Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
- zepher11
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 4357
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:37 pm
- Location: The Real Northern CalifornIA
Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Picked up a Dodge WC57 Command Car project this past weekend. Been eyeing it for some time. Set up with a boom for underwater salvage post war, but remarkably retains its WWII heritage well:
Came with a Carryall rear seat which I needed for a WC26 project. Pretty cool:
Boom cable shackles in the trunk area. Have large rods that go through the floor then wrapped around and welded to the bumperttes:
Anyway, not the usual rust bucket that I'm used to starting with. Happy about that as well.
Came with a Carryall rear seat which I needed for a WC26 project. Pretty cool:
Boom cable shackles in the trunk area. Have large rods that go through the floor then wrapped around and welded to the bumperttes:
Anyway, not the usual rust bucket that I'm used to starting with. Happy about that as well.
-
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:41 pm
- Location: Orinda, California
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Nice project Zeph! Looking forward to seeing your work on this one.
Now you’ve moved up to being a 3/4 CC man from those little half tonners
Now you’ve moved up to being a 3/4 CC man from those little half tonners
1943 MB 213301 DOD 2-22-43
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5638
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Hello Zeph,
What an incredible find !!
The salvage company clearly took very good care of this awesome Command Car !!!
You are very fortunate to find this one, and it will keep your other 1/2 ton Masterpiece good company
A great project indeed that looks in great shape !!
You deserve that after saving all your other vehicles that had a lot of repairs needed
Best Wishes, and Happy New Year !
Raymond
What an incredible find !!
The salvage company clearly took very good care of this awesome Command Car !!!
You are very fortunate to find this one, and it will keep your other 1/2 ton Masterpiece good company
A great project indeed that looks in great shape !!
You deserve that after saving all your other vehicles that had a lot of repairs needed
Best Wishes, and Happy New Year !
Raymond
- zepher11
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 4357
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:37 pm
- Location: The Real Northern CalifornIA
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
I was on the hunt for this command car for just over a year. Couldn't get the guy to sell, but then it just happened to come all together all at once. I picked up a Dodge WC26 for a project back in October, and I was getting ready to start that project when this came along.70th Division wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:20 amHello Zeph,
What an incredible find !!
The salvage company clearly took very good care of this awesome Command Car !!!
You are very fortunate to find this one, and it will keep your other 1/2 ton Masterpiece good company
A great project indeed that looks in great shape !!
You deserve that after saving all your other vehicles that had a lot of repairs needed
Best Wishes, and Happy New Year !
Raymond
Was thinking about starting the WC57 first, but decided this week to do the more difficult one first which would be the Carryall. Trying to decide if I want to document the WC26 on this forum. I think today was the kick off as I removed one item from the WC26 today. What's ironic, is that the WC57 came with Carryall third seat frame which was missing from the Carryall project:
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5638
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Hello Zeph,
That Carry All is another treasure you have found !!
Please document the restoration on this forum, as you have the BEST project documentation of anyone,
and have the talent to complete these great projects , that you have generously shared with so many viewers of this forum .
I have enjoyed all of your projects, and re-read them frequently.
This is what makes this forum what it is today, and will continue to be in the future !
Your projects are content programming for our G channel !!!!
Thanks for sharing all your many projects !!!
Best Regards,
Raymond
Fla.
That Carry All is another treasure you have found !!
Please document the restoration on this forum, as you have the BEST project documentation of anyone,
and have the talent to complete these great projects , that you have generously shared with so many viewers of this forum .
I have enjoyed all of your projects, and re-read them frequently.
This is what makes this forum what it is today, and will continue to be in the future !
Your projects are content programming for our G channel !!!!
Thanks for sharing all your many projects !!!
Best Regards,
Raymond
Fla.
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2473
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
- Location: Birmingham, England
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Amazing finds, especially the command car. It seems all there, and in pretty good shape. Hope all goes well with the restoration, please keep us posted.
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2473
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
- Location: Birmingham, England
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
I saw a carryall at a show last year Zeph, the guy had done a magnificent job restoring it, but he finished it off by putting leather seats in it. It looked ok, but i didnt have the heart to criticise, as he was exteremely proud of it.
- zepher11
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 4357
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:37 pm
- Location: The Real Northern CalifornIA
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Hi Raymond, appreciate the feedback. There will be quite a bit of rust repair on the Carryall. I'll start a thread on it shortly.70th Division wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:57 pmHello Zeph,
That Carry All is another treasure you have found !!
Please document the restoration on this forum, as you have the BEST project documentation of anyone,
and have the talent to complete these great projects , that you have generously shared with so many viewers of this forum .
I have enjoyed all of your projects, and re-read them frequently.
This is what makes this forum what it is today, and will continue to be in the future !
Your projects are content programming for our G channel !!!!
Thanks for sharing all your many projects !!!
Best Regards,
Raymond
Fla.
All of the Carryalls I have seen have had the leather seats, so I thought that was the norm similar to the Command Cars. However, in looking around on the web, I have seen a number of Carryalls that have canvas seat covers. I still wasn't sure how they came from the factory. So, you are saying they were originally equipped with canvas seat covers? I haven't taken the time to research it specifically, but seems like it would make sense that they would have been canvas from the factory.Mark Jesic wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:02 amI saw a carryall at a show last year Zeph, the guy had done a magnificent job restoring it, but he finished it off by putting leather seats in it. It looked ok, but i didnt have the heart to criticise, as he was exteremely proud of it.
