Wagon Week EP27 - Motorized Mail Box

One of dozens of different - but similar - delivery vans used by the United States Postal Service, the International Harvester M-800P Metro-Mite was low on creature comfort but high on utility. And what do you mean there’s no air conditioning?

[@davidp2888]

The man's a walking, talking automotive encyclopedia.

[@brucegordon4884]

ain't that the truth

[@bgee461]

I can't get enough of this. The real world junkyard version of the legendary Steve's B-J auction commentary is just top notch

[@charlesdalton985]

Considering the life these vehicles lead, their longevity is impressive. Thank you and keep healing sir ~ Chuck

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you back in the Junkyard soon

[@timkis64]

steves videos are allways worth watching.like a trip down memory lane for us old folks.thanks bud, hope your recovery is going very well.

[@DanEBoyd]

This is exactly what our mailman drove when I was a little kid! I can still hear the burble of that inline six. Sometime in the early or mid '70s, they switched to Jeeps. I remember asking him what kind of car it was, (I was three or four) and still remember his answer, "International Harvester."

[@mikemichaud5048]

Thank you Steve!👍

[@SteveMagnante]

Very welcome

[@lorimcquinn3966]

IH used AMC engines quite a bit depending on years. I had a 232 six in my 1971 IH 1100 series pick-up. Keep up the great videos, hope you're healing well.

[@jamesmisener3006]

Walk the walk and, talk the talk. Mags has got the info you need on all the cars we used, loved and wished for. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Growing up in the "country" in the '60s and early '70s, these were the only mail trucks around - brings back a lot of good memories!

[@ReadtheBible88]

Your right. When postal stamps were 6 cents. I remember my mom giving me a letter and a nickel and a penny to put in the mailbox. The postal carrier would put a stamp on the letter. So sad these days are long gone. Good day to you.

[@markniblett4857]

Steve I'm always blown away by the stuff you know and have researched. Stay strong and like Chuck said keep healing.

[@rm25088]

Someone needs to save this gem.

[@googleusergp]

Another day closer to you returning to the yards. As stated last time: No, the LLV vehicles ran from 1987 to 1994. The first digit of a postal vehicle number is the year of the vehicle. Yes, they are going to be replaced. Some routes already use a RH Stellantis ProMaster vehicles and some Dodge Caravans had been purchased already. You Tuber "Monster Rust" has a AM General postal truck on his channel with the tag line, "You've Got Mail". The LLVs have a fatal design flaw in some cases in that the washer fluid lines run over a heat source and because washer fluid contains flammable ingredients, there have been a few fires. Yes, they have a GM powertrain and the chassis is a RHD GM S Series chassis. In the early years, it was a 2.5L and later ones were a 2.2L and both were four cylinder. The transmission is a THM180 three speed automatic. The replacement "Next Generation Delivery Vehicle" is a mix of products, many made by Oshkosh Defense and the ICE powered ones have a 2.0L Ford Ecoboost. My late uncle Andrew, aka "Andy the Postman" was a USPS carrier for many years in NYC and loved his job. Everyone knew him, and many people on his route would call him "Postino" which is "Mailman" in Italian, as his route had a lot of Italian people on it. He never joined a gym because he was always fit from all of the walking he did on his route. He was a postman for many years, retiring in 1985. He got the job several years after he was in the Navy during WWII. His wife, my aunt Elena who we called "Libby" was a school safety agent for the NYC Board of Education for about 25 years. There are a fair amount of civil servants in my family on both sides. No, the Forever stamp came out much later in 2007 and they were 41 cents when they first came out. They are sold at the prevailing first class postage rate and then that stamp is good forever. So, a stamp bought in 2007 at 41 cents can be used today to mail a letter. The Post Office is structured by certain rules, and uniform service is guaranteed by law. UPS and other carriers technically pay a fee to use postal roads, and they sometimes cannot deliver to certain addresses. I actually prefer USPS over other carriers. They do a good job given what they have to work with. Taxes do not fund the postal service, and revenue is gained from mostly the sale of stamps and other products/services.

