(first posted 4/5/2013) All hail the mighty Metro! The finest step van ever made; the icon of the whole genre. I’ve been hoping to find one for years, and here this one was right under my nose: TheProfessor47 posted this at the Cohort, saying he shot it in Eugene. Where?
We must pay our due respects, although the credit goes at least as much to the Metropolitan Body Co. that invented and even patented the step van, and Raymond Loewy, who styled the version for International way back in the thirties. That explains why I always loved the Metro so much: it was by far the best styled van ever made, from that best decade ever for design.
The Carlson bothers opened Metropolitan Carriage Co. in Bridgeport, CT. in 1908, building bodies for the new horseless carriages. They were successful, and kept expanding. Quite early on, they also started building truck bodies and cabs, and their advanced designs were among the first to fully enclose a truck cab all in steel. That evolved into fully-enclosed delivery vehicles, and Metropolitan patented many aspects of that concept (above), and quickly came to dominate the market.
Here’s the original version, as supplied to a variety of truck chassis, in this case a Chevrolet.
Dodge, and other truck brands were also were available as chassis donors.
International took a shine to the Step Van business and Metropolitan, and had Raymond Loewy design their own unique version of it. This is the beginning of an uninterrupted continuity through 1963, in terms of design, although some details like the original tear-drop headlights were changed for prosaic round ones, the grille evolved, and the rear wheel skirts went by the wayside; perhaps literally.
IHC wanted to buy Metropolitan outright, but the war interrupted that. In 1948, the deal was consummated, and Metropolitan became an IHC division, cranking out Metro bodies of all sizes.
Metros were of course built on a wide range of International truck chassis, from lightweight one-tonners,
to quite big ones with dual rear wheels, like this refrigerated milk hauler. International’s well-regarded OHV sixes of various sizes almost inevitably provided the motive power.
On my first visit to Atlantic City in about 1967 or so, they had a fleet of Metro buses for their public transport system. Cute.
My love for the Metro would rightfully have been consummated with something like this, although I certainly wouldn’t have squared off that delicious curved butt of the original.
Here’s the tail end as Loewy created, with doors narrower than on modern vans. TheProfessor47 said in his comments at the Cohort that this is a 1958; I assume he has reason to know. This generation of Metro was built through 1963, replaced by a new boxy generation for 1964.
These new Metros, like this one I caught being painted, never quite caught on like the first generation. Well, they certainly weren’t memorable, like most modern boxes on wheels. In fact, they were a disappointment to International, and they pulled the plug on the Metro plant in 1968, in part because of recurring clashes with the UAW local. Step Van bodies were now sourced from various suppliers. By 1975, International got out of the light truck business altogether, except for the Scout, which lingered on for a few more years.
Loewy’s iconic design had stayed in production for a quarter century, and is still loved by Step Van aficionados for being the original and best.
vintage Metro images: coachbuilt.com
+1. Classic designs endure forever. Thanks Paul!
Looking at these vans remind me of the wide variety of services that used to be provided. These IH vans were used to pick up laundry at your door, with return the next day. Also, they were used for daily home bread delivery, just like the milkman. You could run an account with the bakery and pay up weekly. Ah, another era…
Bingo!
We used to get potato chips delivered to our door in one of these. Charles Chips!
Like this?
+1! I am imprinted on a Charle Chips Metro Van.
I will never till the day I die figure how my dad got my RN mom to agree to regular delivery of huge tins of potato chips right to our door, but I can only hope that St. Peter at the Pearly Gates is a huge a Potato Chip fan as I was at age 9 and rewarded Dad accordingly!
International couldn’t stay away from the Stepvan business, in the 1990’s they briefly marketed the Metro II and then in the 2000’s they purchased the P30 line from GM renaming it Workhorse and eventually designing new chassis from the ground up.
There should be a map on Flickr showing roughly where I shot the car; I can’t quite remember where, but it was near Tugman Park, I think. I’m really not sure what year it was, the ’58 was just a guesstimate, so if anyone is better at narrowing down the year than I am, feel free to speak up.
These were great-looking rigs. I’m torn though, having a bit of a soft spot for the Dodge Route Vans. And our milkmen always drove Divcos.
Our “SWAT” van! We had one of these at work; they had retired it, but put it back into service temporarily. By this time (mid-70s) it was totally empty inside, it could haul several of us (no safety belt laws yet) or swallow just about anything we had to move. You couldn’t kill it, you just had to be careful not to shift to reverse instead of third gear.
I didn’t appreciate it then, but it looks pretty cool now.
Wonderful, I feel like these Metros were childhood friends. They ran around everywhere for all sorts of home deliveries. Beautiful.
