Vans: books - history, models and technology

The American Delivery Truck: An Illustrated History

Even when motorized vehicles replaced the horse, not everyone owned a vehicle to drive, much less to haul with. Rural residents relied heavily on vendors to bring the goods directly to them or their nearest town, and vendors relied on delivery trucks to deliver their food items or services. The idea took on a life of its own and in 1915 Reo created an entire class of vehicles called "Speed Wagons" that provided the basis for a new generation of delivery vehicles dubbed in Commercial Car Journal "Speed Trucks."
The Speed Truck chassis could provide for a whole range of special delivery-type vehicles to satisfy a growing need for reliability, speed, convenience, and a level of style that would create the right impression for the user to haul goods to its customers.

Other manufacturers created specialized chassis and mechanical configurations for delivery vehicles and, in addition, companies such as Boyertown Body created bodies to suit the needs of the customer, including vans, panel trucks, and even pickup trucks. Color, paint schemes, and lettering were crucial to creating a positive image.
Some of the major marques featured in this illustrated history include Reo, Federal, Diamond T, Sterling, Divco, International, Fargo, Dodge, Chevrolet, Ford, Graham, Stutz, and Diamond T, to name a few.

Deutsche Lieferwagen und Transporter - seit 1898

Lieferwagen sind unverzichtbar, ob zur Versorgung der Innenstädte oder für den Überlandtransport. Nicht erst heute sind sie beliebt und werden vielseitig eingesetzt. Von den frühen Transportwagen um 1900 über die Lieferdreiräder vor und nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg hin zu den heutigen Pritschen- und Kastenwagen auf vier Rädern: Wolfgang H. Gebhardt präsentiert die Geschichte der Groß- und Kleinserienfabrikate und Prototypen einschließlich der Klein-Kommunalfahrzeughersteller in Deutschland.
Ein Überblick aller Hersteller von A bis Z mit mehr als 900 historischen Fotos und detaillierten Informationen zu Marken und Typen.

Deutsche Autos - Personenwagen und Nutzfahrzeuge in der DDR

Von wegen nur Trabant und Wartburg. Wer glaubt, dass in der DDR nur diese beiden ihr Zweitakt-Fähnchen schwenkten, täuscht sich gewaltig. Denn im Strassenbild des Arbeiter- und Bauernstaates gab es durchaus manche Abwechslung.

Im Personenwagenbereich gab es z.B. die Modelle F8, F9 und P70 von IFA oder EMW von Awtowelo, dazu kamen Pkw aus den benachbarten osteuropäischen Staaten.
Bei den Lastwagen gab es Modelle wie Horch, Framo oder Barkas, wiederum ergänzt durch Laster der Nachbarn.

Michael Dünnebier und Eberhard Kittler beschreiben alle diese Fahrzeuge und noch mehr mit ihrer Geschichte und Technik und illustrieren sie mit rund 600 Abbildungen.

Petits Utilitaires français, depuis 1944

Cet ouvrage a pour vocation de recenser les utilitaires légers produits en France depuis 1944. Outre les grands constructeurs (Peugeot avec les 202, 402, 203, 403, 404 et 504 commerciales qui sillonnent encore les routes françaises ; Renault avec les Juvaquatre, 4 CV, Estafette, Goélette et Colorale utilitaires ; Citroën avec les 11 U; C 6, U 23, U 55 et C 15), on dénombre des centaines de véhicules construits par des grands de l'automobile (Simca, Chenard et Walker), ou fruits de l'imagination d'ingénieurs en quête de solutions aux problèmes de pénurie d'énergie (SOVEL et ses véhicules électriques, Duriez et ses adaptations sur base Jeep) ou de diversification de gammes (Berliet, Latil, Bernard, Delahaye).

Le catalogue de ces productions est impressionnant de diversité, de carrosserie et de créations qui souvent firent le lien entre la voiture de tourisme et l'utilitaire (d'un poids supérieur à 3,5 tonnes).