[@blowupbob1]

No one ever mentions the Ford based FFV. In Erie and Millcreek PA. they probably make up about 75% of the fleet. Drivers seem to like them more than the LLV, and for all our snow four wheel drive is an option.

[@googleusergp]

@@blowupbob1 Not as popular as the LLV which was produced from 1987 to 1994 and was very reliable, although very crude.

[@madmike2624]

1965 was a great year! Steve was born in 64 and I was in 65!! Get healthy my brother!!

[@ScottDLR]

Keep getting better, Steve!

[@PRR1954]

In the 1970s the local PO depot sold-off few-year-old mailvans. We wanted a cross-country camper, there were still places in "flyover country" where a VW van was a funny car (that changed fast), and the larger used delivery van of the time was a FORD and as I learned, a 2WD hack of a Bronco Six. I knew too much about where to hit tired Fords so we got one. Aerodynamics of a brick! But it served good for much of a decade until insurance rules got nitty about sliding and roll-up doors on pleasure vehicles. It wasn't wonderful enough to fight for.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

The mailman’s oven wagon! Hope you’re feeling better!🙏

[@richardmoerke9329]

Dam man! Is there anything you don’t know? Just curious? Did not know international had anything to do with these. To top it off you know the motors that they have in it. You are the dictionary. encyclopedia of automotive history. You are the man! To me this took it over the top. Thank you for sharing all the information you shared. I appreciate your help,your insight, your knowledge. No one can do what you do. Again! Thank you Steve for being you. Thank you.

[@bartorlans5390]

That's a 199, the smallest of the 7-main bearing AMC six introduced in 1964.

[@Kjhgr01]

Our USPS workers now have Mercedes-Benz Metris.

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

Its crazy the big 3, can't build a cheap small vehicle for the Post offices anymore.

[@todddenio3200]

Some locations are still using the LLC until they get the replacements

[@hughjass1044]

I would have expected a 4 cyl in those little things but I didn't know they were steel. Thought they were aluminum.

[@corvairjim1]

You were spot-on mentioning that working for the U.S. Postal Servicebis a great gig. I've been with the U.S.P.S. since 1986. BTW: That means that the Grumman L.L.V. came out in 1987, since I was there for the rollout that spring. I looked into buying one now that they're being sold off, but they're bringing in $5,000 or more! I wanted to slice 'n' dice one into a race truck for the "24 Hours of Lemons" series, but that's just too expensive for my blood, especially since the cars aren't supposed to be worth more than $500! My thought was to use an off-the-shelf S-10 V-8 conversion kit to install a junkyard Chevy LS V-8 in it, lower it, section the body by half a foot and chop the top by the same amount, add stiffer springs, gas shocks, beefy sway bars, and 4-wheel disc brakes and, as they say in Lemons World: DOMINATE!

[@cmdrflake]

These vans were heavier than the majority of vehicles used in most places. They were able to get through snow (provided there weren’t abandoned vehicles in the way.) and were equipped with snow tires in places that got a lot of northern locations their mail despite the weather.

[@michaellinner7772]

I mean how fast does a mail truck actually need to be? It's pretty difficult to hit top speed when you're driving just 60 feet before you need to stop again. I have always loved these vehicles for their versatility. In my neighborhood where I grew up, the delivery driver had to get out of the vehicle at every, single house because the boxes were either mounted on the front of the homes or actually had an opening near the front door to drop the mail right into the house. Thanks for all you do Steve and I hope you're doing better. God bless my friend 💜

[@IndridCool54]

Mornin’ Mr. Mags! 👋🏼

[@volvo09]

What a cool mail vehicle, and great history as always! I'd love to see a nice example.

[@brianandglendaharkin9457]

Could you chop top that thing Steve and tub it and fit a Nitro big block Hemi with a 727 / and 410 Dana . It would improve its looks . Plus the mail will be on time . 🤔 👍🏻🇦🇺.

