superstructures was also available again.
• The ambulance now had a special body of its own on the platform of the 350 EA,
• But there was also a patient transport car based on the 350-EA van.
• The payload was now uniformly 1500 kg.

With the same wheelbase, the van had two different lengths with a cargo capacity of 7.7 m³ and 9.1 m³. A 2.5-liter gasoline engine with side camshaft and 51 kW (69 hp) or a 2.5-liter diesel engine with 42 kW (58 hp) powered the vehicle, each with 5-speed manual transmission.

In 1970, BLMC dropped the brand name BMC and the 350 EA was now marketed as Leyland EA. At the same time, the model range was revised. A new long-wheelbase version was introduced, which now has a cargo capacity of 9.1 m³ with short wheelbase and 11 m³ at long wheelbase in the van was available. The payload was increased to 1 ½ to 2 tons, bringing the total weight over 3500 kg and the name 350 was omitted in the name. Now again a chassis with cab for bodies was offered.

In advertising, Leyland spoke of a "box on wheels" or "plain, practical and packed with power." As was the case with BLMC at the time, the quality of construction and reliability varied. As a result, the EA never reached fleet sales like the Morris LD Van , but was nevertheless a familiar sight on the roads of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the 1970s. Apart from the Commonwealth countries , he also achieved some sales successes in continental Europe.

From 1982 to 1984, he gradually replaced the larger versions of the Freight Rover 200-300 / Sherpa .

General Specification

• Manufacturer:BMC / Leyland
• Production period:1968-1984
• Designs:Panel van , flatbed , minibus
• Engines:Gasoline engine :2.5 liters (51 kW)Diesel engine :2.5 liters (42 kW)
• Payload:1.5-2.0 t
• Total weight:3.5-4.0 t
• Previous model:Morris LD Van / Austin 1000 / 1500kg Van Leyland 2-tonner
• Successor:Freight Rover 200-300