Hi Mel and List,
Everything (almost everything, because during the years a lot of things were removed, altered or added to fit a special purpose in the line of agricultural needs, lumber handling etc) fits the description of a WW2 DODGE 3/4 ton truck. The engine is a "T214" - your detailed desciption makes this very clear.
The same basic koncept was used to creat various types of this 3/4 ton truck: Weapon Carrier, Ambulance, Command Car, Carry-All, etc.
You wrote:
-----------------
"The body is minimal. The wind shield, both doors, the cab top and
everything aft of the seats is missing."
-----------------
Since You wrote "the seats" I understand there are two separated seats behind the dashboard, for driver and passenger. So, it can't be a Command Car (fitted with a "coach" and no single seats) and nothing else than a Weapon Carrier - provided you exclude a Gun Motor Carriage or a Emergency repair vehicle (so rare to find that the chances are almost non excisting) and that the body is uncut.
Finally, if the front bumber is in one pice, stretching over the full width of the vehicle, it's a Dodge Weapon Carrier WC-51 (no winch) and if the front bumber is divided in two halfes, with a space left open in the middle for housing the winch, it's a WC-52.
A vehicle in this condition can only be cannibalized for spares and I don't think it would be worth the efforts nor the cost to start ar restoration - Weapon Carriers are rather cheap to buy over here and they are still around, but not at all to the same exctent as for a couple of years ago.
I'm not an expert, but I've restored one WC-52 to its original condition (four years of hard work and now resting in a private museum abroad) and I've helped restoring some others. I have one Command Car resting in a barn and I wonder if I ever would find the time to deal with that one - my wife just simply descided to limit the time I have on my own nowdays........ For special occasions I take out my restored M38A1 and just enjoy a quick ride in the sun.............limited time, you know!
Well, maybe some other List member will present another opinion, from another point of view, but from were I stand that's what I think about your hulk.
Best regards
Karl
Sweden
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mel Miller" <nourmahal@worldnet.att.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 3:41 AM
Subject: [MV] Mystery WWII Dodge WC
> Dear WC/Command Car Experts - HELP
>
> I have found a hulk which is barely restorable on my ranch in south
> Texas. I had forgotten that it was there till today when I went driving
> through the 'Junk Yard'. I remember now that we called it the command
> car when we were kids. No paperwork exists on the vehicle that I know of
> so here is a description. Any educated guesses would be appreciated.
>
> Hood is flat on top and hinged in the middle. Sides of each hood half
> are also hinged with two spring loaded hold down levers mounted fore and
> aft on each side.
>
> Grill guard protects two bullet shaped headlights mounted onto widely
> flaring fenders with two small service lights mounted next to them.
>
> Six cylinder flathead engine with spark plugs mounted close to each
> other in three pairs. Four cell battery mounted in engine compartment
> toward the front on the drivers side. Single bbl carter carb mounted on
> passenger side of engine. Intake and exhaust manifolds are siamesed on
> passenger side. As you face the firewall from the front of the vehicle,
> there is an electrical connector block which had eleven terminals in a
> circle mounted to the upper right hand corner of the firewall. Below the
> connector block appears to be a metal fuel filter housing. To the left
> of the block there is a six inch wide, three inch tall and six inch deep
> electrical apparatus which extends into the passenger compartment and
> has an Autolite tag with 40 and other numbers on it. The generator is
> mounted on the drivers side of the engine.
>
> The body is minimal. The wind shield, both doors, the cab top and
> everything aft of the seats is missing. A wooden pick up body was
> crafted out of 2x4s and bolted to the frame. The drivers side running
> board is indented for the door mounted spare tire arrangement. There is
> gas can holder mounted athwartthe forward part of the passenger side
> running board.
>
> There is a three spoke steering wheel with horn button in the middle.
> The dash is laid out as follows. To the left of the steering column
> there were four data plates at one time. Two were about 5" wide and 1
> 1/2" tall placed side by side with two others directly above them, 5"
> wide by about 2 1/2" tall. To the right of the steering column there are
> five gagues: Amps, Oil Pressure (small) Speedometer/Odometer (large) and
> Fuel, and Water Temperature (small. There is a small instrument light
> above the Amps and Oil Pressure agues and another one above the
> Speedometer. There is a row of six evenly spaced pull cable controls
> under the instruments.
>
> The shift lever has two angles in it and there is a slot to the left of
> the shifter with nothing protruding from it. To the right of the shifter
> there are two slots. From the inboard one a button release parking brake
> handle sprouts. The outboard shot has a plain lever protruding from it
> with a "Billy Club" style handle on top.
>
> The tires are ND Goodyears, 9.00 - 16. The wheels are five lug split rim
> design and have the following markings: Budd Wheel Patents 1721313 and
> then the numbers 94 and 95. 90 degrees around the wheel appears "44380"
> and 90 degrees more "4" appears. The rims have a large offset.
>
> Unfortunately the only data plate is a small one on the glove
> compartment door on the passenger side of the dash and it is so rusted
> that it is un readeable. It is held on with two brass rivets in the
> middle of the ends.
>
> The only tag with a readeable number in an oval metal tag mounted with
> two slotted head sheet metal screws to the top of the firewall where the
> after lip of the hood rests. The tag appears to be aluminum or
> galvanised steeel and has been machine stamped "4290 - 21239".
>
> What have I got here (aside from a colosal restoration project)?
>
> TIA
> Mel Miller
> 2 X M725
>
> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Apr 04 2001 - 08:10:47 PDT