Vehicle Description
(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this vehicle on a website
other than our main website, it's possible that only some of our
many photographs of this car are presented due to website
limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 150
photographs, please go to our main website: Garage Kept
Motors.)
1953 Dodge M-37 �-Ton Army Cargo Truck
"This is one old warrior that isn't going to fade away." Classic
Car column, Globe & Mail
The M37 Army cargo truck was developed from the same platform as
the Dodge WC trucks that saw duty during World War II. From 1951 to
1968, 115,838 of these M37 �-ton trucks (in several body-style
variations) were produced by Dodge for the government. Military
history buffs will note that this time period spanned the Korean
and Vietnam wars in which these trucks saw extensive combat
service. While the M37 remained in active service with the Army
well into the 1970s, it was ultimately replaced by the M715
ton-and-a-quarter cargo truck based on the civilian Jeep pickup of
that time. To many military-vehicle collectors and fans, the
M37-along with the WWII Jeep and M35-series deuce-and-a-half
trucks-represents the last of the classic-look Army vehicles. As a
result, the larger-than-the-Jeep, but
smaller-and-more-maneuverable-than-the-2 �-ton M37 is arguably one
of the most collectible military vehicles around. Fortunately,
replacement parts remain plentiful.
The Army's use of vehicles has always put a premium on toughness
and reliability. So, unlike today's SUVs and Jeeps, comfort and
convenience features are nearly non-existent in true military
trucks. The military's only "sound system" would've been a tactical
radio in the back, and the only "automatic" might've been a
Browning machinegun mounted above the roof. Off-roading" wasn't an
Army pastime, it was a life-or-death matter, and the M37 was built
to win those battles. Sadly, these vehicles often ended their lives
in military scrap yards, or sent off to continue serving with some
allied country's forces. Finding an M37 that hasn't been allowed to
rust to death, been converted into a fire truck, or been modified
in a way that destroyed its integrity can be quite a challenge.
The M37 offered here is an exceptional example of this military
icon. Its only modifications are related to road-safety in the form
of improved lighting, electronic horn, and wig-wag flashers. All
its military-grade canvas-top, cargo cover, and seats-is in place
and in excellent condition. Paint overall is in similarly excellent
condition as the photographs demonstrate. The truck has been
lovingly cared for by its current owner-a Vietnam veteran (he added
his old unit's bumper markings)-for many years. It has not been
operated in the winter, and instead was stored in a heated
building. When the truck was refreshed, the original data plates
were replaced with reproductions, but those original plates were
kept and are included with the vehicle. In the same way, the
appropriate (and very useful) Army technical manuals for the truck
are included. Only a responsible collector takes such care.
Interested parties are probably well aware of the vehicle's
specifications, but as a recap: 230 cubic-inch inline 6-cylinder
gasoline engine; 24-gallon fuel tank; 24-volt electrical system
(with fresh batteries); 4-speed manual transmission with twin-lever
(one for high, one for low) 4-wheel drive transfer case; drum
brakes; live-beam axles on leaf springs.
Perfectly suited to parade and military historical-reenactment use,
this M37 is still ready and able to serve... and inspire. After
all, that's what veterans do.
