Saturday, February 11, 2017

GPO Mobile Post Office

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Barn Finds reader Dik S. has found a truly unusual project here on eBay that combines obscurity and history in ways we’ve never seen before. I would love to know the story behind the creation of a mobile post office, of which this GPO truck is said to be one of three created by the General Post Office (hence, GPO) of London – clearly, the U.K.’s version of the Pony Express! 

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The story seems long and complicated, but the seller claims that this example was rescued from the scrap bin after being de-commissioned in the early 1980s. One of the three trucks was destroyed, and the other is in the hands of a UK museum. This example here was even thought to have been lost to a fire at one time. Although I can’t find any info on why this mobile post office was created, I’m sure it was built to offer more options and convenience to customers.

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The trailer section is where the magic happens, so to speak. That’s where the original counters, drawers and other post office equipment can be found. With so much wood paneling, water damage is often a concern but the seller claims it is minimal. This rig will clearly have sentimental value for British enthusiasts, so hopefully someone on that side of the pond has the space and vision to bring this piece of postal and motoring history back to life.

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The listing is a bit hard to decipher, but it sounds as if the seller is currently restoring the cab. While the whole assembly is for sale, it does seem as though the seller is passing the incomplete project along to someone else who can see it through. I’m sure parts sourcing is a challenge, unless the cab is a conventional design (with the truly one-off items limited to the trailer). What do you think the future holds for this unusual mobile post office?

Source: barnfinds.com