Dodge made a one-off lightweight M37


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Dodge Power Wagon Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Brian in Oregon on October 19, 1999 at 09:01:15:

In Reply to: List the single rarest Power Wagon or 4x4 Dodge known? posted by Poll on October 19, 1999 at 06:23:49:

It was narrower and shorter than an M37, and the cargo bed was integral with the cab. It looked like a super duty Land Rover with an M37 front end. Even the windshield was slightly sloped.

The Infantry wanted a lighter weight, smaller vehicle than the M37, so Dodge built it. The Army tested it, then rejected it because the whell track was narrower (less stability) and it was too small. So the very reasons the Infantry wanted it, kept it from going into production.

Dodge also made a bunch of air cooled aluminum M37-like vehicles called the T53. These were state of the art but not state of the budget and the more conventional M37 went into production.

Dodge also made a limited run of M56's (stretched M37 chassis only) used for utility boxes, dump trucks, lightweight wreckers and a limited run stretched bed version of the M37.

But the lightweight M37 is one of the rarest. As far as I can tell, only one was made.

Dodge also made some "low profile" prototypes during WWII. These were to be even shorter than the normal 3/4 ton weapons carriers. But more than one got built, so the lightweight M37 beats them, too.

(I don't have my ref book with me, so I don't recall the model number of the lightweight M37.)



Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Dodge Power Wagon Forum ] [ FAQ ]