Street-driven trucks don’t come much plainer or larger than this 1943 Dodge WC62 6×6 truck! It’s offered for sale here on eBay and is being sold in Denver, Colorado. Currently, bidding is only up to just above $1,500. It’s a big project!
The WC 62 was produced from 1942 to 1945 (although sources differ) and was intended for military use only. Just over 43,000 WC 62 & WC 63 (same thing but with a huge winch added) trucks were built during the war effort. One interesting feature of these huge vehicles is that they are set up for 2WD highway driving, and 2WD, 4WD or 6WD off-road. It’s almost 18 feet long!
The wooden bed is in pretty bad shape. However, this can be fabricated pretty easily by a home restorer. Or, to be honest, you could pretty much put anything you want on the back (there was a home-made cover on it, since discarded, when the current seller purchased it at an estate sale). What would you do with this truck?
The undercarriage components are HUGE. I also don’t see a lot of rust under there, but since the frame is larger than most building girders, it probably doesn’t matter much. The truck was originally rated at 1-1/2 tons and I have no doubt it can actually carry more than that.
You might want to upgrade the interior accommodations a bit. A little bit of research found that the cab from a 1950s Dodge Power Wagon will fit on the chassis — but just try to find one of those that is both available and not covered in rust.
The engine is seized, but unless I were restoring this truck I’m not sure I’d worry about that. A nice transplant might be a late-model Cummins/Ram engine, but you might have fun connecting the rest of the drivetrain. I’m just not sure what I would do with the finished product apart from parade duty. Perhaps you have another, more valid use? Please share with us in the comments!
At 18 ft long it’s still short of the 22 ft a 2006 Ram 3500 quad cab longbed comes out to be, though that’s including the obligatory “ roo-guard” for fending off wildlife sleeping on the roadway at night..
That being said this would be a hoot for hauling your camper and ATV etc. on an outing a SHORT distance away from home if like you mentioned, Jamie, you can mate a good Cummins to the gearbox etc. Six wheel drive could take you some interesting places!!
And RE: buying an enclosed cab, Jamie, it’s really not as difficult as one would think-on the west coast we have https://www.rough-readydpw.com and https://www.vintagepowerwagons.com are two excellent companies with a myriad of parts available!
Those production numbers don’t reflect the scarcity of this truck. They must be primarily speaking to the 4×4 variant…
Jamie… I stand corrected. The production numbers you quote are right. Wow.
https://www.militarytrader.com/military-vehicles/wc-1962-63-dodge-cargo-truck
Here’s a beast for you, could be dropped out of an airplane,,double stacked, even. I can’t find where it says these could be operated in 2wd, ( whichever axle that would be) and I thought these were more of a “everything’s spinning all the time” setup. It was never meant to go on roads and 5:83 gears will insure that. It is an actual “twin screw” rear ( not a tag) and has 5 driveshafts. The transfer case, I read, has a low reduction( further slowing it down) but I didn’t see where the individual axles could be unlocked, it just isn’t that kind of vehicle. Again, whatchawannado with it? Whatever you decide, going to be slow going. Oddly enough, RAM offers a new 6×6 Power Wagon, with kind of the same setup. 75 years and they still use the idea,,,,nice.
Howard,
Isn’t the Ram 6×6 only available through Hennessey Performance?
The 62 was developed initially as an aircraft tug. It’s got a 230 cu L head engine the compression ratio was around 6.5 to to 1 reason being they wanted it to be able to burn some pretty crappy fuel. This truck shares a lot of components with the M37. There is some odd things going on under the hood. The air cleaner/intake is not original, more is all the wiring. Wrong distributor and wires also plugs are not correct. The bed of the truck all steel originally no wood in the military beds. As far as putting in a diesel it’s a fairly easy swap but the trans should also be updated, the rest of the drive train is fully capable of taking the increased load.
Will be a lot of work!
I think this would look nothing short of amazing in my driveway. I have been looking for a truck, and this fits the bill and then some. I would go with a diesel power plant for sure. It would probably take some doing, but figuring out how to make it road worthy would be a fun time for sure.
Ron there are a few things on all these types of trucks to keep in mind. It the truck has sat for a long time the points of concern to me are the differentials, the transfer case and the transmission. I am doing a complete frame off restoration on a 50 Power Wagon, the truck has 18k original miles BUT it sat for a bit of time. The ring and pinion s were pitted all the bearings and races needed replacing and this held true for the trans and transfer case also, nothing for wear but all because the truck sat and didn’t move for heaven knows how long? It can all be fixed and everything is available for the truck for repairs great trucks I just hate to see somebody surprised at what they find!
Well they don’t come much more unstoppable or utilitarian than this one. This one would be a super blast wherever you took it, even to haul a load of trash to the dump. I like the idea of putting a proper cab on it because I’m not that much of a fair-weather person and I do like my basic comforts. Well, a cab and a windshield wiper. Of course after you add a cab then you’re going to need windows you can roll down to air the place out. A Dodge cab sounds like a good way to go and that’s the way I would be inclined to go. And enough of you probably know we well enough by now to know that my choice of powerplant would be what’s already under the hood. And I’m not at all intimidated by a stuck engine. I’ve broken lots of them free and rebuilt them to run very well.
