4/2/20 97/100 Grumman USPS Long Life Vehicle

Long before brands like Greenlight or Jada Toys created their own postal vehicle, Matchbox answered the call to the iconic Grumman Long Life Vehicle that was designed specifically for the United States Postal Service and is still in use today.  In the 1980’s the call was for a new postal delivery vehicle to replace the Jeep DJ-5 with a larger size, lower ground clearance, ease of maintenance, delivery, and maneuverability and the answer was created by Grumman with this aluminum-body postal vehicle seen here and built it between 1987 and 1994.  Before this version trying to find a replica of the new postal vehicle was nearly impossible, so this Matchbox casting was a break of relief and is still used today despite cutting a hole in the roof for cost-cutting.  For 2000 and 2001 the LLV shared the same deco with some slight differences in graphic colors and wheels, sporting the white with USPS deco on the sides and showing off the rivets that bonds the aluminum panels together.  The front has detailed headlights, grille, signal lights, side exterior mirrors, while at the rear are detailed taillights and rear door (too bad it doesn’t open up), and on the right-side the sliding side door opens halfway for mail delivery duty.  Things get really interesting inside as the driver’s seat is to the right with a box of mail to be delivered just to the left of the driver, though not much else is visible behind the driver, and with a working suspension the LLV handles quite well despite the cons of the real LLV and the antiquated Iron Duke I-4 from General Motors.  Sure more highly-detailed LLV’s have appeared today, but I still think this Matchbox version was the first and still has the charm of the original.

Specifications:

· Engine: 2.4L I-4, 90 hp. Est.

· Transmission: 3-speed automatic

· 0-60 mph: 18.0 sec. est.

· Real vehicle price: $25,000 est. 1999

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars