In which Texas city were Grumman LLV prototypes tested in 1985? The answer is Laredo.
The U.S. Postal Service organized a competition for a purpose-built delivery vehicle to replace the aging Jeep DJ. Three teams produced prototypes: Grumman with General Motors, Poveco, and American Motors Corporation. Their vehicles were tested in Laredo, Texas, in 1985.
The trials emphasized practical postal work rather than showroom performance. Test routes included frequent starts and stops, gravel, cobblestones, and potholes, while the vehicles carried heavy payloads. The evaluation focused on serviceability, maneuverability in confined spaces, and economical operation.
Grumman won the competition and received a major production contract in April 1986. The resulting Long Life Vehicle used a Chevrolet S-10-based chassis, an aluminum body, and right-hand drive. Laredo is sometimes confused with the city where production occurred, but LLVs were assembled in Pennsylvania, not Texas.