British Vans & Pick Ups 1945-1965 - including camper vans

Directly after the Second World War, most light commercials were derived from passenger cars, usually small and of very limited carrying capacity. Typical of these was the Morris Eight van, which would struggle to cope with more than five hundredweight of potatoes or to reach 50mph. By comparison, the Ford Transit of 1965 would carry three times that amount, drove like a car and did 70 mph with ease.
In between these dates, from the early 1950s, manufacturers had started to develop vehicles specially designed for the market, introducing larger light commercials which not only enabled bulkier and heavier payloads to be carried but also led to them being converted for alternative uses - most notably the camper van.

In this book the manufacturers - large and small - are dealt with in A-Z order: Austin, Bedford, Bond, Commer, Douglas, Ford, Jowett, Morris, Morrison, Reliant, Standard and Trojan.

The author gives a brief history of each and then provides detailed coverage of the various models produced, using the original manufacturers' publicity material for the illustrations not only to identify the vehicles but also to give the flavour of the times when they were to be seen going about their business.
A companion volume to the author's much- praised "British Lorries 1945-1965", this is not only a reliable and comprehensive reference book but also via its illustrations a pleasing evocation of earlier times on Britain's roads.

Il grande libro dei motocarri italiani

During the early 1930s, a form of motor transport for goods was introduced that was derived from the motorcycle, fitted with three wheels. That's how the three-wheel van phenomenon began, an economical, practical and untiring vehicle that covered the roads of Italy from the uneasy self-government years to those of extensive economic development.

With over 700 illustrations - all of them carefully selected originals from the periods concerned - the vehicles are compared in this book manufacturer by manufacturer, year by year, telling the history of the stylistic and technical evolution of this means of transport. Over one hundred manufacturers are listed all over the Twentieth Century.

Text in Italian.

Carrozzeria Coriasco

In Italy "Coriasco" is the name given to every light compact truck. Apart from thousands of his most famous Fiat 600 and 850-based commercial vehicles, this coachbuilder also made many more special bodies, from coaches to ambulances, from advertising vehicles to giardinettas, elaborata and even a few sports cars.
This book tells the full history of Carrozzeria Coriasco, illustrating it with a wide selection of pictures, often never published before.

¡A la carga!: 80 años de furgonetas y camionetas españolas

This book covers the evolution of domestically manufactured vans and light trucks in Spain from 1907 to 1987, with a special focus on the technical and industrial projects that contributed significantly to the progress of various economic sectors and established Spain as an automotive powerhouse.

Japanese Mini Truck - An Introduction to All Things Kei Truck

The Japanese mini truck stands out for its remarkable utilitarian capabilities, ranking among the most versatile vehicles globally. Compact enough to fit in the bed of an F150, yet robust and adept at conquering challenging terrains with its top-notch four-wheel drive.
With a lack of English literature on this subject, the author felt compelled to fill the gap, particularly as the fascination with mini trucks grows in the United States, catching up with the rest of the world that has long appreciated their attributes.
This guide, featuring over 160 full-color images, unveils the unique experience a mini truck offers, distinct from any other vehicle in the automotive realm. It covers the history, uses, configurations, comparisons, specifications, makes, parts, accessories, and conversions (electric and amphibious).

Authored by Mark Roehrig, the book not only serves as an individual read but transforms into an exciting shared experience with family and friends. A comprehensive resource, it addresses the absence of English literature on Kei trucks, providing insights into their production, global distribution, and practical considerations for those considering ownership.
After perusing this guide, readers will gain knowledge on state regulations, load and tow capabilities, model differentiations, and essential considerations when purchasing or registering a Kei truck.

Samochody użytkowe RWPG

NEW

The first publication in Polish presenting commercial vehicles produced in the countries belonging to the Comecon, the so-called Eastern Bloc, which existed after World War II, until 1990.
The author explains what kind of organisation the Comecon was and what kind of vehicles are defined as commercial vehicles. He presents the vehicle manufacturers and their production profile, as well as selected models of vans, trucks and buses, taking into account their construction and operating characteristics and technical data.

The vehicles are presented according to the manufacturers operating in each country, viz: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Soviet Union.
The descriptions of the manufacturers and their vehicles are preceded by short chapters providing information on the origins and development of the automotive industry in the countries mentioned.

Text in Polish.