Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

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zepher11
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Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by zepher11 » Wed Jan 03, 2018 7:48 pm

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:

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Came with a Carryall rear seat which I needed for a WC26 project. Pretty cool:

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Boom cable shackles in the trunk area. Have large rods that go through the floor then wrapped around and welded to the bumperttes:

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Anyway, not the usual rust bucket that I'm used to starting with. Happy about that as well.
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!


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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by Beers » Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:45 am

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 :mrgreen:
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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by 70th Division » Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:20 am

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 :D :D :D :D

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 :D :D :D

Best Wishes, and Happy New Year !

Raymond

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by zepher11 » Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:01 pm

Beers wrote:
Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:45 am
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 :mrgreen:
70th Division wrote:
Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:20 am
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 :D :D :D :D

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 :D :D :D

Best Wishes, and Happy New Year !

Raymond
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.

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:

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Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by 70th Division » Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:57 pm

Hello Zeph,

That Carry All is another treasure you have found !!

Please :D :D :D 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.

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:58 am

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. :D

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:02 am

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. :oops:

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by zepher11 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:13 am

70th Division wrote:
Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:57 pm
Hello Zeph,

That Carry All is another treasure you have found !!

Please :D :D :D 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.
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.
Mark Jesic wrote:
Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:02 am
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. :oops:
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.
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:02 am

Hello Zeph,


Thanks so much for deciding to make a Carryall thread !!!!

:D :D :D :D :D

Looking forward to your next project, I am sure it will be highly informative, entertaining, and satisfying to all :D :D :D :D

Everyone admires your work !!!!


Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:11 am

Zeph, i stand corrected, i hought they were all canvas/ :oops:

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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by Ernie Baals » Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:08 am

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
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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by jeepfinger » Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:38 pm

Hi Zeph,

Not another 1/2 tonner :o I was just getting ready for you starting on the 3/4 ton. Nevermind, still looking forward :D 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
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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by Fred Coldwell » Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:50 pm

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!
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by twinflyer17 » Mon Jan 08, 2018 6:44 am

Zeph, both the CC and the Carryall look like great projects. I'm excited to follow your progress on each!
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Re: Dodge WC57 Command Car Project

Post by zepher11 » Mon Jan 08, 2018 5:56 pm

Ernie Baals wrote:
Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:08 am
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
That is good to hear Ernie. I am sort of drawn to the leather seat look for the Carryall vs. canvas...
jeepfinger wrote:
Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:38 pm
Hi Zeph,

Not another 1/2 tonner :o I was just getting ready for you starting on the 3/4 ton. Nevermind, still looking forward :D 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
Yes, looks like you will have to endure another half-ton restoration before I move on to the big boys. :D
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!


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