Dodge Military M37 Powerwagon 1952

1952 Dodge Other Description

I purchased this truck in the summer of 2013 from a gentleman in Winnepeg, Canada and had the vehicle shipped to Windsor. I picked it up on the 4th of July, then proceeded to drive it across the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit and declared it on the American side. Several people were waiving and rooting me on as I drove it over the bridge, but seeing I had never driven an M37 before, I was dilligently trying to keep my focus in staying between the lines. A US border security agent met me at my window and said he use to drive one of these in Nam, then asked if he could take a look under the hood. At that point, I went in to declare the vehicle. After a few weeks, I had it shipped to Grayling, Mi where it now resides.
The M37 was used by the military up to about 1978. It is rated at 1500 lbs cross country and 3000 lbs on the highway. The Canadian military purchased these trucks from late 1951 to 1955. The US military acquired these trucks in late 1951 and continued acquisitions through 1968. Mechanical parts for the trucks are readily available from dealers in the US and many body parts are still available. Tailgates, front fenders and driver side doors are difficult to find NOS.
The trucks have fairly low gear ratios, 5.83, to enhance the cross country capability, resulting in lower highway speed. Many owners who are not driving cross country have changed the differential gears to 4.89 which result in slightly higher road speeds. Most American trucks do not have a hardtop and were equipped with a canvas top that can be removed. The military had various add-on kits to adapt these trucks to various conditions, or uses. For example, there is a fording kit to allow these trucks to drive through water up to the depth of the drivers head. The fording kit is included with this truck and has extensions to extend the exhaust pipe and air breather vertically to allow operation underwater. All of the wiring harness connectors are waterproof connectors. The spark plug wires, distributor, generator, voltage regulator, etc. were all sealed with watertight connectors. A hot water cab heater was a kit utilized for cold weather and is mounted on the left front fender. An Arctic heater kit was available to heat the engine coolant and circulate hot water through the heat exchanger in the battery box. This equipment was fired with gas from the fuel tank and electric fuel pump. One of these NOS units is mounted at the bottom of the passenger front fender. The Artic heater kit allowed the operator to warm up the engine anywhere without electricity because it was gas fired.
This Vehicle is equipped with several NOS (New Old Stock) items and updates:
-NOS Front Fenders-NOS Head Lamp-NOS Running Boards-NOS Windshield-NOS Tailgate-NOS Rear Fenders-NOS Gas Engine Heater-Turn Signals-Reconditioned Fuel Tank-Refurbished Brakes-New Fuel Pump-Snorkel Kit-New Batteries-Bench Seating-Winch-Spare Tire-Fire Extinguisher-Original Operator's Manual
I have had some good years of enjoyment out of this truck.. Excursions to the lake down the road with everyone in back, short fishing trips to the South Branch of the Au Sable and trips to the local fly shop down the road. Feel free to call me at 248 743-7963 with any questions and good luck with the bidding! Best, Joe