Originally developed in 1986, the Grumman LLV is still making its appointed rounds for the United State Postal Service.
On April 8, 1986, the Grumman Corporation won a historic contract to produce the LLV delivery van for the United States Postal Service. Developed in partnership with General Motors and several other firms, the little truck was designed to meet a lengthy list of post office requirements including a serviceability, manueverability in tight areas, a 2,000 lb payload, and economy of operation. The expected service life specified in the contract was 24 years—hence the name Long Life Vehicle, or LLV.
The largest vehicle contract ever awarded by the USPS, the agreement called for 99,500 vehicles plus an option for 54,000 more to be built between 1987 and 1994. Reportedly, more than 142,000 trucks were assembled over that period. And now, 36 years after production began, it’s said that more than 100,000 LLVs are still on the road—many of them clanking and smoking, but still eagerly rolling along. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Grumman (now Northrup Grumman) was better known for its aircraft, but the company was also a longtime manufacturer of aluminum-bodied commercial vehicles, mainly step vans, on Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge chassis. And much like its forebears, under the aluminum skin the LLV was essentially a first-generation Chevrolet S-10 compact truck with select modifications. These included right-hand drive and a front track narrower than the rear for tight steering in close areas.
Basic and simple, the rear-drive platform featured a ladder frame and a live axle and leaf springs at the rear. Power was modestly provided by GM’s 2.5 liter inline four, sometimes known as the Iron Duke, while later versions were equipped with the newer GM 2.2 liter four. There was no provision for air conditioning as driver comfort was never a part of the design mission, while highway performance is marginal at best. They may look like the wheel covers are missing, but in fact there never were any. The LLV was engineered for one thing, residential mail delivery, and the little vans are still doing it after all these years.
But nothing is forever, and in February 2021 the Postal Service signed a $6 billion agreement with Oshkosh Defense to produce a fleet of up to 160,000 delivery vans to replace the LLV. Loosely based on the Ford Transit platform, the trucks will be manufactured in four versions with both gasoline and battery-electric power and front-wheel and all-wheel drive powertrains. Considerably larger than the LLV, the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) has a 127-in wheelbase and a curb weight of 5,560 lbs, and it features an ergonomic cabin design with air conditioning. We’ll see if it can run for 36 years.
You just know thst the “newer and better” replacement will be plagued with problems and recalls!
An unvalidated story at our local mail distribution center was that the LLPVs were supposed to be delivered with positraction, they did not arrive with it, and postal mechanics installed it. In addition to the LLPVs, rhd Subarus and Jeeps served rural carriers in some areas, and fwd ram vans were also among the supplemental fleet, but yes, for the most part the LLPVs lived up to their name. As Richard suggests, it’ll be interesting to see if the replacements can be as durable.
Some did and some did not. We have replaced them now with an Auburn or a Eaton Tru trac. No GM posi left in our garage.
I remember watching the first prototype being built back in the day, when I worked for Grumman. I have no doubt with an upgraded drivetrain they would last another 40 years.
The mail lady that does the route for my office beats hers mercilessly
Yes, many carriers just floored it from box to box. I had an almost new one (4000miles) and drove it over ten years before transferring to another route. (and another LLV). I babied that almost new truck, drove it like I was guy making payments on it, and it performed great. Whenever I took a two week vacation, I could tell it had been abused and it took a few weeks for it to run smoothly again. But they are tough. I was rear-ended while sitting still at a mailbox by old guy who just didn’t see me, going 50mph, totaled his car. My little truck had a bent bumper and I was lucky to not have a scratch. Now if T-boned….would be bad.
I wish that were the reality of these trucks. I was rear ended by a GMC Sierra in October. Totaled the LLV and constant back pain now. He was going 50-55. We need safer trucks.
Where can you buy Them I have been looking forever
You can’t, except for a very few select examples, they’re all being recycled and crushed
Doug,
Was it the Grumman plant in Montgomery PA?
Yep, about 10 miles from my house, owned by Kidron now building truck bodies
Everything Grumman built was tuff as nails, from airplanes to canoes…
I read where Ford EV’s are going to be the replacement vehicle.
I remember the predecessor to this vehicle, the Jeep DJ Dispatcher. Built between 1955 and 1984, if memory serves, these red, white and blue vehicles were everywhere. Their distinctive engine growl let you know when the mail arrived.
I live on a hill and it seems that as long as I can remember the exhaust on the one that services our street is shot…very noisy. So I can be in any room in my house and know when my mail is
On the way..
Will the Post Office sell these to the public or will they all be scrapped?
We service them at my shop and were told by a postal employee that they will be scrapped. A few were sold through government auction and one of the buyers was in an accident with his. He some how tried to sue the government. Since then they have decided the crusher will be their fate. I was hopeing to buy one, slam it on air bags and put an LS under the hood.
As a Navy carrier aviator, I’m not surprised that these trucks are still providing yeoman service. We didn’t call it Grumman Iron Works for nothing.
Those “Iron Duke” engines are nearly indestructible. Not fast, not powerful; but after the ’86 model year, we’re reliable and easy to work on.
I had an S-15 and it was a durable powerplant. However, in later years GM tried to lighten the cast iron block and thinned the casting in select areas. One area was the wall between the water jacket and the lifter gallery. This reduction made it a popular place to crack, turning the oil into mayonnaise…
I worked on the electrical system and saw many chassis roll off the Moraine(Dayton) assembly line. They were made across the street from the S10 vehicles. Interesting that they used a French trans without lockup. Drivers of the chassis would carry their own seat that looked like a cafeteria seat on a short post.
Why not electrify some these units?
I believe GM makes a crate engine that would just ‘drop in”?
Canada Post had them but they are all retired .
I drove the same one for over 25 years I went through a lot of starters and brakes but they really need saver trucks I lost a good friend and colleague in an accident totaled the the LLV and he died from his injuries. He is truly missed!