I saw one of these that had a ’59 Chevy cab and modified box perched on it. I actually thought it was really good, and well done. It looked like quite an ambitious project but then, even a basic restoration can be an ambitious project. I might add that should I fancy a Chevy body on one of these I would keep the engine in the family…
Awesome set up!
Color doesn’t do anything for me but the set up is really rugged and cool looking.
I’ll bet it’s one stiff riding S.O.B. though!
Just thought of a couple more uses for this: A heavy haul tow truck, or better yet, a house mover! (or any heavy haul over sized item)
The gearing would prob. be perfect for such a use.
I was an 7 yr. old living in Saudi Arabia in 1947 when Dad was working for Aramco oil. They had a few of these 6×6 models and a lot of the 4×4 shorter versions. I remember thinking how cool they were. As I recall, they were all acquired through war surplus sources by the company and shipped over by sea.
https://www.cultofweird.com/transportation/rainbow-sheikh-dodge-power-wagon/
BlondeUXB,
Back before the first gulf war & the advent of the internet, I was a supplier of automobiles, trucks, and spare parts to several of the wealthy royal families in the middle east. Their wealth is unbelievable & hard to imagine for most people. That said, they never complained about my prices [mine were always fair].
I was also acutely aware of the possibility of meeting an untimely death if I pissed one of them off! [I have “heard rumors” of one man in London, UK, who was found dead in his car because he took advantage of one of the Saudi Royals.]
After WW2 there were ENORMOUS quantities of US made vehicles and weaponry sitting in Europe. So instead of shipping it back AND having to scrap these mountains of equipment most was either sold off cheaply to whoever interested or even gifted to US allies later through what became the Marshall Plan.
Dodge WCs of all variants were in service in several NATO countries for decades. The Norwegian HV (equivalent to the US National Guard) didn’t phase them out before around 1990 (sadly before I was enlisted) and were auctioned off cheaply to enthusiasts. They’re still a regular sight either at car shows, historic events or the trail, and owners are usually NOT afraid to use them!😁
https://www.baiv.nl/1943-dodge-wc62/
The view of the passenger compartment reveals the method to use for two wheel drive. Notice the rear axle cap sitting there that has, or has not, internal splines (not shown) for engaging the axle stub inside. Don’t remember if these can be used on either rear axle. I’m an ex M-37A owner. I’d love to have this!
I don’t think this is a military version in that it lacks the obligatory 24 volt light switch and the military lighting – shows no provisions for it.
Yes, this is an original military issue from WWII. Dodge WC’s were either 6-volt or 12-volt, depending on the model. New military vehicle models were not designed with 24-volt systems until after WWII.
I would say that like so many of these military trucks it got converted from 24 volt to either 6 or 12 volt, the only reason I could ever figure out why people converted them is they didn’t understand the advantage of a 24 volt system? As far as this truck goes to my knowledge and I have been collecting and restoring these trucks for 30 years this model was never built in a civilian configuration.
Yeah, I converted mine from 24 volt to 12 volt because of the availability of 24 volt ignition parts, lights, and I wanted a heater (not the SW Southwind). Of course there are advantages to 24 volt systems, but not that a civilian user would realize.
With 30 years experience on these units, surprised that you didn’t catch the rear axle cap. So, were those caps used on the forward rear or rear rear axles?
BR I am not sure what you mean by the CAPS on the axles? Each axle is a floating axle and I believe the 62 operates like all the other 6×6 military trucks where the two rear axles drive all the time of course controlled by the diffs, the front axle is engaged only when you pull the lever to lock it in. There are no means to lick the diffs on these trucks or to select which axle is engaged except for the front one.
Don’t know that I WOULD want to lick the diffs on these trucks-or any others!🤭
Sorry! Fat fingered that one.
Lol. Yes, they are full floating axles. If you look at the pic of the passenger compartment you’ll see an axle cap sitting on the floor. I couldn’t find a pic of one here (didn’t want to buy the book just for this) https://powderriverordnance.com/shop/1-12-ton-6×6-dodge-wc-6263/ord-9-snl-g-507-asfc-osc-list-of-all-service-parts-for-truck-1-12-ton-6×6-dodge-model-t223-1945/?v=f24485ae434a but you can buy contemporary blanks used for towing https://zips.com/parts-detail/zip%27s-20-piece-axle-cap-set-ack2
I can’t tell without flipping it over if it has internal splines or is a dummy cap. Splined ones are used on the front axle hub. This you know.
As a kid growing up in the Philippeans,(American Missionaries) in the 50 and 60’s. I remember the electric utility company having one of these with a huge PTO winch on the front. Got to ride around in it some. Watched them pull a tall coconut tree down with the winch, I thought it was awesome.
They, as well as the 4×4 version had an in and out front end very similar to the later M-37 military vehicle.
what would be awesome, is if the owner of this truck was asked if it would be ok to take the add off ebay and share it… this is my truck and my auction,
Then you know I am currently the high bidder.
The picture of the engine block stamping indicates a T172 motor. If so, it’s a 218cid engine and is likely from a 1950ish Dodge B-truck. The WWII WC62 and WC63 trucks carried a T215 engine of 230cid.
For my Idea the name “WC” allways says the car hase WC inside it. (I know there is no wc inside it).
What happened to this truck.