It would be silly, but I wonder if anyone’s ever put a BMW roundel in between those kidney-shaped openings. After all, it is an International. Hmmm..maybe there’s a story here for next April 1.
It’s really funny how things that were so ubiquitous like these, are all but gone.
That’s my main kick – more so than pillarless hardtops and such – STYLE! Utility CAN be functional as well as beautiful.
These IH step-vans were almost as beautiful as the Divco milk trucks.
There’s a local dairy company here named Trauth Dairy. They use modern box trucks, but painted in a very retro theme. Cream on top, green on bottom separated by a red stripe. Very classy. When was the last time you saw anything painted in cream? Another very common color from years back, but now, almost non-existant.
Our town delivery vans came from other sources, step vans didnt take off here only Commer seem to have made one that Ive seen anyway.
Seen in Liberty Maine a couple of years ago, not sure if it’s a Metro. It says Keep Informed, Read Newspapers and Magazines.
do you have any idea how to get in touch with any one about the keep informed metro?
Just for fun a street view in summer.
wow, i can remember visiting grandma and aunt augusta in atlantic city as a kid and being fascinated by the little mini-bus jitney service. in june (’67?) i went out for my birthday dinner with my family. the ride to and from the local restaurant in the metro jitney was almost as memorable as the 7-layer cake i had for dessert!
here’s a great shot i found on flickr:
http://flic.kr/p/6EVpNL
I drove a contemporary step van of long forgotten type in 1969 in Toronto about 2 years after I got my driver’s license. I was terrified when I had to take it out the first time. Rear visibility was awful to non-existent, it was power nothing and it was huge. Somehow I got used to it though I was still somewhat terrified every time I had to drive it through downtown traffic and find a parking space to make pickups and deliveries. However, like all larger vehicles, it had a presence that made people get out or stay out of your way.
For the most amazing Metro step van for sale today (that I know of), go to http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/3699792748.html where you will find this unbelievable artifact. Follow the link to the seller’s Photobucket album too.
That’s awesome. Hope someone does it justice.
Great writeup of one of my all-time favorite vehicles.
Not sure how IH classified them, but I believe the squared-off one shown third from the bottom is actually a third-generation version. In between, there was the type shown below (capped from a “Beretta” episode and originally posted at the IMCDb).
I know the type well because, in my 18th summer, I joined some friends in one of these (an ex-bread truck) on an epic trip to Wildwood, NJ, to see the band Seatrain and consume various substances away from the parents watchful eyes, all done with great success. Although the thing burned almost as much oil as gasoline, and lost power at an inopportune time climbing the big hill between Pleasantville and Windber, PA, it was a blast rolling along the PA Turnpike with both doors slid fully open. Good times.
That appears to be a Metro Mite which was produced at the same time as the art deco and larger later version shown above.
Had one for the delivery vehicle at the bakery where I worked in 1960. Later on the furniture repair guy in my business park had one. I think they worked wonders for advertising. The furniture guy drove his for pickups (in the mid 1980s) and when it wasn’t doing that it was working as a sign.
People were disappointed when he sold it and painted up a later modeled box van.
I have a 1958 Boyertown Merchandiser out back for a shed over 20 years! It’s not in bad shape for being 56 years old. It ran when I got it, but has just been sitting since 1991 or so. I’m clearing up the property to sell and move 1100 miles, so the step van isn’t going with me. I need to determine it’s value and find a new happy owner. It’s cool as heck, but ….
I’m researching the type and mode of the International Metro Bus used on Alcatraz Island to transport convicts. See attached.
I’m a total newbie, so any leads gratefully accepted.
All I’ve learned so far is that it has four passenger windows, whereas most examples I’ve seen have three.
I can’t help you in detail. Passenger versions of the Metros were made in more than one size. Hopefully a real expert will show up and give you more details.
Whoops. Forgot to attach this view. Arrow points to “A”
Thanks. Here’s a closer view if its helpful
I’ve asked an IH expert to take a look. Hang on a bit.
John; Eric’s reply is below. It’s probably about as good as an answer you’re going to get.
It is impossible to pin down an exact year without looking at the data plate as there were not annual styling changes and International did not have actual model years in this era. They changed the series designation when the new model came along and the new model could be introduced about anytime of the year. You can narrow it down a bit by the model designation badge. From looking at this picture it looks like the badge starts with “A” If that is what is on that badge then that would put it as built in the 1960-1962 or possibly 1963 range. The wide 5 lug and the fact that it has dual rear wheels would put it as a 140/150 series. So my best guess if that the pictured model is an AM140 or AM150. Note the badge does not carry the M part as they used the same badges that they put on the conventional trucks and you should be able to tell that it is a Metro which is what the M part of the model designation stands from. The Body style does jive with the AM line and at that time they did offer bus versions from the factory.
