I did a complete frame off restotation of this truck that I have owned for over 25 years.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3072-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3278-1.jpg
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I did a complete frame off restotation of this truck that I have owned for over 25 years.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3072-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3278-1.jpg
Another that can only be described as magnificent........... A pleasure to see. It's the size of the toys that separates the men from the boys!
Nice job! These are wonderful vehicles, simple, durable and easily maintained. Interesting how the dash panel folds down to expose the guts inside. Fenders are heavy duty! On an exercise in the Mojave, one of these went over amazing obstacles. Low-low is about a walking pace. Also pretty good in snow with four wheel chains. Do much better with modern tires. Congratulations on your successful efforts.
Wow, all the work sure paid off. Fantastic vehicle, thanks for sharing.
Memories.... saw a lot of them in Vietnam.
Thank you for your pleasant and welcomed comments, these trucks are easy to work on and many NOS parts are available to aid in maintenance or restoration. I took this one apart and rebuilt everything or added new parts to end up with what you see posted above. This is what it looked like when it was given to me. Took thousands of hours and dollars to bring it back from the dead-line of vehicles at the scrappers yard.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/Front1-1.jpg
Carter, even more amazing considering what you started with!!!!
When I joined the army in 1974, that was my section attack vehicle. We did infantry battle drills out of the back of those...
Thanks everyone for your views and comments, I took a lot to bringing it back to life. I am happy that it was saved to show folks who never saw or knew what an M37 was, that it is one tough little rig. :thup:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3133-1.jpg
It was a pleasure to see. I just wish that you'd kept a picture story/essay of the complete restoration. 'One picture...' and all that...... Maybe you did. If so, can we see a few more pictures? I did a 1969 Mini Cooper and a 1974 Norton Commando but kept a full pictorial log
I did keep a complete photo and log record of the entire process that stretched over a 20 year period and had hundreds of shots on Webshots that were taken down when that site closed. Still have all just don't know where to repost them.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...BLAVD_fs-1.jpg
That's a beauty!
One question: Is the driver's door tire carrier original or did you add it? I believe those were only on the Vietnam era M37B1s built from 1958 to end of production in 1968. The older M37s had the tire mount on the front of the bed.
I had a 1952 M37CDN (slightly larger engine, enclosed cab, otherwise identical to the US model) for many years. In fact, if you ever see the movie "To End All Wars," it puts in a brief appearance early in the film. I was living on Kauai and the film crew needed an Army-looking truck to haul around British prisoners.
A joy to drive but it generally only got 6 mpg, so it became kinda pricey to operate. I sold it to a Kauai firefighter, who probably keeps it parked a lot with gas prices as high as they are.
Only problem it ever gave me was a series of broken rear axles, which I was quite common. I always kept spares handy.
Your restoration is amazing! Thanks for sharing it.
What is the WC 51/52 bed sitting on?
I was going to ask the same. What is the other truck in the left background? Anyone?
Well the bed is a WC 51 or 52. It might just be an M37 with the WWII bed.
Sorry guys, been recovering from major back surgery and off line. Yes the other truck is a 1943 Dodge WC 52. I bought it in 1982 from White Owl Equipment, Kinston N.C. Rebuilt the engine. The hard top is one I made as I did not have a canvas top for it. Here are some other shots of it:
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...46e87684-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...33fa4798-1.jpg
Canadian M37s had the door tire carriers, as I recall. They were still in service well into the late 70s.
That's correct Ralph, we had them but not all of them had it. Some still had the tire in the box, against the cab. (3PPCLI)
Yours is mighty pretty......Makes mine look kinda shabby......;)
Mine in Viet-Nam 1965.......
Attachment 43854
AZB
I installed the carrier, the truck is a 1953 and I wanted the door carrier look as well as having another carrier for a second spare if needed, one in the bed and one "on the door"Quote:
Originally Posted by HotTom
---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 PM ----------
Mine is only pretty because it has fresh paint, markings and is garage kept, not like yours in VN.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArizonaBeagle
I found a 1953 M37 parked next to a local fire dept. Hadn't been run in over 10 years, but seems to be all there. Gonna try to pick it up this week.
Good on you Hal. Keep us informed pictorially of its progress. Great things to see. MY brother has an old 1945 Bedford 3-ton QL. It started its life out as an RAF one. Never left the UK probably and had been used in a timber yard for its PTO facility. Now restored to post war gloss finish c1955/56 BAOR/Germany
Looks like a good, sound basis from which to start. Great things to see. Good on you!
Well, it is officially mine. Paid for and bill of sale in hand. Kinda embarrassed at the deal I got, but the seller was happy and so am I. He was glad to sell to someone who wanted to restore it and not soup it all up.
Then well done that, now to keep us info'ed on your restore...
Just confirmation that browningautorifle was correct about spare tire carriers in the box of Canadian M37s. It looks like this was the case with cargo variants and maybe some others. Door mounts were found on specialty vehicles.
The trucks with which I was most familiar were outfitted for Mobile Repair teams. These served as living quarters in the field along with storage for tools and spare parts. As I recall, in Germany, they also towed trailers. Heavy assemblies, such as engines, were transported and moved around by the M62 5T wrecker. During the early 70s, we had not yet received the M113 Fitters vehicles.
The tire took up room in there and we didn't have much. Also you got dirty off it. We lived out of the back, rucksacks and all. I envied the guys that had a cool truck with the tire on the door.
I saw your post on G741.org, good find and a nice truck Hal, you have a good vehicle to bring back to life. Many other folks like me have put them back on the road beginning with one that was in much worse condition. Please keep us informed about what it takes to get yours road worthy and keep posting those pics, we love to see progress shots. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Good luck Hal. :thup: Carter
Ralf will confirm that the REME/RCEME/RAEME/RNZEME et al fitters trucks were generally fitted out with all the creature comforts. We had a saying that nyone could live uncomfotably!!! Not us...... Up until the late 60's we also had half-tracks until they were replaced by the M113 (434's to us). The half tracks were bitterly cold as you couldn't keep tyhem insulated. An the Centurion ARV's we used to live in a penthouse flat over the rear engine decking made from a Bedford lorry rear canopy/canopy frame. Early in the morning someone would nip inside via the recovery/winch/commanders compartment and turn the engine on. It didn't take more than a couple of minutes until the engine decks were lovely and warm. The exhausts would be boiling gallons of water for a good wash and shave.
Good times.......... Not really! Good memories, yes!
An infamous ex-Brit commissioned from the ranks in the Canadian Army infantry, John Klee ( no kidding, I forget his regimental affiliation, he was wearing an Airborne hat badge as I knew him ) expounded, " Any fool can be uncomfortable". The MRTs used a lot of initiative to enhance their living conditions in the field. This was well-deserved as compensation, some what, for laying in the mud under some vehicle trying to get it mobile.
John was one of the most remarkable soldiers I ever met. A story teller of considerable skill- and it was mostly all true, perhaps slightly enhanced. Another of his sayings was," Infamy is better than no fame at all". His exploits certainly qualified him in this regard. Despite a life- time, persistent, indulgence in the spirits, his last posting as a Captain was to the Airborne Center conducting experimental parachute trials. Go figure!
Sorry for getting off the topic. I may be beyond help in this regard.
Carter,
Nice to see you over here from the G741 site. How is the back going.
Rick
8 months out from surgery and doing better than the doctor thought I should be, thanks for asking Rick, how are you? Love this site, lots of info on all number of milsurp stuff. :thup: