This 1983 Grumman Kubvan is one of approximately 500 delivery vans produced with aluminum bodywork riding on a Volkswagen-sourced chassis. Following the seller’s acquisition in 2021, it was refurbished and modified with a Volkswagen 2.0L turbodiesel inline-four and a six-speed DSG automatic transaxle sourced from a 2010 Jetta. An air suspension and custom 17” wheels were added, and the body was repaired and repainted in black. Inside, unused 80s Recaro bucket seats were installed along with black carpeting, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a tablet computer serving as the instrument panel. A front lip spoiler and Hella fog lights were also added, and other features include dual sliding doors, barn-style cargo doors, and four-wheel disc brakes. Following completion of the work, the van has been used as a promotional vehicle and displayed at multiple shows. This modified KubVan is now offered at no reserve with a Pennsylvania title in the seller’s name.

The KubVan was built by Grumman in the early 1980s and featured an aluminum body on a contemporary Volkswagen chassis. Based largely on the earlier KurbWatt electric delivery van, it ultimately influenced the design of the LLV (Long Life Vehicle) produced for the United States Postal Service. Key elements include dual sliding doors, barn-style cargo doors, and stacked taillights.

The seller states that more than 300 hours were spent straightening the aluminum bodywork of this van before it was repainted gloss black and ceramic-coated. Protective film was also applied to portions of the exterior. A front lip spoiler was added along with Hella fog lights, LED directionals, and projector-style headlights with 3D-printed bezels. The bumpers were polished, and the windshield was replaced along with the window seals all around. Corrosion on the door handles is shown up close in the image gallery below.

Custom multi-piece 17” wheels were constructed using Ronal “tape reel” center sections, and they are wrapped in 185/35 Accelera Phi-R tires. An Air Lift Performance 3P suspension system was installed along with a shortened rear beam axle and custom rear springs. The brakes were converted to unassisted four-wheel discs with Corrado G60-sourced front units.

The right-hand-drive cabin was stripped during the build, and the ceiling and door panels were painted in gray, while charcoal gray carpeting was applied to the firewall, floors, and cargo area. Unusued 80s Recaro bucket seats trimmed in black corduroy were sourced, and netting was added to the headrests. Inertia-reel lap belts are provided, and two fans are mounted atop the dashboard, which is finished in textured black paint. The interior brightwork was also refinished.

The wood-rimmed D&W steering wheel sits ahead of a tablet computer with a digital GPS speedometer, tachometer and coolant temperature gauge, while an Equus fuel level gauge is mounted on the right side of the dashboard. The van is not equipped with an odometer.

The engine compartment was shaved prior to installation of the 2.0-liter Volkswagen turbodiesel inline-four, which has a common-rail fuel injection system and was tuned by Malone Tuning. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG automatic transaxle with manual shift mode that was tuned by United Motorsport. Custom mounts were fabricated to adjust the position of the drivetrain upward by 3″ and rearward by 1″ to increase ground clearance, and the custom CV axles utilize Mk5 inner and Mk1 outer joints. A Painless wiring harness was installed, and the G-Plus aluminum radiator is cooled by an electric puller fan.

The stainless-steel straight pipes flows into dual downturned finishers. The custom fuel cell utilizes a Volkswagen in-tank lift pump.

The Pennsylvania title carries an Antique brand and denotes the fuel type as “gas”.