A slightly under-the-radar component of survivor vehicles are those that are used for marketing to postal carriers. Yes, this is real, especially for rural postal carriers who often can’t use the standard-issue trucks from the USPS. This is because the roads are rougher, mechanics are few and far between, and unlike most government agencies, the Postal Service seems to actually acknowledge the fact that non-government vehicles are more up to the task for rural carriers. This right-hand-drive Japanese market 1997 Honda CRV is a perfect choice for someone who delivers mail for a living, and it has just 5,000 miles. Find it here on craigslist for $14,900.
This CRV is identical (save for the RHD steering) to my dear mother’s car. She bought one of the first ones that came into the country in late 1996 after retiring her 1987 Honda Accord LX-i (my first car) and still owns it to this day. It has 100,000 more miles on it than this car, but I swear to you, it looks this mint inside because she’s a perfectionist! Regardless, this was Honda’s first major venture into the SUV world and it was long before that demographic blew up to require all sorts of monitors, airbags, navigation systems, infotainment, and more. Therefore, you can see blissful simplicity on display, with everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
The CRV is still attractive, in my opinion, with actual fender bulges (no, it’s not a widebody, but at least there’s some character in the body lines) and interesting taillights mounted high up on the body. The plastic bumpers can withstand all sorts of impacts and poor parking, which makes it a perfect choice for a postal carrier. The B20B4 four-cylinder engine is about as interesting (in stock form) as warm yogurt but it will start up and run reliably for years without complaint, and as long as you keep up with timing belt changes and water pumps, it will be the happy heart of your CRV for decades to come. Power was around 126 horsepower and 133 lb.-ft. of torque.
The rear seats split and fold down, which will make it useful for loading up all sorts of junk from Amazon and other shippers to bring to their eager recipients. The U.S.-spec CRV had the clever folding table under the rear cargo platform, and since that was a direct carry-over from the Japanese market trucks (amazing they didn’t try and strip it out for some inane safety reason), I’m sure it remains in place on this one. Fun fact, these are great garage tables and you can snag one out of the junkyard for a few bucks! Anyway, this CRV would also function wonderfully as your daily driver if you don’t happen to be a postal carrier, as it’s essentially like buying a brand-new late 90s Honda, which many will agree was the peak of the brand’s U.S. lineup. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
I know, and the only reason I’m commenting on this, is a), it’s 7 degrees out, and b), my neighbor has a bit newer one. Got a ton of miles, driven it many times, and about as generic of a car for an old lady as you’re gonna find. Naturally, I don’t care for it, the seats, in true form, are awful, and heaven help her when the tranny pukes.
To be clear, I highly doubt this was intended as a mail carrier, merely an imported car( mirror on left fender) and never driven. POV, or “privately owned vehicle” routes are still used in rural areas, it doesn’t pay much, but I don’t think there are any limitations to the vehicle. If you have faith in our USPS, here you go.
This is interesting, gotta wonder what the story is behind it. I doubt anybody bought it to save as an investment, like certain Corvettes or the ’76 Eldorado convertibles. Now what would you do with it? It’s almost 30 years old and only has 5000 mi. on it. I think that if you put to work now on a mail route it would start to fall apart. Anything rubber is probably dry rotted by now and mail routes are rough on vehicles anyway. I have seen some manufacturers market RHD vehicles to rural carriers. Jeep Wranglers seam to be a favorite in our area. I’ve seen RHD Subarus too.