Barn Finds reader Dik S. has found a truly unusual project here on eBay that combines obscurity and history in ways we’ve never seen before. I would love to know the story behind the creation of a mobile post office, of which this GPO truck is said to be one of three created by the General Post Office (hence, GPO) of London – clearly, the U.K.’s version of the Pony Express!
The story seems long and complicated, but the seller claims that this example was rescued from the scrap bin after being de-commissioned in the early 1980s. One of the three trucks was destroyed, and the other is in the hands of a UK museum. This example here was even thought to have been lost to a fire at one time. Although I can’t find any info on why this mobile post office was created, I’m sure it was built to offer more options and convenience to customers.
The trailer section is where the magic happens, so to speak. That’s where the original counters, drawers and other post office equipment can be found. With so much wood paneling, water damage is often a concern but the seller claims it is minimal. This rig will clearly have sentimental value for British enthusiasts, so hopefully someone on that side of the pond has the space and vision to bring this piece of postal and motoring history back to life.
The listing is a bit hard to decipher, but it sounds as if the seller is currently restoring the cab. While the whole assembly is for sale, it does seem as though the seller is passing the incomplete project along to someone else who can see it through. I’m sure parts sourcing is a challenge, unless the cab is a conventional design (with the truly one-off items limited to the trailer). What do you think the future holds for this unusual mobile post office?
That would make one hell of an R.V.
That is at least an 11 on a 1-10 cool scale!
This would have been for use in rural areas where there was no permanent post office, the tractor unit looks to be a std production model but will still be hard to locate parts for as will prob have been produced in the hundreds with survivors probably in single figures.
These type of vehicles tend to only be capable of being stored/restored by trucking company’s due to the lack of space on this crowded little island.
Who remembers those 1970’s Cattle Trucks that took you to the field in Basic Training Army , this does have some characters
that was the first thing I thought of when I saw the first picture; it does look a lot like the old Internationals that were phased out in the mid-70’s
The USPS bought quite a few in the 50’s to sort mail on the go. Mail had to be shipped so why not sort it on the way. The Twin Coach co. of Kent Ohio made them based on the Fageol Superfreighter series of trucks. There was one behind Stoddard Porsche dealership in Willowby Ohio for years in the Post office colors.
What Bob said…..we had these in the states…..kinda like the “bookmobile’s”
My dad drove one of the buses that they sorted mail on.
This looks like the perfect rig to be converted to haul vintage race cars to Goodwood, Silverstone and the like. All that wood paneling will make lovely living quarters and leave room in the back for a shop area to fit your Mini or Formula Junior or Norton powered Cooper F3 car!
Hey, a man can dream can’t he?
i see this on a daily basis and the cab is nearly finished . but has come to a halt at the moment through lack of funds. my friend says he may sell it. but i can’t see that happening too soon.
I was a P.O. apprentice at Crayford Supplies Department Thames Rd. Crayford Kent. During my time there 1970 onwards , GPO 3 truck and trailer were in the depot to be worked on. I would love to see it again, I hope one day it is possible.