Man Explores Abandoned Junkyard, Finds Rare 1963 Studebaker Zip Van

The Indiana-based company is mostly known for automobiles like the Avanti, Golden Hawk, and Champion. It was also among the companies that pioneered the US compact market with the Lark. Studebaker also produced civilian pickups like the Champ and Transtar, as well as military haulers like the US6. But did you know it also made a compact van for the United States Postal Service (USPS)?

In 1963, Studebaker struck a deal with the government to build a tiny vehicle for rural mail delivery. The contract came at a time when the automaker was struggling financially, mainly due to slow sales against overwhelming competition from the Big Three. The hauler was dubbed Zip Van, a name inspired by the zip code the USPS introduced in July 1963.

Studebaker didn't have the means to produce the hauler in-house, so the chassis and drivetrain were shipped to Met-Pro of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, to be fitted with a very boxy shell. The cab-over-engine van featured a sliding door on the driver's side and a garage-style tailgate. The van was right-hand drive for easier access to the mailboxes on the side of the road.

Only 143 inches (3.632 mm) long, the van rode on a heavy-duty suspension and relied on a 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) inline-six engine. The mill was the familiar "Skybolt" that found its way into nearly every Studebaker automobile starting in 1961.

The cabin was sparsely equipped, with only a heater, an adjustable seat, and a Transtar instrument cluster available to the driver. The van featured two gas pedals, one for use when sitting and one placed lower on the floor for operation while the driver was standing.

Studebaker's initial contract with USPS included 3,391 units, but the government ordered an additional 847 vans, for a total run of 4,238 vehicles. The agreement came to an end when Studebaker shut down US operations in December 1963. The Zip Vans were used well into the 1970s, and most were scrapped as they were replaced by more modern haulers. Like most survivors, this one is plagued by rust and is missing a few components.

The van has been sitting for decades and is well on its way to becoming a rust bucket. There's no information on whether the straight-six engine is still under the cab. Steve stresses that the Zip Van will be scrapped soon (along with other vehicles from the yard), so this Studebaker is in desperate need of a second chance.