Ebay: Worth a look...Mail Truck!

[1955cj5]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-A...m=141943976617

[2manycars]

Wow, what a time capsule.

[DougVieyra]

Now THAT'S what I call an 'original, un-restored'.

An earlier post spoke of an 'Amazing unrestored original "; “One of the very last unrestored examples.” But it had some credibility issues. This one however, is 'the real McCoy'. It truely can be called an "amazing un-restored original; one of the very last unrestored examples."

[Tom Wesenberg]

Man, that is really decent, and worth watching to see how high it goes.

[C26Pinelake]

I will keep a close watch on it. Wayne

[updraught]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I can see how your post is getting damaged. There are holes in the doors.

[1955cj5]

There appears to be some sort of extension between the intake manifold and the carburetor...

Anyone know what that is?

[1955cj5]

Originally Posted by updraught

I can see how your post is getting damaged. There are holes in the doors.

"post"=mail..

Those are vents!

[Synchro909]

They're only original ONCE. Watch someone restore the life pout of it now.

[Keith True]

That is the governor they were equipped with.

[Phil Brown]

Anybody know what that is between the carb and the intake manifold ?
Ha that was quick :-)

[DougVieyra]

The four tires on the ground are Montgomery Wards tires from the 1950-1965 period. However, the spare (from the same period) is from Sears & Roebuck.

To help translated old time words into today's jargon, Wards & Sears.

I did also notice that the driver had a Fulton 'Pull-up' accessory starter mounted on his steering column.

The 'gismo' sandwiched between the Carburetor and the Intake Manifold, I am uncertain of - perhaps a type of 'Fuel Economizer', or 'Governor'. My 'Governor' mounts on the timing gear, but I have seen other configurations.

[KGBnut]

Wow! That is a real treasure. I would love to get my hands on that one. I'm sure it is out of my price range.

I, too, was wonder what that extension is between the carb and the manifold. Does anyone recognize it?

[Steve Wastler]

As others state it is a governor, looks to be a 'Handy', the post office dept originally utilized the Hoof brand.

[ronn]

Model T Haven had one of these for sale in the last year-yes they are located in KS and this might be the same one?

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by 1955cj5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-A...m=141943976617

Thanks for sharing, as brings back memories !!
In mid 60s, I was working for Lockheed Burbank and lived nearby in a bachelor apt ...with the clan ! Next door lived this young couple and he had a beautiful Post Office delivery truck just as this one, only A-1 condition. A great story developed involving that truck and how it affected my life

[Steve Wastler]

Not the same one truck that Model T haven had...

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

They're only original ONCE. Watch someone restore the life pout of it now.

Not if I get it! Wayne

[Steve Plucker]

Were mail trucks built at just One local then shipped to varrious parts of the US?

Does anyone know just how many were built during the Model A/AA years of production?

Pluck

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

Were mail trucks built at just One local then shipped to varrious parts of the US?

Does anyone know just how many were built during the Model A/AA years of production?

Pluck

From the Restoration guidelines;

Although the chassis were built by Ford, the “A “ and
”AA" postal vehicle bodies were procured separately
by the Post Office and mounted to the Ford chassis in
several regional Post Office garages. The Post Office
"A" and "AA" sized bodies are illustrated in this
section. The cargo compartment for “AA “ bodies was
200 cubic feet, contrasted to 100 feet for the "A"
bodies. The “AA" body illustrated in this supplement
is the 1929 configuration, whereas the 1931 AA" was
the same size but had three larger panels on the side.
Minor deviations by body builders during production
were possible, but only discernible through detailed
inspection. Other deviations, such as the location and
size of the rear fenders relative to the rear of the cowl,
were different for each or the three Mail Truck
procurements Such variations should not influence
judging. The Mail Truck body was primarily
constructed of oak or white ash. All the wood was
sanded smooth, filled and painted.