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5638
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Hello Zeph,
Thanks so much for deciding to make a Carryall thread !!!!
Looking forward to your next project, I am sure it will be highly informative, entertaining, and satisfying to all
Everyone admires your work !!!!
Best Regards,
Ray
Thanks so much for deciding to make a Carryall thread !!!!
Looking forward to your next project, I am sure it will be highly informative, entertaining, and satisfying to all
Everyone admires your work !!!!
Best Regards,
Ray
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2473
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
- Location: Birmingham, England
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Zeph, i stand corrected, i hought they were all canvas/
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 4387
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:27 am
- Location: Southern New Jersey
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
All the Dodges early in the war had a mixture of seats.
Even the parts manual list leather, leatherette and canvas as material used
My carryall had leatherette and canvas
Even the parts manual list leather, leatherette and canvas as material used
My carryall had leatherette and canvas
Rip Dad 1/22/24 to 12/21/11
I will always love and miss you.
Ernie Baals MVPA 104C and 3104, AACA, SJC MVPA
Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured……but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen”
I will always love and miss you.
Ernie Baals MVPA 104C and 3104, AACA, SJC MVPA
Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured……but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen”
- jeepfinger
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1587
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:54 am
- Location: Bronte Country West Yorkshire England.
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Hi Zeph,
Not another 1/2 tonner I was just getting ready for you starting on the 3/4 ton. Nevermind, still looking forward I know someone that had a 1/2 ton carryall, sorry John not with the numbers, he sold it, and it may have been the one that Mark saw. I never saw it when he had it.
Dave
Not another 1/2 tonner I was just getting ready for you starting on the 3/4 ton. Nevermind, still looking forward I know someone that had a 1/2 ton carryall, sorry John not with the numbers, he sold it, and it may have been the one that Mark saw. I never saw it when he had it.
Dave
Dave Boocock
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114
- Fred Coldwell
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2408
- Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2002 5:12 am
- Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Zeph:
That is a lovely WC-57 Command Car you have purchased for restoration. You are blessed that the rear top deck above the tailgate has not been cut out and discarded for farming, as on many surplussed 3/4 ton CC's I have seen. The body sheetmetal is wonderfully straight, and -- as you state -- this CC has retained many of its small unusual military parts like the map case body and map board brackets still attached to the back side of the front seat, and the original tailgate latch handles. Up front, I love the wire-in radiator guard and matching headlight guards. IMO, they look much more refined than the optional wire-on guards that have plain straight rods crudely welded to their front surface.
Finally, the salvage company was very respectful of the CC when they welded the front boom cable support eyes to the rear bumperettes. That is the most thoughtful and unobtrusive method for supporting a front boom I have ever seen on a WW II Dodge. Thank you for showing and sharing exactly how they did that by welding and sacrificing only the two rear bumperettes, very common parts today that can be found in excellent condition. Patching the two small holes in the CC's rear floor should be rather easy for a skilled craftsman like you.
Congratulations on your very fine acquisition!
That is a lovely WC-57 Command Car you have purchased for restoration. You are blessed that the rear top deck above the tailgate has not been cut out and discarded for farming, as on many surplussed 3/4 ton CC's I have seen. The body sheetmetal is wonderfully straight, and -- as you state -- this CC has retained many of its small unusual military parts like the map case body and map board brackets still attached to the back side of the front seat, and the original tailgate latch handles. Up front, I love the wire-in radiator guard and matching headlight guards. IMO, they look much more refined than the optional wire-on guards that have plain straight rods crudely welded to their front surface.
Finally, the salvage company was very respectful of the CC when they welded the front boom cable support eyes to the rear bumperettes. That is the most thoughtful and unobtrusive method for supporting a front boom I have ever seen on a WW II Dodge. Thank you for showing and sharing exactly how they did that by welding and sacrificing only the two rear bumperettes, very common parts today that can be found in excellent condition. Patching the two small holes in the CC's rear floor should be rather easy for a skilled craftsman like you.
Congratulations on your very fine acquisition!
Happy Jeep Trails,
Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
1945 Dodge T233 Utility
MVPA #283C
Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
1945 Dodge T233 Utility
MVPA #283C
- twinflyer17
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1347
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:49 am
- Location: Washington, D.C.
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
Zeph, both the CC and the Carryall look like great projects. I'm excited to follow your progress on each!
- zepher11
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 4357
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:37 pm
- Location: The Real Northern CalifornIA
Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project
That is good to hear Ernie. I am sort of drawn to the leather seat look for the Carryall vs. canvas...Ernie Baals wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:08 amAll the Dodges early in the war had a mixture of seats.
Even the parts manual list leather, leatherette and canvas as material used
My carryall had leatherette and canvas
Yes, looks like you will have to endure another half-ton restoration before I move on to the big boys.jeepfinger wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:38 pmHi Zeph,
Not another 1/2 tonner I was just getting ready for you starting on the 3/4 ton. Nevermind, still looking forward I know someone that had a 1/2 ton carryall, sorry John not with the numbers, he sold it, and it may have been the one that Mark saw. I never saw it when he had it.
Dave
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 51 guests