The GPO Telephones fleet of motor vehicles was established in 1919. Over the years that the Post Office operated Britain's telephone service, the light vans used by the telephone engineers were similar to those employed on Royal Mail deliveries and collections. Royal Mail vehicles were painted in the familiar Post Office red, whereas the GPO Telephones had a livery of mid bronze and Lincoln green with white lettering until 1968, when it was changed to a golden yellow with grey-green lettering.
By the time the General Post Office ceased to be a Government Department, becoming a nationalised corporation in October 1969, the telephone fleet comprised 38,203 vehicles out of a total of 61,368. For many years the GPO was the UK's largest fleet operator of vehicles other than the Army.
In 1962 several makes of light vans were subjected to trials by the GP telephones. These included the Austin A35, Standard 6 cwt and Ford Anglia. Only the Anglia van was accepted for contract and 3,250 Anglia's were purchased up to 1967.