Photo: huntersautoparts/eBay
Studebaker is mainly famous for automobiles like the Avanti, Golden Hawk, and Champion. However, the company also built civilian pickups like the Transtar and Champ and military trucks like the US6. But did you know that Studebaker also made a tiny van for the United States Postal Service (USPS)?
It happened in 1963 when the company struck a deal with the government to provide a postal vehicle. Signed by then vice president Byers A. Burlingame, the contract came at a time when Studebaker was struggling financially. The hauler was called the Zip Van, a name inspired by the zip code introduced nationwide in July 1963.
Studebaker built the chassis in-house and paired it with bodies made by Met-Pro of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. A cab-over-engine design with right-hand drive, the Zip Van featured a sliding door for the driver and a garage-style tailgate.
The vehicle was sparsely equipped, featuring a tiny dash and no convenience features besides a heater and an adjustable seat. The hauler featured two gas pedals. One was used when sitting, and the other was placed lower on the floor to enable the driver to operate the vehicle while standing. The small instrument cluster was sourced from the Transtar pickup, as were some drivetrain components.
The 143-inch (3,632-mm) long van drew juice from Studebaker's 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) inline-six engine dubbed Skybolt. The mill was introduced in 1961 and found its way into nearly every Studebaker automobile.
The USPS contract included a production run of 3,391 vans. The government eventually ordered an additional 847 units, so Studebaker built a total of 4,238 haulers. Production ended in 1966 after the company shut down civilian vehicle manufacturing.
The Zip Van was used to deliver mail well into the 1970s, but the vehicle gradually disappeared as newer rigs were ordered by the USPS. Many of them were scrapped when their postal duties ended. It's unknown how many of them are still out there, but a derelict survivor recently surfaced in Kentucky, and it's looking for a new owner.
Covered in surface rust with almost no trace of its original red, white, and blue livery, this van was "pulled from the weeds" in 2022. And needless to say, it looks like it's been parked outside for at least 20 years. However, the hauler is still in one piece and surprisingly complete. And amazingly enough, the seller got it running again.
According to the ad, the old straight-six got a rebuilt cylinder head, new pushrods and gaskets, and new wires. He also installed a new battery and rebuilt the distributor. However, the engine needs a new starter, a rebuilt carburetor, and a new fuel system to idle and drive. Of course, the brakes are also problematic after so many years of sitting.
Granted, this van isn't exactly desirable, and it's probably the least known Studebaker ever built, but it's a quirky classic that deserves a second chance at life. And it will look cute in its original USPS livery. The hauler will probably go for cheap, as the no-reserve auction sits at only $2,475 with just a few hours to go. How much would you pay for this boxy mail truck?
Studebaker built the chassis in-house and paired it with bodies made by Met-Pro of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. A cab-over-engine design with right-hand drive, the Zip Van featured a sliding door for the driver and a garage-style tailgate.
The vehicle was sparsely equipped, featuring a tiny dash and no convenience features besides a heater and an adjustable seat. The hauler featured two gas pedals. One was used when sitting, and the other was placed lower on the floor to enable the driver to operate the vehicle while standing. The small instrument cluster was sourced from the Transtar pickup, as were some drivetrain components.
The 143-inch (3,632-mm) long van drew juice from Studebaker's 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) inline-six engine dubbed Skybolt. The mill was introduced in 1961 and found its way into nearly every Studebaker automobile.
The USPS contract included a production run of 3,391 vans. The government eventually ordered an additional 847 units, so Studebaker built a total of 4,238 haulers. Production ended in 1966 after the company shut down civilian vehicle manufacturing.
The Zip Van was used to deliver mail well into the 1970s, but the vehicle gradually disappeared as newer rigs were ordered by the USPS. Many of them were scrapped when their postal duties ended. It's unknown how many of them are still out there, but a derelict survivor recently surfaced in Kentucky, and it's looking for a new owner.
Covered in surface rust with almost no trace of its original red, white, and blue livery, this van was "pulled from the weeds" in 2022. And needless to say, it looks like it's been parked outside for at least 20 years. However, the hauler is still in one piece and surprisingly complete. And amazingly enough, the seller got it running again.
According to the ad, the old straight-six got a rebuilt cylinder head, new pushrods and gaskets, and new wires. He also installed a new battery and rebuilt the distributor. However, the engine needs a new starter, a rebuilt carburetor, and a new fuel system to idle and drive. Of course, the brakes are also problematic after so many years of sitting.
Granted, this van isn't exactly desirable, and it's probably the least known Studebaker ever built, but it's a quirky classic that deserves a second chance at life. And it will look cute in its original USPS livery. The hauler will probably go for cheap, as the no-reserve auction sits at only $2,475 with just a few hours to go. How much would you pay for this boxy mail truck?
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