1929 Essex Challenger Dover U.S. Mail Truck

The Essex Dover models were introduced in 1929 and represented the company's attempts to enter the commercial-vehicle market. Production began in July of 1929 and Hudson's main coachbuilder, Biddle and Smart, manufactured most of the bodies for Dover commercial vehicles. They used the basic Essex chassis, running gear, frontal bodywork, running boards, and fenders. The radiators were horizontal, rather than the vertical shutters found on the Essex line. The 3/4-ton chassis was priced at a reasonable $595. The Panel Delivery was $895, the Screenside Express was $885, and the Cab Top Express (pickup) was $835.

Standard equipment on the Dover Super-Six included Trico vacuum windshield wipers, cowl ventilator, useful instrumentation, rear traffic signal, John Brown Lamp Co. combination tail and stop lights, Stewart-Warner speedometer, ignition lock, horn, Monroe hydraulic shock absorbers, and more.

In 1929, the U.S. Postal Department ordered 500 Dover Mail Trucks from the Hudson Motor Car Company to transport and deliver the mail.

This particular example was found in a Wyoming field during 1970 by representatives of the Harrah Collection of Reno, Nevada, and subsequently given a total 'Gold Star' restoration there with the frame off, including complete replacement of the wooden body. It was then put on display at Harrah's until the dispersal auction held during the 1980s when it was purchased in 1986 by George Crocker of North Carolina. It remained with Mr. Crocker for several years, eventually being placed on long-term display at the National Auto and Truck Museum (NATMUS) in Auburn, Indiana, before advertising it for sale in Old Cars Weekly in 1993. It then entered the collection of Mr. Eldon Hostetler.

This Dover Mail Truck is powered by a 161.4 cubic-inch L-head inline six-cylinder engine delivering 55 horsepower. There is a single downdraft carburetor, three-speed manual transmission, and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2019