Heads Up: 1952 cdn m43

[paul53]

Just for information for all those M-series Dodge fans my self included I wanted to submit a page from A small but interesting booklit.
# TM9-1840C Titled 3/4 ton 4x4 M37 US and CDN facts, figures

If only my yard was big enough and hidden from view from the wife, I would own this one. looking at the production figures there wasn't many CDN M43 ambulances built 409 in total and only 121 in 1952. This one being one of only 409 made and interesting enough marked in US Air Force use. I would say not many of these around in some what good shape.

I sent an e-mail into the CFB Comox Museum this morning addressing this curiosity so I'll post my results as they respond to my e-mail.

So we will see what comes from this.

Cheers

[Bob Carriere]

Do we have a purely CDN model with a 251 block or a US manufactured model brought over the border way back when....... and is the engine a 230.

Ser # letters on front of engine ...driver's side.... just below the head separation line from the block..

Bob

[Grant Bowker]

Just a thought, is it possible that the glove box door (with data plates attached) was swapped from a Canadian manufactured ambulance to a US manufactured ambulance? This might have been done to avoid registering a second truck....
If the chassis number is repeated on one of the data plates on the glove box door this idea is obviously wrong.

[rob love]

I was thinking the same thing about the glove box door. Despite driving a Cdn Dodge almost every other day recently, I can't recall what the Cdn shifter looks like compared to a US shifter. One of the photos shows the tranny shifter. Is this one Cdn or US?

[paul53]

The truck is 20 km's away from my place but i'm going out there tonight and will check all other places including side of the frame and block numbers.

Paul

[Comox Air Force Museum]

Morning I just had a quick run over to 19 Wing to check your numbers against our M43. Turn out your truck is only 15 trucks away from ours. Here's the stats.
Contract # CDMR511160
Build date 5-6-52
Serial # 91400953
Model# T-249
Ord Code # 2606
I suspect that it's a Canadian truck alright and was just turned over to the US when they were here looking after their missile program.
Hope this helps.
Rob

PS. I was in such a hurry that I forgot to look at the shifter. I'm on my way to Ontario so I won't be able to look at it for a while!!

[paul53]

Thanks Rob Roy for getting back to us, I'll post all that I can find tonight.

Paul

[paul53]

Well I went out and beat my way thru the mosquito's to scrape some rust off the side of the block.

It reads # T-249 1319C

Data tag on glove box as per the picture
Body Tag # 19109-210

Serial # 91400968
Contract # CD511155
Ord Code # 2606
Date of del 19-6-52
Model T-249

I can not find that frame serial number but i'll have another go at it this week end.
Here is a picture to see the shifter if needed.

If any one out there is interested make me an offer?

Cheers