WWII Dodge Links and Database ( Sticky )

[divingrocks]

Are you certain about the frame/serial number? If you are then it is a '45 year model, but the body and engine numbers appear to be of '43 origin.
Those darn norweggians were fond of post war cannabalization restorations for their motorpools.
If you want to go with it as a '43 then try 2172321
or
If you want to go with it as a '45 then try 2270153

[TimS]

Thanks for the quick response. Yeah, I figured as much. The cab has the push/pull switch, the separate blackout switch and the battery is not in the engine compartment. Has the composite (wooden) body. But she still is sure pretty....

Thanks again

Tim

[2ad82recon]

Tim S..my "Norwegian" had a restamped data plate on the glove box....just stamped serial number and a date of "delivery" of 09-52....??..which was the date of MDAP rebuild at Rootes Automotive -Manchester....but my saving grace was stamped under the chassis serial number on the chassis under layers of paint was hood number....date of rebuild and Rootes rebuild number......perhaps the answer lays there buddy ?

Regards

Lloyd

[beepbeep]

Hi, although there isn't as much imperical data as I would like 2238227 should be a resonable number + 50 or - 1800 as I believe yours was an early part of a batch of 31025 made in late January '44.

Hi Rocks, just received my build card (hopefully showing below) and you were spot on with your estimated build date - January 24th. 1944. Something I haven't seen on the other build cards is the handwritten word 'Domestic' - originally destined to stay in the US maybe ?

Build Card.jpg

Can't seem to post the build card, I've deleted all previous attachments but still no luck - seems that everyone is having this problem.

Chris.

[divingrocks]

can you post the body tag and engine numbers listed on the build card?

[beepbeep]

The engine number is T214-160416, so my engine isn't the original and the body number is 105557

Chris

[Robin]

Here's my WC-52 numbers:
S/N 81613099
Hood # 2163888
Tag on the cowl # 4290-55935
DOD 2-24-43

[divingrocks]

Thanks for your info, do you know the engine number as well?

Here's my WC-52 numbers:
S/N 81613099
Hood # 2163888
Tag on the cowl # 4290-55935
DOD 2-24-43

[Robin]

I suspect that it's not original to the truck. It's a P23 ####.

[Matt]

Here are my two.

WC-56.
Frame#81542706.
Body tag#4219-1847.
Engine#T214-16746(believed original)
Budd body#2634.
Hood#20169633-S.
Date of Delivery 7 3 42(July 3rd 1942)

During WWII my Command Car was with the 1229th Quartermaster Company(Aviation) which was one of the support units of the 467th Bomb Group,Eighth Air Force based at Rackheath airbase,Norfolk England. Post war it was sold and is believed to have been used as a garage recovery vehicle in South Wales,fitted with a crane and wooden cab. I bought it in 2001 and discovered it's WWII markings surviving under the layers of post war paint. I have been in touch with Captain Al Touchette who was the 1229th's CO and he confirmed his unit only had two vehicles,a Jeep which was used on local duties and a Command Car which was used for longer supply trips.

WC-52.

Frame#81670509.
Body tag#4290-89247.
Engine#T214-3095.S(replacement) original on build card is T214-142964.
Hood#2187661-S.
Date built(from build card) Oct.29th 1943. Date of delivery unknown as dataplate is missing.

Another Eighth Air Force truck,it carries it's original markings from the 854th Bomb Squadron,491st Bomb Group who were based at Metfield airbase,Suffolk from May to August 1944 and North Pickenham airbase,Norfolk from August 1944 until July 1945. Following WWII it may have seen some service with the British Army as a thin layer of darker green paint had been applied over the US OD and it has Max Speed stencils of a style often seen on British military vehicles,also the headlamps have been replaced with British WD marked Butler units. It was sold into civilian ownership and registered on the 1st of October 1948 to an estate near Worcester where it remained until bought by a collector in the late 1990's who put it into storage. I bought it in 2001. Interestingly one side has a number of what look like shrapnal holes and a possible explanation for this is an incident on July 15th 1944 at Metfield when the base bomb dump exploded. Five men died when an estimated 1,200 tons of bombs exploded and several B-24's were damaged,most of these being from the 854th BS.

Apologies for the rather long post,I know this is more info than you need.

Matt.

[divingrocks]

I am happy to more-or-less confirm that the engine in the command car is within the proper serial number range. A build card would confirm it. Thanks for the info...you have been added!

Here are my two.

WC-56.
Frame#81542706.
Body tag#4219-1847.
Engine#T214-16746(believed original)
Budd body#2634.
Hood#20169633-S.
Date of Delivery 7 3 42(July 3rd 1942)

During WWII my Command Car was with the 1229th Quartermaster Company(Aviation) which was one of the support units of the 467th Bomb Group,Eighth Air Force based at Rackheath airbase,Norfolk England. Post war it was sold and is believed to have been used as a garage recovery vehicle in South Wales,fitted with a crane and wooden cab. I bought it in 2001 and discovered it's WWII markings surviving under the layers of post war paint. I have been in touch with Captain Al Touchette who was the 1229th's CO and he confirmed his unit only had two vehicles,a Jeep which was used on local duties and a Command Car which was used for longer supply trips.

WC-52.

Frame#81670509.
Body tag#4290-89247.
Engine#T214-3095.S(replacement) original on build card is T214-142964.
Hood#2187661-S.
Date built(from build card) Oct.29th 1943. Date of delivery unknown as dataplate is missing.

Another Eighth Air Force truck,it carries it's original markings from the 854th Bomb Squadron,491st Bomb Group who were based at Metfield airbase,Suffolk from May to August 1944 and North Pickenham airbase,Norfolk from August 1944 until July 1945. Following WWII it may have seen some service with the British Army as a thin layer of darker green paint had been applied over the US OD and it has Max Speed stencils of a style often seen on British military vehicles,also the headlamps have been replaced with British WD marked Butler units. It was sold into civilian ownership and registered on the 1st of October 1948 to an estate near Worcester where it remained until bought by a collector in the late 1990's who put it into storage. I bought it in 2001. Interestingly one side has a number of what look like shrapnal holes and a possible explanation for this is an incident on July 15th 1944 at Metfield when the base bomb dump exploded. Five men died when an estimated 1,200 tons of bombs exploded and several B-24's were damaged,most of these being from the 854th BS.

Apologies for the rather long post,I know this is more info than you need.

Matt.

[fightingiron]

WC 81634343 body tag 4229-1800 is now in Rochester, MA. (no engine number, no hood number)
WC 81619657 body tag 4219-12000 is being restored in Rochester, MA. (no engine number)

[divingrocks]

I'm assuming the first is a WC58 Radio command car
Is the second a 56 or 57?

WC 81634343 body tag 4229-1800 is now in Rochester, MA. (no engine number, no hood number)
WC 81619657 body tag 4219-12000 is being restored in Rochester, MA. (no engine number)

[fightingiron]

The first one 4229 is a WC58
The second one: 81619657 is a WC56 with a hood number of 20179030-S

[divingrocks]

ok, your trucks have been added!