my 1956 dodge postal van

[going_postal]

hi . i am new here and thought that some of you might be interested in seeing this old van that i just bought . i posted this van on several sites now looking for information , but have yet to get any .

i know these were produced during 1954 , 1955 , and 1956 . googling came up with a site called allpar that has one in about the same shape as mine and with the same exact information as far as model numbers , engine horse power , and body by fageol .

what i am looking for is production numbers for each year , where i might find replacement rubber for around the windows , original spec sheets or just the specs , and original photo's .

the old van has right hand drive with a flathead 6 and a push button automatic .

[Don Coatney]

Your van arrived before you did.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=29917&highlight=postal

[going_postal]

Your van arrived before you did.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=29917&highlight=postal

WOW !

yeah i started a thread on the hamb and was getting alot of good information , but before i could save any the moderator deleted my thread and all info was lost . i hope that does'nt happen here .

[Don Coatney]

Interesting that your thread was deleted. Any idea why?

[going_postal]

they said that it did'nt fit because its not a hotrod , but they have a coe thread and a stepvan thread . go figure !

[TodFitch]

Welcome aboard. I would be really surprised if your thread gets deleted here.

Unfortunately that vehicle is one that I know nothing about so I can't help you in your quest for information. I will, however, be interested in following along to learn more about those old mail delivery vehicles.

[going_postal]

thanks tod .

[1940plymouth]

You might want to contact "Vintage Truck" they are often doing articles on cargo vans and such

It will be interesting to watch your progress and welcome aboard

[Chester Brzostowski]

Very interesting, I don’t believe I have ever seen this vehicle and I go back a ways. Of course the memory does get a little foggy between 1963 – 69 and I am sure there were still some on the road and at least a bunch in the junk yards. Do you know how many were manufactured ?

Chet…

[going_postal]

thanks 40plymouth i'll check them out .

i read that production was stopped in 1956 at 800 due to payment issues from the government , but i have not been able to confirm this .

[Plymouthy Adams]

your automatic is a factory General Motors unit...

[TodFitch]

... Of course the memory does get a little foggy between 1963 – 69 ...

So by Robin Williams standards, you were there.

[going_postal]

your automatic is a factory General Motors unit...

i bought a mopar u.s. post office parts list book that has the transmission as a 3 speed super truck-o-matic . GM ?

[1941Rick]

This is such a cool vehicle......wanna sell it?

[Plymouthy Adams]

its kinda fuzy on this as per my source..it say if you had a V8 you could by 56 have the Chrysler Powerflite tranny...but if 6 cylinder and 1/2 to 3/4 ton rated the Truck-O-Matic continued..I was just read ing something the other day about the postal vans and it reference to the GM tranny.. she be affectionately known as a Whale Nose 1/2 Post Office Truck body built by Fageol

[carls 49]

hi ya and welcome. good to have you here. very cool van, first one i have seen.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I agree, this puppy is very rare bird and a welcome change to the daily truck scene..not that I have anything against the trusters here..just this is very specific job oriented vehicle..

[old rat 49]

I LOVE IT ! Try Clesters rubber in NC. Great people there. Also try a tractor supply place. That rubber is pretty standard stuff in the farming community.

[greg g]

I believe the one on all par shows the push button and from the look of ti it was set up for a powerflite. Reverse, neutral, drive and low. The engine is likely a 230, and pretty standard mopar stuff, 110 HP flathead. It might have a numerically high rear end with a pretty limited top speed. And with that short wheelbase probably not a good idea for a lot of interstate cruising. I do remember seeing these, and I believe they were replaced by the Studebaker Zip Van that came out to coincide with the introduction of ZIP codes.

We had an RD address (Rural Delivery) when I was a kid, the post man drove his own car for a while, driving a 49 Chevy from the pass seat so he could service the mail boxes. Then he had one of these for a while, then a zip van and then a right had drive jeep.

here is a link to All Par

http://www.allpar.com/squads/jeep-postal-vehicles.html

you might look up the specs through the Post office contracts

“Post Office #6-A-1101 - Model #C3 - C6 - 95.”

This one showed up on a episode of the munsters listed as a 55 looks pretty sharp with shiney paint and no dents.

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_261350-Dodge-1955.html

[Robert Horne]

If you are around Toronto, you may see "Chuckles" delivering beer..

The Steam Whistle Brewery..

[going_postal]

This is such a cool vehicle......wanna sell it?

you would'nt believe how many times i have been ask this . cash talks

[going_postal]

its kinda fuzy on this as per my source..it say if you had a V8 you could by 56 have the Chrysler Powerflite tranny...but if 6 cylinder and 1/2 to 3/4 ton rated the Truck-O-Matic continued..I was just read ing something the other day about the postal vans and it reference to the GM tranny.. she be affectionately known as a Whale Nose 1/2 Post Office Truck body built by Fageol

thanks tim . keep that info coming

[going_postal]

thanks old rat . i'll check in on those .

[Plymouthy Adams]

I'm about tapped out about now...lol...just enough to be dangerous..my book I am am referencing only highlight the odd model along the way...BUT..if you look close at the introduction model (54)..look at the dip in the front door glass forward to the A-post...see what Ford copied.....

[Dodgeb4ya]

you would'nt believe how many times i have been ask this . cash talks

Are you going to follow through and restore it or flip on it to the next guy. It must be worth quite a sum of money. You might have the only one left. It might end up being a Barrett Jackson item!!!!