When it comes to wartime military vehicles, the Jeep is probably the first to come to mind, but Dodge was also a fairly large provider of utility trucks for our armed forces. Dodge contributed over 337,000 4X4 units to the U.S. military during World War II, and of course, many of them didn’t survive past their active duty. But this 1941 Dodge WC-26 Carry All Wagon has an interesting history, as it is said that the US Army was the first owner, then a US Army General, followed by US Army personnel, and currently by the seller, who believes he is the 4th owner. This Carry All is the recipient of a no-expense-spared Resto-Mod type of treatment, and if you’d like to be owner #5 it can be found here on eBay. So far, the opening bid of $100,000 has yet to be placed, and that amount is still south of what it will take to drive the 4X4 home from Leeds, Utah, as there is a reserve.
A lot of thought and careful planning went into what you’re seeing here. The original chassis and drivetrain are no longer present, and the Carry All now sits on a modified frame from a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup, which had the rails shortened to accommodate the body. Before the combination took place, the shell underwent a media blasting and the rust issues were dealt with, then a custom patina paint job was applied. The seller claims that no other vehicle has ever received a finish like this one, and it certainly does look unusual but somewhat fitting for the overall package.
Equal consideration has been given inside, with the original wood floor replaced with metal sheeting plus lots of sound-deadening coating applied throughout the interior. The side panels are all custom creations, and the reinforced roof features a panoramic sunroof on top. Plush TMI seats are in both the front and rear, and there’s a high-tech sound system in there too if you want to hear some tunes as you drive over some hilly terrain.
The 5.9 liter 24-valve Cummins diesel largely remains stock, as it had seen less than 50,000 miles of use in the Ram, with mainly only a custom tune performed and a tune control knob added inside. It also received a K&N performance air intake and a Fuel Air Separation System, which could help improve mileage and performance. 5.13 Yukon gearing has been installed in both the front and back.
If all that isn’t enough bragging rights, another substantial factor for credibility is that the Carry All was featured on the Milestar Tires website, and also in person at their booth at SEMA last year with these posters handed out, even though my eyes seem to gravitate more towards the model than the tires or the 4X4. What are your thoughts on this Resto-Mod 1941 Dodge WC-26 Power Wagon? How much over $100k do you think the seller is hoping for?
That truck is very well done other than I totally disagree with the paint job. I would’ve given it a basic non-metallic single stage finish and then enjoyed it for a spell. But I’m not the majority here so I’ll just state my case and vamoose. Just the same I wouldn’t kick it off my driveway.
That 24 Valve Cummins is a good engine with a bottom end that cannot be broken. But you can still melt the top end down. I’ve seen lots of them with #5 and #6 pistons burned to a crisp and all because someone decided to crank the fuel up into the stratosphere. I used to keep a couple of pistons under the front counter at my former workplace and when someone quizzed me on the pros and cons of performance chips or those super duper nuclear meltdown torque cams I would take out those pistons and set them on the counter. I would tell them that despite the engines making horsepower far beyond their ratings you still had to find some way to get all that heat transferred into the water jackets. And therein lies the problem: Small cylinders can’t provide enough surface area to effectively conduct the heat into the coolant thus your already bad day just got worse…
I wish we had your counsel in the 60’s, when we were trying to get 280+hp out of the Chevy 265ci without fuel injection. 2-4 barrels, bored for 327 pistons would do it, until it melted the top end. I am sure with more money we could have done it, but prowling the junk yards had it’s drawbacks.
Thanks
I saw a Cummins powered Ram on the tube the other day on a Dyno running 190lbs of boost. It made 3450+- hp and 3600+- ft lbs of torque. The rear brake rotors were glowing red hot during the run. I wonder if it survived afterwards.
I have a question for your group. Many say these Carryalls are Power Wagons and some say not. Did this WC-53 or ? also have body badges that read “Power Wagon” or just “Dodge”?
Thanks, HG
A little too cartoonish for my liking. It’s trying way too hard.
This is an extremely rare power wagon; only made them till ’42. I rescued one that was junked- it would have been in really good shape if the windows werent broken. Sold on ebay for an obscene price. went from NY to Cali. would look a whole lot better with Army green and smaller tires Patina paint job? Hope he didnt pay too much for the paint.
Cheers
GPC
It’s a daily driver Grave Digger!
I had a buddy that had a Power Wagon ambulance from the Korean Conflict he converted to a RV, if you can call installing 4 fold down cots a conversion.
I love this body style and I agree with the resto-mod drive train. However, if I’m going to own something like this, I don’t want a pavement princess. A simple matte paint job and a price tag significantly south of six figures.
1st spot I thought it was the Suga (same era, I believe, volvo).
Any way to keep either running is ‘job well done’. From there a more balanced toward rest0 than mod is what I like. Good on ya mate !
The further away frm the SEMA hand the better, hate patina, fake even worse (C what I mean) and would have gone same co but 12v & a ZF 5speed (2 PTOs, 6:1 first), oem fenders. This is Y we have chocolate and vanilla, no.
Different strokes~
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The “custom” paint… not so much. For “no expense spared”, auto-retracting steps so you could actually get in it was an expense that should not have been spared…
The original was one of the best military vehicles of all time – simply superb. This one, not so much. There is nothing left to connect it with the original, well maybe a badge here or there.
Great build overall, but that paint job is horrible. Fake patina is the only thing worse than real patina. Just paint it Army green or a brown and be done with it.
Going after the Ex-Military crowd for sure. This is just an expensive Custom build that has the shell of a ’41 Carry-All placed on it. No ties what so ever to the Army, a General or Army personnel. Cool looking vehicle, meh on the paint job. No historic value what so ever.