Dodge Half Ton Restoration

[Lang]

Here is progress on my 1941 WC12 Dodge Half Ton.

[Mike Kelly]

That looks very nice. Another WC12 in Aust. Can't recall the details like where it is.

[Lang]

Mike,

There were quite a lot of them in Australia and the earlier almost identical WC4. Many went to Darwin and a lot went to New Guinea with the early American arrivals.

There are a couple in the Brisbane area.

Lang

[Bob Carriere]

Are they right hand drive????

Bob C

[Lang]

No Bob, Just standard left hand drive.

Lang

[jack neville]

Looks like it was a fairly tidy vehicle to start with Lang.

[Mike Kelly]

A mud fest scene in New Guinea. And a US restoration.

[Lang]

Yes Jack it was very complete with all tags and original fittings. Army number under the paint on the bonnet.

I got it in Texas to fill a container but it turned out the most desirable vehicle to restore.

I had exactly the same type of vehicle back in the 80's (off a banana farm near Byron Bay) and did tens of thousands of km in the days when we went seriously off road with the military vehicles. Kids and the dog in the back on an old Holden seat - you would be arrested today.

I absolutely loved it. As fast as a Jeep, a lot more comfortable and was always the last man standing on any steep climbs or river crossings.

Most people don't realise how much better, not stronger, the half tonners are over the 3/4 vehicles. This one is for the 2019 Normandy trip. Might drive it from India.

Lang

[Mike Kelly]

.................................................. ...

[Lang]

Here is my half ton Dodge in 1985.

My, how time flies! I had dark hair and more of it. 16 year old in the middle now has a 21 year old daughter and the 14 year old has her own 14 year old son. The dog went to the big kennel in the sky 25 years ago.

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Lang

Here is my half ton Dodge in 1985.

My, how time flies! I had dark hair and more of it. 16 year old in the middle now has a 21 year old daughter and the 14 year old has her own 14 year old son.

Is the dog still with us

Is that a TJ Richards cab ? I see the quarter vent windows.

I was 1/2 owner in a WC 21 back in 1978, somebody in years past had butchered the chassis and fitted a Richards closed cab and a RHD conversion. Its ARN was 129166 , still on the tailgate .

[Lang]

Yes it is a Richards cab. I changed it from WC3 to WC12. Very hard to tell the difference apart from the quarter glass. Civilian square instruments identical to the current WC12.

It is now running around back in its former configuration as one of Warren Kerle's beautiful concourse restorations

Lang

[cliff]

Ah just the Dodge I'd love to have...behind a D60L of course LOL!