Re: [MV] Dodge Command Car info wanted

Gordon.W.I. McMillan (gwim2@student.open.ac.uk)
Sun, 1 Feb 1998 08:52:17 -0000

Hi Jeff. The 3/4 ton Command Car, WC 56/57/58, made from mid '42 till
mid '44 I think, is a very nice vehicle, and used to be the second most
expensive Dodge you could buy in Europe (the WC 53 Carryall was the
most sought after at that time) then Carryalls started to appear from
the US and Norway, and now the Command Car is back on top of the price
pile. Mechanically the same as the more common weapons carrier, a
Command Car for sale in the UK will be UKP 12 to 15K (USD 15-20K
approx) Since they have been popular for a long time there is little
chance of finding an unrestored one here. Best ones are the earlier
production with symmetrical headlight grilles, no blackout light, and a
leather interior (like mine - you guessed) Winch (WC57) and original
radio (WC58) are worth a premium. Expect to have difficulty finding a
tailgate and hood frame - adjust buying price downwards by up to USD
1500 accordingly if your target buy doesn't have either. Petrol (Gas)
tanks are unique to Command Car and Carryall - try to get a good one.
Rear seats tend to be missing too, but they can be borrowed and copied
with a tube bender. I have seen plenty of alternatives for sale on
the web, including reasonably priced 1/2 ton Command Cars, that might
be worth considering, or Belgian and Norwegian dealers still have lots
of ordinary 4 x 4 Weapons Carriers and 6 x 6 GMCs for sale. As a rule
U.S. collectors do not value early 1/2 ton Dodges as much as we do here
in Europe. A couple of final points, do not be tempted to mark your
new Command Car as used by Patton, or the 82nd / 101st Airborne for
that matter, there are so many jeeps and Command cars already running
about with those markings that Patton and those Airborne people must
have spent the whole of WW2 driving about in them, leaping from one to
the other. My Dodges are U.S.A.A.F. 306th Bomb Group, you can see
them if you follow the 'WW2 Dodge Motor Pool' link from the MVPA page,
then take 'Feature Pics' and 'Archive' Hope this advice is of some use.
Gordon 8-)

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