UPS package truck

bobv

bobv

Senior Member
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Had the pleasure of visiting a private collection. This is reported to be an authentic UPS package truck that was going to be hot rodded until they discovered what it was. It was then fully restored. Apparently UPS destroyed their vehicles when taken out of service or at the least removed all indicators of who had owned them, they do not want the old vehicles out there with the logo and such. I believe they said it was the only one in existence and is authentic.
 
I've seen a photo or two of early UPS trucks back in that time frame where they were still mostly in the west coast region. I don't know if that one would be the only remaining unit or not. They have a history of purchasing special made vehicles and maintaining them in house. UPS tends to use their equipment about as far as they will go before upgrading to the newer type delivery vans. It doesn't make sense to destroy assets like that when it wouldn't be too hard to repaint them to sell but they have every right to scrap them if they choose. The grape vine has UPS looking into electric delivery vehicles with some already in use in Europe. I guess then they can burn the damn things after they're used up.
 
i orked for u.p.s. in the 50,s in new york at that time it was called united parsel. they were onley a package service . the size of the stuff they delived was regulated. at the time railway express delevered all the big stuff. united parsel also had a contrac with all the big box dept stores . they had a fleet of larger trucks for them. when railway express belleyd up all trucking change & they grew to what is is today. our shop restored a model t we also restored a bike i wokred at there 31 street shop.
 
Where is this UPS truck located? I am building one based on the pictures in the Restorer magazine. Mine will be logo-ed as a Victor Talking Machine delivery vehicle complete with an original Nipper radiator ornament. This is the apex of my hobbies of Model A Fords and collecting old Victrolas.
 

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Thanks for the comments. This has been a bit challenging at times. I have no blueprints or plans to go by. I am just scaling based on some good pictures I have. Does anyone know where the one on display in the private collection is?
 
My dad's friend Bob Edwards (RIP) restored a UPS Model A Delivery in Eureka, California. The final product looked much like the one in the original post. It came from San Jose originally. I saw it firsthand and wrote an article on it for the San Francisco Model A Club back in 2011, but the website (and article) are now defunct. Not sure who bought it from Bob's widow.
 
That could be the one I saw. I believe he said it came form California.
It's owned by someone who was upper management at UPS.
 
There was an entire feature article about UPS Model A trucks, both from the era and restored, that appeared in a late 1960's or early 1970's issue of the "Restorer". I have that issue somewhere, but don't feel up to wading through a few hundred magazines to find it. Maybe somebody out there who is more organized than I can lay his hands on it quicker?Marshall
 
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