Posted by Paul Cook on August 20, 1999 at 22:36:39:
In Reply to: Okay, I'll ask once more.... posted by Tom in Oregon on August 20, 1999 at 17:26:06:
What are your specific questions about your 1941 1/2 ton WC-18 ambulance. The "QM" stands for the US Army Quartermaster Corps who had staff responsibility for procurement of Army vehicles in 1941. That responsibility was later transferred to the Ordnance Corps.
I have a 1942 WC-52 and the title shows it as a 1947. It's a first series (Steel wheel wells and cargo box blocks driver entry past spare). I don't know when the second series was introduced, but I doubt that my WC-52 was manufactured after the end of 1943. I thought the title had a typographical error that happened in a past transfer of the vehicle. Now I wonder. The serial number you gave is correct for a WC-18 ambulance manufactured in 1941. Neither the WC-18 or the WC-52 were manufactured in 1947. Perhaps the Army released many surplus vehicles in 1947 and titled them for that year. That is just a guess. Does anyone know? I passed up a WC-51 with a title that listed it as a 1952 truck. I worried that the vehicle might be stolen and was being sold with a bogus title.
I'd appreciate a response to the title year matter based on facts. (I have two boxes of opinions I haven't used, yet. They cover a variety of subjects I know nothing about and I will readily and gladly share them.)