Chrysler Launches RHD Jeep Wrangler for Postal Service Market

DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler Group re-introduced a special right hand drive “Postal Unit” version of the Jeep Wrangler for the U.S. Postal Service on Dec. 13, 2002.

Built at the Stickney Avenue assembly plant in Toledo, OH, the new right-hand drive Jeep derivative positions the postman on the curb side, enabling him to place mail into rural mail boxes without leaving his seat.

The gasoline-powered four-liter automatic 2003 Wrangler Postal Unit is a hard top with full metal doors and roll up windows to keep the mail secured, while the interior has a removable rear seat providing ample space for bulk mail and packages. Standard features include cloth-trimmed front seats and a four-speaker radio-cassette unit. A Dana 44 heavy-duty rear axle with Trac-Lok, P215/75R15 Wrangler all-terrain tires, full-face wheels, and a full-size spare tire are also specified for postal use. Retail price is $20,253 plus a $610 destination charge, and the vehicle is offered in a choice of 10 colors.

RHD Jeeps have been sold to the U.S. Postal Service since immediately after World War II. Army-surplus and standard production versions were used from 1945 but it was not until 1955 that Jeep built its first model specifically for Postal Service use - the Dispatcher (DJ3A).

Based on the Jeep Universal (CJ3A) introduced in 1949, the Dispatcher was available until 1964 and was equipped with a flat four engine to cut costs. The two-wheel drive model featured a hard top and sliding doors. The second Dispatcher (DJ5) model, produced from 1965-83, was based on the standard U.S. market Jeep CJ5 with improvements to power output, axles, transmission, and seating comfort.

The last Jeep built specifically for postal employees was the 2001 Jeep Cherokee.