[@philipstephan5451]

Great to see you up and moving around Steve. Keep healing in small steps. Blessings to you Steve, great to see you back. 😊

[@toreygriffith1598]

Dying for a closer look at that Imperial in the background

[@WildHorseTraining]

Hope you are continuing you recovery Steve. Is there any car magazine that you don’t have?

[@donaldszymczak]

hope you are getting better by the day Steve. I noticed in my suburban Chicago neighborhood Dodge Ram vehicles are slowly replacing the Grumman here

[@pb5778]

Thanks for sharing this video with us

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

DanE!! Where are you??

[@samholdsworth420]

probably taking a dump

[@DanEBoyd]

At my desk being forgetful...

[@Ron_Lockwood]

Thanks,Steve. Be well.😎

[@dougvanallen2212]

Lovin the mail carriers they don’t need no stinking air conditioning

[@ronburnett9421]

I think that's just like the " metro might that Sleeperdude is building 😎😎

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I would love to have an old postal truck

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I've seen some Chrysler minivans being used by the postal workers in my hometown. I hope they got a good deal. Because those minivans are NOT built to last

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

I’d love to have a stude zip van

[@minkcreeksyncros]

I can’t help myself, I have to go on eBay and buy the magazine that Steve shows. $6.68 for this magazine I’ve never heard of, but can’t wait to look through.

[@garyedwards2601]

Miss you. Love your channel

[@PaulMyers-q1m]

I work at P,O see Grumman P,o, vans in auto shop we have see them being serviced all over the lot😮

[@CaptainJerry-]

I have seen them used as Paddywagons!

[@bobbybieln853]

Any US mail truck is the only vehicle that can legally run a red light!

[@Jim-Slade]

No, they cannot legally run a red light. However, a locality cannot prosecute The Federal Government, so the mailman would be immune. It is still very illegal.

[@nathanbarden9709]

Promotional consideration by the USPS on that one.

[@randyc8171]

The engines would be a 199 or 232. The 196 was long gone by the mid 1970's.

[@RC-cc4rv]

> Please support Steve's go fund me that he set up so he doesn't have to sell his house and cars he built. His go fund me video is on 5/28, it's not letting me post the link.

[@daviddamico4288]

Hope you are doing better Steve …

[@idontknow2293]

Not directly about mail trucks but does anyone remember the TV show Mayberry RFD? Does anyone know or remember what the RFD stands for? 😊

[@daviderickson9445]

Rural Free Delivery

[@garymcdonald6529]

Contact Newman for any additional information required on these vans!

[@dougtodd305]

My neighbor has a clean one of these,i was thinking ,merge it with a scout4×4

[@ralphoard3187]

Steve do you ever travel west of the country

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

~

[@pl5624]

...they deliver all that mail and have never made a buck off it....

[@dannork1240]

So were these used before, during or after the Studebaker Zip Vans?

[@Ray-r5j9u]

🙏🖖

[@stevewenners]

Post office is now buying Mercedes minivans

[@artguerrero4456]

I feel sad watching all antique ads or magazines with marker notations

[@thsreklesboi]

Hi buddy

[@jarm7726]

Wagons Ho ❤🤓🇺🇲

[@chriscadman6379]

Hello.

[@kc0lif]

no ac that's ridiculous.

[@giggiddy]

Het better Mags

[@gruntengr4197]

I still watch and read things Steve produces, but the magazine he was an employee of I no longer get, nor do I watch anything they put out.

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. 🍎🍎✏️📐📓🎓. Very late for class ! LOL sorry Professor Steve . One viewer stated GM does not make cheap vehicles one reason for that vehicle regulation ! Most folks have forgotten if more , than 500 vehicles built for public must meet Safety Regulations ! My word is ( Choices ) we paid without a Choice of what we need in a vehicle ! The is long & no one would even read it . Many here know am a Boomer I perchance item in vehicles I paid for ( I picked items I needed ) not part of the package ! Sorry Professor Steve I do not like being toll what is best for me and my family . Video is informative and interesting! 👀😎👍👀😎👍

[@dougvanallen2212]

Lovin the mail carriers they don’t need no stinking air conditioning