How much horsepower does the Grumman LLV have?
Underneath the LLV’s aluminum body sits a modified Chevy S-10 chassis. Power comes from Pontiac’s 2. Iron Duke engine making under 100 horsepower, but with low-end torque perfect for hauling cargo. The first of these boxy, right-hand drive LLVs began service in 1986. The LLV’s body was manufactured by Grumman, the chassis by General Motors. The truck body is made from corrosion-resistant aluminum, weighs 3,000 pounds, can carry 1,000 pounds of mail and has a tight turning radius.
What is the life expectancy of an LLV?
The iconic core of this fleet for nearly 40 years has been the Long-Life Vehicle (LLV), first deployed in 1986 and designed to have a lifespan of 24 years. The LLV has lived up to its name, with most of the vehicles still operating well beyond their expected years of service. The USPS is replacing its aging Long Life Vehicles (LLVs) with these new, boxier Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) built by Oshkosh Defense. The existing USPS LLVs – made by Grumman from 1986–1994 – are long past their 24-year lifespan and lack modern features like airbags and air conditioning.