Although I don't own a military vehicle now, I did previously own a 1952 Dodge M-43 ambulance, (photo above, taken in 1994) a version of the M-37 3/4 ton truck that has become (along with the Jeep) the quintessential military truck for collectors.
Below are a some photos and links to various military vehicle sites.
I belong to the Military Vehicle Preservation Association
I subscribe to Military Vehicles Magazine
The LAST M-37 on Active Duty?
For those who don't know, the Dodge M-37 was probably one of the most successful military vehicles in US history other than the Jeep. The M-37 was designed immediately after WWII to compensate for some of the shortcomings that had been revealed in the Dodge 3/4 ton WC series of trucks during the war. The M-37 retained the WC-series 230 c.i. flathead six-cylinder engine and 4-speed non-syncromesh transmission. But, although the WC series of trucks is similar in many respects to the M-37 series, there were a number of modifications to the basic WC design to make the M-37, among them:
(For more information on the M-37, see the M-37 Web.)
The M-37 was in standard service with the US Military from it's introduction in 1952 until the late 1970's. In the late '60's, the M-37 was replaced as a standard light-duty truck by the Kaiser Jeep M-715, a very rugged looking truck that, unfortunately, was well known for being underpowered. As a result of the less-than-satisfactory reputation of the M-715, many M-37's stayed in service long past their phase-out date in the late 1960's, particularly with Reserve and National Guard units.
The M-715 only remained in service until the mid-70's, until it was replaced by the M-880, a variant of the commercial Dodge truck, which was itself phased out in the mid-80's and replaced by the M-1009 CUCV series (a diesel powered Chevrolet pickup.)
Since I joined the military in 1980, I was most used to seeing just the M-880 and CUCV trucks in active service. Although the M-715 was supposedly still being used in some units in the early '80's, I don't ever recall seeing one, much less an older M-37, still being used by the Army.
So, imagine my surprise when, in 1993, while attending the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (BNCOC) at Ft Huachuca, Arizona, I drove by a motor pool and saw an M-37, in olive drab, apparently still being used by the military there!
Last M-37 on active duty? Located at DEH Motor Pool, Ft. Huachuca, AZ. Photo taken in June, 1993. Notice the M-1008 CUCV immediately next to the M-37.
This M-37, which may have been a "B1" model, could not have been made later than 1968, which would mean at the time of this photo, the truck was 25 years old and still working! A pretty good testament to the quality with which the old M-37 was built.
In fact, this old warhorse, being used by the Directorate of Engineering and Housing (DEH), was probably much older than that, and may have been an original M-37 made in 1952! There aren't too many veterans who faithfully serve their country for over 40 years, but the Dodge M-37 is one that definitely earned its reputation as one of the best vehicles the US military ever had!