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Pluck,
I don't have an answer on where the postal trucks were assembled, but there is a Postal A's chapter. Maybe someone from that club will see this and have an answer.
I may have mentioned this before , but I have owned 2 postal trucks. One was a 1929. It started out as an Essex body. It was identical to the Ford postal body except for the lower rails and the cowl area.A postman who had a nice original truck in San Fernando, loaned me the cowl pieces and I had them duplicated. I ended up eventually selling the truck and it went to New York. I also purchased a 1930 postal truck from George Cross in orange county. He was a post man and I think the founder of the Pomona Fairgrounds antique car and hotrod swap meet. I think his sons run the swap meets now.
There was also a 1929 AA postal truck for sale in Whittier that Neil Wilson in Colorado ended up buying. I went and looked at it for Neil. It was nice except some of the top wood needed to be replaced.
Sorry for the rambling, but I always like the postal trucks. I hope whoever buys the one on ebay preserves it like it is.

[Mike V. Florida]

PRODUCTION
Ford supplied Model “A” and Model "AA" chassis to
the U.S. Post Office for Mail Trucks in three separate
procurements. Deliveries were made as long as nine
months after the procurement dates noted in the
following summary . Because or the late deliveries in
the 1929 and 1931 model years, there are several
authenticated (but minor) variations of the actual
hardware supplied by Ford.

Mail Truck bodies were built by York-Hoover Body
Co., York, PA; Miffiinburg Body Co., Miffinbuurg,
PA; August Schubert Wagon Works, Syracuse. NY;
Metropolitan Body Co., Bridgeport, CT; and General
Motors Truck Co. Pontiac, MI.

Mail Truck bodies were buil! by York-Hoover Body
Co., York, PA; Miffiinburg Body Co., Miffinbuurg,
PA; August Schubert Wagon Works, Syracuse. NY;
Metropolitan Body Co., Bridgeport, CT; and General
Motors Truck Co. Pontiac, MI.

Body Builder________ Body Size____Procurement Date_______Quantity

York Hoover-------------100------------June--------1929-----------400
York Hoover-------------100------------ June-------1931------------500
Mifflinburg---------------100------------ March------1932---------- 500
---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,400

August Schubert---------200------------June--------1929-------------400
Metropolitan-------------200------------July---------1931-----------1,000
General Motors----------200------------March-------1932---------- 1,500
-------------------------------------------------------------------------2,900

[Steve Wastler]

The standards haven't been updated since the '97 revision, there may be some new information in the next update. The best one source of info on mail trucks is in Aldie Johnsons book, available thru the postal A's web site www.postalas.org, a good addition to all model a libraries.

As for deviations to the bodies there were some very small differences, but the post office department were very specific as to the specifications of the bodies. The location and size of rear fenders on the small bodied trucks only changed due to the Ford differences between the '29 and 31 chassis. The AA bodied trucks were more prone to the fender deviations.

I will add, most if not all of both 31 procurements of the chassis were delivered well into 32. Henry wanted to supply 32 chassis as he had shut down production of 31's, but the p.o.d. Had the last word, ordering Henry to supply the agreed upon 31 based chassis as the bodies were designed to fit the 31, not the 32.

[Hoogah]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

They're only original ONCE. Watch someone restore the life pout of it now.

What a time capsule. I'll be pouting if this gets anything but preservation treatment! Ought to be sold with a caveat to that effect!

[31 Model A]

It's heartwarming to see that originals are still out there, awaiting to be found and hopefully restored exactly to their former glory. Let's hope that happens to this one.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by 31 Model A

It's heartwarming to see that originals are still out there, awaiting to be found and hopefully restored exactly to their former glory. Let's hope that happens to this one.

SAY WHAT?

This is too nice a survivor to restore. It's so nice to see good original survivors, as far too many good original cars have already been restored. I like patina.
And I hope Patina likes me!

[leo]

I'm -- years young and lived in Bogota NJ (Bergen County). I distinctly remember a Model A mail truck being used to deliver mail to the Bogota Post Office as a child. This was back in the mid 1950's.

