In 1965 Kaiser Jeep replaced the DJ-3A Jeep Dispatcher with the DJ-5 "Dispatcher 100", a two-wheel drive version of the CJ-5. This photo of a 1966 example is courtesy of jhuey. Like the CJ-5 of that era, the DJ was available with the F-head four cylinder or the Dauntless V-6; see a DJ-5 spec sheet (20K GIF).
There was also a long-wheelbase DJ-6; Jim Allen says in Illustrated Buyer's Guide: Jeep that "It was built in almost equal numbers to the DJ-5. The big question is, where are they now?"
The U.S. Postal Service bought some DJ-5's, with hardtops and modifications including right-hand drive, door sills modified for easy access, and spare tires missing from the right side, to provide clearance for sliding doors and mailboxes. See also the interior (200K JPEG) including dash-mounted automatic transmission. Photos by Lem Watson.
With the Post Office becoming the main buyer for delivery Jeeps, Kaiser created the DJ-5A in 1968, with a fully enclosed body, and Chevrolet 4-cylinder engine and PowerGlide automatic transmission for stop-and-go driving. After purchasing Kaiser in 1970, American Motors used its own inline six-cylinder engine during the 1970's, and American General built versions (up to DJ-5M) into the 1980's, using other engines. The extended radiator guard necessary to accommodate the larger engines gave it a "bullnose" look.
This AM General advertising photo is courtesy of Hugo90 on FLickr. It shows postal Jeeps on the assembly line of the South Bend Studebaker plant bought by AM General in 1967, three years after it was closed by Studebaker. A USPS history states that the blue and white paint scheme changed to all white in 1979, but it does seem odd that both colors would have been built new at the same time.
This postal Jeep appeared in the movie Addams Family Reunion (1997). See also a rear view (40K JPEG) as the mailman delivers some letters to the Addams family mansion.
Over 150,000 of these Dispatchers may have been built, as well as 35,000 of AM General's FJ-8 and 4,000 larger FJ-9 postal vans.
Postal Jeeps were also used in Canada, but many of them were replaced with newer trucks as early as the 1970's. The example in this photo was in service on the east coast of Canada into the 1980's, and is now preserved at the Canadian Postal Museum in Ottawa. See also a rear view photo and a photo of the utilitarian interior (40K JPEG's).
The postal Jeeps have also been retired in the U.S., and much as Willys envisioned in 1955, the two-wheel drive Jeep is now becoming an economical recreational vehicle with a lot of potential.
This DJ-5F belongs to Harley Dale, who bought it from the USPS and says, "I have since changed or replaced everything from the radiator cap to the tailpipe. I had the original engine re-manufactured and bored out, the transmission replaced with a new 727, rebuilt the carb and replaced the radiator, the alternator, starter and actually everything under the hood."
Source: Wikipedia.
Thanks to all the photographers. -- Derek Redmond
See more postal Jeep photos on The CJ3B Page in Delivery Jeep Hardtops and U.S. Mail Via CJ-3B and the Postal Fleetvan.
Return to Siblings of the CJ-3B.
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