Note if that is not an A on the badge then it could be as old as 1950.
Thank you Eric and Paul. This is exceptionally helpful. Here are two more photos I found since our last email. Close inspection of the original photo (well, it’s in a book) reveals the badge on the front right reads: “INTERNATIONAL / A150”
I’m confused about the “M” though. While there’s no M in the badge, the front grille clearly states METRO.
The “M” is implied is the best way I can put it. For what every reason for a small window of time International decided that they needed to put the series and capacity on the side of the Metro. However they were not willing to make badges specifically for them. So they used the same badge as used on conventional trucks. However the true model designation would have been AM 150 and that is what would have been found on the data plate and on the brochure. The also didn’t bother to make badges for sub models. For example long wheel base, higher capacity model would have been an AM 152 or A 152 for a conventional truck but they still would have carried a A 150 badge. Here is a Brochure for the AMC 150 the C meaning that it was just the Cab portion but again if it had a Badge it would have been one that read A 150. http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ihc/id/36569/show/36533/rec/23
Hi,
I’m part of a small tour organization in San Francisco. We are getting involved with Alcatraz tours and would be very interested in purchasing a Metro, model AM 150. We want it to be as close to the original bus used on Alcatraz. Does anyone have any leads on that type of bus for sale?
Thanks for your help,
Scott
i have a 1960 metro bus that i will be selling next week
Matt-
Please call me ASAP at 415 850-9551 re your Metro Coach. Thanks
Thanks again for all the great help. The Wisconsin History site is invaluable.
All my best,
John Martini
Historical Consultant
Fairfax, CA
Here is a photo of the Zmetro bus I am getting delivered next weekend. It is a 61 model
where did you get it and how much did you pay for it
Rad my man!
Sorry I didn’t mean to put Z I front of metro. Haha
Can I get some more info on your Jitney bus metro?
Here is a pic of my “63 Metro AM150 which I purchased in October “14. It originally came from British Columbia and was a welding truck for the BC Power Corp for many years. It was driven by the last owner from BC to Alberta, (painted camo green…yuch), then all the way to Nova Scotia before I purchased it from the last owner. It literally drove all across Canada. It is still in very nice shape with 62,000 mi, and all original with the 4 speed tranny & 240 ci engine. I got it for a promotional vehicle for my small business and i couldn’t have picked a better vehicle. Wherever I drive, pedestrians stop & stare and wave or give the thumbs up, truckers toot their horns & wave, and I have had folks follow me on the road, to ask about the van when I stop at a parking lot. Soon, it will get a nice two tone paint job and look like a million bucks !
Very pleased with my old Metro, which I call the “little google eyed monster”.
Thanks IHC and Raymond Lowey for my awesome van.
What did you pay for yours? I’ve got my eye on one but need to know what to offer. Definitely not in running condition and rust is showing in the usual spots
I paid $2000 Canadian for mine, but I soon came to realize that it was a super deal compared to others I have seen for sale.
I have only seem one other Metro van in my province over the last 8 years. They are very rare here, probably due to rust and being run to death by the companies using them, then junked instead of being sold to folks who had a use for them.
The old aluminum bodied step vans lasted a lot longer in our climate and road conditions.
i have a rare 1960 metro bus 4 windo that will be for sale
Matt
Did you ever sell you 4 window Metro?
It reminds me a lot of the Morris J type introduced in 1949.
I find it interesting that some of them had the driver’s side windshield wiper at the top of the screen and the other wiper at the bottom. My best guess as to rationale is they thought it would be good for the driver to see things on the right (houses to deliver milk to, children running out into the street) at close to medium range. If anyone has theories, I’d like to hear them.
An Auburn rubber truck not unlike this one passed through our family’s hands in the ’50s. (zeppy.IO photo)
CC effect! Just saw one the other day
A more recent sighting of a beautifully restored Metro, caught on dashcam. The turn signal was on, hence the light that isn’t lit. I drive that road four times a week, but I haven’t seen it again.
Lets not forget the Metro Mite, the smaller version of the Metro.
I saw this Ford near my home. Is this from the same company?
Is it still for sale, how much, where is it, be real??
Paul:
I realize I’m seven years late to this party, but a friend has just discovered some photos of an International Metro that was used by CBS Radio as a mobile studio. The license plate for the five photos that we have (the only ones we can find) is a 1948 New York plate.
If anyone has any information about how long CBS had this, and whether it has survived, please chime in!
Very cool! There were so many custom bodies trucks in that era starting with the first streamlined ones in the ’30s. This one is unique; never seen a picture of it before.
I would like to restore my 1958 Metro (R-22?)
Grandfather bought it new for his ice cream business and it is still running today. 180K on it. Question, where can i get parts, body panels, gaskets, etc? Thanks