Polish furniture van STAR 25L: there is no other such car in the world (20 photos)

Specialized vans as a separate class of equipment always are of particular interest wherever they are produced. Initially vans, created by order of different companies, appeared in the USA, then the idea began to take root in other countries, including Europe.





In the sixties, a specialized furniture truck. Built on the chassis of a regular STAR truck 25, the van turned out to be very distinctive, functional and comfortable.

In general, initially for the delivery of furniture from the store to customers a semi-trailer was supposed to be used. The old photo shows how looked like a road train.



In front of the semi-trailer there was a compartment for loaders, so there there are windows. But the idea of ​​a road train was quickly abandoned because of its sluggishness in narrow streets, lanes and courtyards. Then and there was an idea to put an existing body on a self-propelled chassis truck. Production was established at a factory in Starachowice.





Based on STAR 25, one of the most massive Polish trucks, the front part of the furniture truck body was adapted to the new conditions, the rear was left virtually unchanged. Interesting layout front part, the "closet" of loaders was placed on the second floor, above driver's cab. The driver, in his spare time, often used second floor as a bedroom.

The total circulation of such vans is unknown, but it certainly was not large, up to a hundred copies maximum, and only one has survived to this day copy, largely thanks to its driver. Van Rescue Story goes back to the eighties, when he was still working in his own way appointment in the Polish city of Gorzow.











The driver kept his van in good condition, for which he received award a valuable gift from the management of the factory that produced them. On the well-deserved rest, the man and the car also went out together - the van was decommissioned and gave it to the permanent driver. This is what saved the unique car.



Over time, the owner died and the car was sold, for many years it used as a barn, dilapidated, being in the open air, but fortunately, it was not handed over for scrap, but put up for sale, even in in such a very ghostly way.



It took many years to recreate the van in its original form, a huge amount of work and amount of money, but it was worth it. Another there is no other car like this in the world.