1953 Dodge Military Vehicles

This 1953 Dodge M37 is a ¾-ton 4×4 pickup that was designed for military use and was reportedly used in Vietnam from 1968 through 1971. Finished in olive drab over tan upholstery, the truck is powered by a 230ci inline-six mated to a three-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. Features include a tan canvas cab top, body-color 16″ steel wheels, bed-mounted troop seating, and a deactivated 50-caliber “dummy” machine gun as well as a pintle hitch, US Army-style lettering, a jerry can, wood bed-side rails, and forward-hinged windshield frames. The truck is said to have been refurbished under prior ownership and was acquired by the selling dealer in June 2022. This M37 truck is offered at no reserve by the selling dealer with a car-show sign board, two helmets, a first-aid kit, and a clean Oregon title. The truck is finished in olive drab with white US Army-style lettering, and the body is said to have been refinished during refurbishment work carried out during previous ownership. Exterior details include a tan canvas cab top with a vinyl rear window, a brush guard, a driver-side mirror, a driver’s door-mounted spare tire, a jerry can, a pintle hitch, wood bed-side rails, forward-hinged windshield frames, and a shovel and axle mounted to the tailgate. Body-color steel wheels are mounted with 9.00-16″  Denman NDT eight-ply tires. Braking is handled by four-wheel drums. The drop-down tailgate allows access to troop seating, radio equipment, and a deactivated 50-caliber machine gun mounted to a pedestal in the bed. The “dummy” gun can simulate live rounds with an oxygen and propane mixture, and a video in the gallery below demonstrates a similar unit. The interior is equipped with seating trimmed in tan upholstery. Sheetmetal surfaces are finished in body color, and additional features include hand-crank side windows and a glove compartment. A black three-spoke steering wheel fronts instrumentation that includes a 60-mph speedometer and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 327 miles, which is said to indicate the distance traveled since the completion of refurbishment work. True mileage is unknown. The 230ci T245 L-head inline-six is fed by a single carburetor and was factory rated to make 78 horsepower. An oil change was carried out in preparation for the sale. Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels through a three-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Additional underside images are provided below.