[zzlegend]

X2 what Tom said. Change the all the fluids, check the brakes and leave that truck alone. Perfect as is and would be hard pressed to find another like this. Hope the new owner, " if there is one", leaves it original. Just my 2 1/2 cents.

[Rowdy]

Much agreed Tom. Too many like this get restored and loose the originality that make them apealing. The rarer body styles like this are often better left preserved. The more common body styles nothing is really lost when properly restored even though some of the charm is replaced with shiney paint. If the paint on my delivery was better there would be no way that I would restore it. Rod

[1955cj5]

I saved all the ebay pictures to my computer, just so I could look at it later on..

[denis4x4]

Curious to know if there were any right hand drive postal trucks. Both Subaru and Jeep offer right hand drive cars for USPS rural route drivers that can be ordered once a year.

[CarlG]

Model A mail trucks were not generally used for RFD mail. They were used to shuttle mail and parcels between post offices and other delivery points.

[700rpm]

I would love to own that vehicle. I also love my wife. As is often the case, I might be able to afford the car, but I couldn't afford the divorce.

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

SAY WHAT?

This is too nice a survivor to restore. It's so nice to see good original survivors, as far too many good original cars have already been restored. I like patina.
And I hope Patina likes me!

Like any antique, it has to be preserved somehow and if it's to be driven still, it will eventually fall apart.

[WTSHNN]

Thank you for changing the subject of this message to include "Mail Truck." The more descriptive subject lines help prevent redundant post redundancy.

-Tim

[1955cj5]

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

Thank you for changing the subject of this message to include "Mail Truck." The more descriptive subject lines help prevent redundant post redundancy.

-Tim

I concur

Thanks for noticing!!

[Capt Quahog]

That's something not encountered on eBay or just about anyplace else too often. Remember seeing a restored Model A Ford mail truck back in the late 1970 at a VMCCA meet at the Larz Anderson estate in Massachusetts. To recollection, that mail truck was owned by a man named Greenland. He also owned a Model A taxi cab. Even back then, specialized Model A Ford vehicles such as these were rare and very pricey.

[ronn]

specialized Model A Ford vehicles such as these were rare and very pricey.


I have seen several of these for sale in the last two years-restored and unrestored and believe it or not, they dont fetch that much money. Because of their size and useability
they just dont command as much as you might think. Kind of like an oversized fire engine.
They are fun, but dont fit in every garage and really make more sense as a parade vehicle then going on a tour with.
Are you going to put your family in the back of one of these? ends up being more of a paddy wagon!

[Steve Wastler]

Auction ends in about 11 hours......

[ronn]

and reserve hasnt been met.................

so are the bids "real"?

who knows.......

[Aok]

Originally Posted by ronn

and reserve hasnt been met.................

so are the bids "real"?

who knows.......

On ebay you never know if the bids are real you just have to bid what a item is worth to you.
At 10k its more then I would pay.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by ronn

and reserve hasnt been met.................

so are the bids "real"?

who knows.......

I would think not ! I indeed had an interest but it has now exceeded my expected price. Every bid up to reserve should be considered suspect. Wayne

[Tom Wesenberg]

I see the mail truck sold for $13,500, and the winning bidder place only one bid right at the end.
I wonder who won and what the plans are for it?

[1955cj5]

I hope it goes to a good home..

I'll watch the sellers feedback for comments on the truck.....

[C26Pinelake]

[B]The number ( 5 ) bidder could have been the sleeper here. Wayne

[Rowdy]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Price seems inline for a rare body style in that condition IMHO. Others will think differently, but those are the ones that have not restored a hard to find body style and have to look for missing pieces that are specific to it. Having all of it intact is worth more than a running chassis, cowl and some wood that afew would compare it to. Rod

[Steve Wastler]

Hopefully the new owner gets ahold of us at The Postal A's!