Dodge WC 54 Classic Cars for Sale

Dodge WC54 was developed by Dodge and Fargo during World War II after they were contracted by the US government to produce a range of military vehicles - The Dodge WC series.

History of Dodge WC54

Dodge WC54 and Fargo were producers of telephone trucks, ambulances, weapon carriers, reconnaissance vehicles and command cars. In late 1939, the US government contracted them to manufacture military vehicles which led to the production of their first prototypes of military trucks; 1/2 ton 4x4 VC series, with the main production of the series taking off in 1940. The Dodge WC54 replaced WC9, WC18 and WC27 Trucks. The 4×4 light truck served as an ambulance and a radio van for the Signal Corps in US military between the period 1942 and 1945 during which 22,857 Dodge WC54 ambulances were produced. US Army medical corps also used it in the Korean War in 1953, while some European countries used it for their military to the late 1960s. Only 3500 vehicles were produced between 1945 to the end of the World War II. The Dodge WC54 series were replaced by the Dodge M-Series after the war vehicles.

Features and design of Dodge WC54

Dodge WC54 was fitted with a 3/4 Ton Dodge T214 (the big Jeep) – chassis which was much stronger than ½ ton truck WC-27. Another stunning feature that made this ride softer was its long wheelbase and adjustable suspension. The Wayne Body works built Dodge WC54’s body with a lot of room sufficient for a driver and up to seven patients and a medic. The Ambulance could comfortably transport for patients lying down on a stretcher. The WC54 ambulance came with a large matrix heater, to provide comfort (warmth) for passengers – (mostly wounded soldiers). The ambulance was also fitted with foldable steps covering the double rear door to ease the loading of stretcher carrying injured soldiers. The rear body was built with storage compartments, foldable bench seats and stretcher brackets, no wonder the tires in the rear were much larger. The vehicle roof ventilator and the dome light were placed on the top. Dodge WC54 Truck had strong combat wheels with the spare tire was fixed on the left side of the vehicle. The rear body had a metallic floor with linoleum covering.

Modifications of Dodge WC-54

The Dodge WC54 Truck was purely meant to be an ambulance, but a few modifications made it possible for the model to serve as radio tracks for the US Signal Corpse. The WC-54 was modified to have much lower rear gear ratio; this was meant to make the off-road performance better. Even though the engine and the transmission were the same, the frame, axle assemblies and springs were much heavier. The same engine was used in passenger cars before 1960. The fuel filler caps of the later models were modified from sticking out ones to recessed ones.