Grumman has designed and built many American fighter aircraft and the Apollo Lunar Module, and unsuccessfully bid on the Space Shuttle contract.

The company also created the Long Life Vehicle, which we all know as the U.S. Postal Service truck. Those toy-like, right-hand driving, blue-and-white vehicles are everywhere, but are headed toward extinction. Production of the truck began in 1987 and ended in 1994, and many of those vehicles are nearing the end of their life. That's why the USPS recently announced it will replace the trucks with what it's calling the next-generation delivery vehicle.

As the New York Times reported:

The goal is to harness new technologies, increase fuel efficiency and help the Postal Service better compete on package deliveries with the likes of FedEx and United Parcel Service.

Already, automakers are working to compete for the coveted contract, worth an estimated $6 billion to produce 180,000 vehicles. 

A few of the changes and requirements the Postal Service is seeking include greater height so carriers can stand in the back of the vehicle, right-hand drive, airbags, more room for packages,a back-up camera and greater fuel efficiency than the 9 miles per gallon the Grummans average. 

The slideshow above unfortunately doesn't include any Mail Jeeps, my personal favorite of all the various mail vehicles. What's your favorite mail truck? Any pictures to share? Will you miss the Long Life Vehicle once they're gone?