View allAll Photos Tagged stepvan
Operated by: United Parcel Service, Minneapolis, MN
Unit Number: 155962
Body: ?
Chassis: Freightliner?
Notes:
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One of two UPS trucks seen making the late afternoon rounds in downtown Saint Paul, MN
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Operated by: On The Run Delivery Inc. Brighton, CO
Unit Number: 311891
Body: Morgan Olson
Chassis: Freightliner?
Notes:
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Seen parked by the former Denver Bus Center while making deliveries to nearby buildings.
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Seen parked while the driver makes a delivery on Government St
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Operated by: United States Postal Service
Unit Number: 7535057
Body: Morgan Olson Route Star
Chassis: Ford E450
Notes:
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Seen on route by Richie Medical Plaza building in downtown Saint Paul.
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I just love these Stepvans.
Saw a red one a couple of times this week(same one), haven't been able to get a shot of that one.
This beautiful but mysterious Grumman step van was spotted just few blocks from my house. What luck! Love the rainbow grill, the yellow stripe and the glossy turquoise paint. WIth the orange flasher on top I suspect it's a repurposed utility van. Ex-PECO or PGW perhaps. There was no sign or any other clues as to what this one is used for. Maybe the paint job isn't finished yet?
Kagurazaka are loading the gtfo cargo with her Stepvan.
The Van parked on the Kousara's Regent HQ at Second Norway.
Brand: Maisto
Series: N/A
Livery: Light bulb graphic, eyes graphics, Power Shortage Response Team, On Call 24hrs., Unit 01
Scale: 1/64
Base: Black plastic - ©2002 Tonka / Hasbro
Collector/casting number: N/A
Country of manufacture: China
Place/date of purchase: eBay July 5, 2020
Condition: Used but pristine 10/10
Remarks/comments:
First, let me express my admiration of the design and quality of this paint job. The downward slanting backdrop and headline give a feeling of motion that is fitting for a step van. The orange and black with red accent create strong contrast that you can't miss. When I first saw it I thought that Entourage was doing some tour on the Penn campus and turned to look for Vince and Turtle.
Secondly, what the hell is this? What happened to Coup de Taco? (see their earlier paint job here: www.flickr.com/photos/ezraw/4298284505/in/set-72057594077...). I hope it was a financial crisis, because that's about the only way I could forgive such an affront to my (and hopefully the public's) esthetic expectations for food trucks and the relationship they have with the neighborhoods in which they do business.
If you look through my step van set (www.flickr.com/photos/ezraw/sets/72057594077391068/with/4...) what you might notice is that the lunch truck step van is an expression of identity for this unusual category of small business. The emphasis in nearly all non-delivery fleet step vans is on individuality, often shown using typography or color. Even those who choose not to paint their vans have customized them in ways that are unique.
The step van food truck is the rare business that comes with two huge signs out front that can be painted however the owner likes. I don't even think zoning has any say. Most owners take advantage of this to create a visual identity. A food truck "brand." Since all step vans are nearly the same size and shape, there's really no other way to do this. For example, see Rami, right next door serving middle eastern food (www.flickr.com/photos/ezraw/4298271579/in/set-72057594077...) or Suzi with the chef's face drawn on the side (www.flickr.com/photos/ezraw/3168385047/in/set-72057594077...) or bright pink Denise's (www.flickr.com/photos/ezraw/3086759419/in/set-72057594077...) or the recently famous cupcake lady running Philadelphia Buttercream ( www.flickr.com/photos/ezraw/4508902913/in/set-72057594077... ).
To change identities so suddenly and dramatically is to invite confusion and possibly alienate customers by removing a familiar signpost of their daily routine. No to mention, and possibly most importantly, how could anyone possibly know what the Entourage truck sells? Only if you look carefully can you see the Coup de Taco logo is hiding out in the bottom left.
Third. It's boring. You could put this on a billboard and I wouldn't look twice.
There's almost no difference between the experience I have with a truck like this and a portable sign board truck like this: www.flickr.com/photos/jag9889/3457265350/. Both are totally unrelated to what's happening inside and insult the neighborhood around it. At least the sign board truck moves along. Coup de Taco seems to say, "I care so little about my relationship with the neighborhood that I'm willing to risk it for money."
