International Harvester Metro Van

The International Harvester Metro Van was a Step van, also known as walk-in or multi-stop delivery trucks. These vehicles were usually forward-control trucks once commonly used as milk and bakery delivery trucks. Typically 1/2-ton or 1-ton panel trucks that allow the driver to stand or sit while driving the vehicle.

History

The International Harvester Metro Van was produced from 1938 until 1975. It was originally based on the 1937-40 D-Series trucks. The Body was built by the Metropolitan Body Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a company which International Harvester would later purchase. One of the first models built was sold to the Czechoslovakian Army and destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. The original design was by Raymond Loewy, of Studebaker and Coke bottle fame. It was redesigned in 1964 by the in house design team in the Chicago metro plant, to keep up with Boyertown and Hackney vans. The corners were squared and an opening hood was added for easier access to coolant and oil dipstick. An eight cylinder engine was also made available. In the 1950s, they began producing variations such as the "Metro-Lite," and "Metro-Multi-Stop" vans. In 1959, The "Metro mite" was introduced.^[1][2] It was based on the Scout drive train. In 1960 the "Bookmobile" was built by the Metropolitan Body Company on an IHC chassis.^[3] By 1972, all IHC Metro Vans were stripped-chassis that other manufacturers could build on. After 1975 they were discontinued along with all other light-duty trucks except for the Scout, which was last made in 1980. The Metro Van was re-issued by Navistar in 2000, as a medium sized delivery truck.

See also

• International Harvester
• Multi-stop truck
• List of International Harvester vehicles

References

External links

• Van's on IMCDB
• Old IHC