1953 Dodge M37 Power Wagon fire truck

1953 Dodge Power Wagon Description

1953 Dodge M37 power wagon fire truck
Original inline flat head 6 cyl. purrrsOriginal radiator in good shape4 wheel drive works good12 voltOriginal Bradon winch works goodOriginal Federal Siren works goodzero rust in doors, windows, fenders, windshield frame.....I couldn't find any rust on it3 original indian fire backpackswater tank solid......all worked when tested 2 years agoOriginal Federal Beacon red, blue and white lights work goodI think 3 of the tires are original and the front right one was replaced in 200921,000 miles on the odometer.....it doesn't work but im guessing maybe 23k milesall gauges replaced but odometerOriginal fire dept. steel plates NOT plasticDoors close like newall glass is Original...….front windshield pushes out like new.....windows crank up good..again zero rust in windshield frame...when was the last time you saw one of these with no rust..vaccum windshield wipers workOriginal air vent cowl cranks out like new
Well guys a little history on these things....the military used them and after the war or service they didn't know what to do with all these M37s.jeeps etc. etc. so they gave them to municipalities across America.....police stations......fire dept.....etc. etc...on the condition that they would use them for about 20 years....after that they could sell them..well around the 1980s and 1990s most were sold off and most were in pretty bad shape......this one came to the Fulton Illinois fire dept and was named 6 7/8s...….because it was small......not a FULL size fire truck..it was used by them as a Bushtruck for many decades.....and maintained nicely.....I have all the service records while they had it....just by looking at it you could see that it was used very little.....crawl under it and the OD paint looks pretty new...…...well they eventually wanted to sell it so I believe it was Thanksgiving morning around 10am when I saw it sitting in front of the Fulton Fire station with a forsale sign in the window....it went out for bid and didn't get it......I knew the guy who bought it and offered to buy it...….well he sold it the another local guy a year later and I tracked it down and offered to buy it from him......well he finally sold it to me in 2010 and I have had it since...…the reason I am selling it is because I have 18 classic autos and this one being the 19th is less sentimental than the others....im getting older and cant maintain all of them anymore...…….ive been looking at military vehicles all my life...I have a Original 1943 Willys MB with history that ive owned for over 25 years......so when I say this is probably the nicest M37s from a fire dept. ive seen in my life its pretty accurate.
now for the problems.....this truck sat for 13 months when I cranked it up today...…….no battery charge...…..no adding air to tires....I just checked the fluids...which were level......turned on the ignition.....pulled the choke out ….push the foot start......started in 4 seconds...zero issues......pulled it out after letting it warm up for 3 minutes......left rear brake stuck a little from sitting......right front tire had a little flat spot in it......after driving about a mile the brakes loosened up as well as the flat spot on the tire from sitting...….the only other thing I can think of is that I by passed the original mechanical fuel pump with a electric fuel pump because the original needs a kit......well that it guys.....its forsale locally and I don't think you can find a nicer parade bushtruck around...….ive been in 2 parades over the years and everyone wants to stand in the back and throw candy.....perfect in low gear during parades.....stays around 150 degrees...…..cool as a cucumber.....sorry for the dust in the photos....ive washed this truck 3 times in 10 years......as for the title.....the previous owners never titled it so I am the first civilian owner on the title …..the fulton fire dept. is the previous owner...….




UPDATE: ive had some people asking questions on the ole fire truck
1. hows the seat...………….the fire dept. removed the od canvas seats and put in black vinyl.....some rips about 1-2 inches in some areas main single seat for driver and bench seat frames are original.....just replaced canvas2. is there a top...…………..I don't have the canvas top for the truck but you can find the brackets and canvas top . ive seen them on ebay..vendors
3. any play in the steering...…….nope....a very very tight machine.....and did I mention the nice gold pinstripes still on the truck...even on the front bumper and around the rims.....still there after all these decades.
4. trades...……………..open to offers.....used airplanes....Cessna...lake....etc....or newer auto for daily driving....or cat loader....Kubota mowers