At least the sign truck and billboard declare their commercial intent up front. "Look at me, i'm an advertisement," they say. "See me for what I am." But this lunch truck fooled us. It said, "I'm a taco van, I'll park here every day, and we can have a relationship. I'll be a part of the neighborhood and you can eat here too." But then we wake up one morning to hear, "Oh no, wait, sorry, I'm also an advertisement for an HBO show. But I'm not leaving either. Sorry you had a some romantic notion about me respecting you. Just keep looking at Ari and buying tacos and we'll get along fine."
So, should we boycott Coup de Taco for this slap in the face of visual step van vernacular? For me, it's a moot point as I don't work near it, and it's usually not open when I pass by, so I've never eaten there. Also, as a partner in a small business myself, I wouldn't want to damage the income of the owner, who certainly seems like a nice guy (his blog: coupdetaco.wordpress.com/). But I certainly would understand if someone did. That said, part of the appeal and identity of Philadelphia for me is the crazy melange of signs and storefronts all over town. I would never want to squelch that fire, nor the choice of each business person to do what he or she wants with their exterior, but I sure would hate it if we all ended up with signs like these on food trucks all over town.
Can't wait until this is gone and we see the old Coup de Taco back soon.
PS, I got a close look last night, and this is a vinyl vehicle wrap, which is actually pretty cool and nearly invisible unless you look very closely. Would be interesting to see vans put these on and change up designs every year.
Low emission propane powered step / panel van photographed at the postal station in Bells Corners, Nepean.
This picture wasn't taken because it's Smart bread, but because I haven't seen an International stepvan before.
Brand: Maisto
Series: N/A
Livery: Mombasha Fire Co., Underwater Search & Recovery, Monroe N.Y.
Scale: 1/64
Base: Black plastic -
Collector/casting number: N/A
Country of manufacture: China
Place/date of purchase: eBay July 5, 2020
Condition: Used but pristine 10/10
Remarks/comments:
There are just a small amount of Matchbox generic models which are genuinely appealing and I class the Express Delivery van as one of them. It has been made of plastic for most of its life so I'm guessing most collectors have accepted that especially when there are so few realistic looking vans in the range. This Elite Robo Mechanics version appeared in late 2015 and can still be found in certain Morrisons stores. Mint and boxed.
Brand: Maisto
Series: N/A
Livery: Mombasha Fire Co., Underwater Search & Recovery, Monroe N.Y.
Scale: 1/64
Base: Black plastic -
Collector/casting number: N/A
Country of manufacture: China
Place/date of purchase: eBay July 5, 2020
Condition: Used but pristine 10/10
Remarks/comments:
Brand: Maisto
Series: N/A
Livery: Light bulb graphic, eyes graphics, Power Shortage Response Team, On Call 24hrs., Unit 01
Scale: 1/64
Base: Black plastic - ©2002 Tonka / Hasbro
Collector/casting number: N/A
Country of manufacture: China
Place/date of purchase: eBay July 5, 2020
Condition: Used but pristine 10/10
Remarks/comments:
2022 Case F recolour of the Matchbox Express Delivery and one I had assumed i'd missed out on thanks to Tesco spending SIX MONTHS continually stocking Case E!
This entire batch is now mysteriously turning up at Toytown stores in short cards rather than the expected secondary market long ones so i'm not sure where they've come from.
I've always liked this Grumman-Olson based casting and despite various modifications to cheapen it, it still looks good when given decent liveries such as the established but fictitious CarGo Couriers.
Mint and boxed.
The ancient but charming Hot Wheels Combat Medic made a return to the range back in late 2015 and thankfully its colour scheme wasn't too horrendous! Technically a generic design though must surely have been based on a real U.S. step van it has mainly featured Ambulance liveries hence the name Combat Medic though looks more like a delivery van rather than anything else! Mint and boxed.
One of the newer USPS step vans, seen here while making a delivery at a downtown Saint Paul apartment tower.
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Please do not use this photo or any part of this photo without first asking for permission, thank you.
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