M37
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The M37 was the workhorse
of the Canadian and United States military in the post war years.
Canadian M37's were built by Chrysler/Dodge in Windsor, Ontario
between 1951 and 1955. They were used throughout Canada and
in Canadian military operations throughout the world. Approximately
4500 units of the M37 were built in Canada. The Canadian version
of the M37 varies from that of the U.S. version. There were
two main differences:
- All Canadian M37's
have hard roof tops. While the U.S. opted for soft canvas tops
for the majority of their trucks, the Canadian military, due
to the reality of the hard cold winters we have, had hard tops
installed. Hard top, Canadian M37's, are more in demand due
to this fact as it keeps the rain and snow out better than the
soft top and keeps the interior warmer in the colder months.
- Canadian M37's
have the larger 245 flat-head dodge engines installed. This
results in more horsepower and torque being available for the
operator. The U.S versions had approximately 15hp less than
the Canadian style engine.
The M37 had several
accessories available for it. This included:
- P.T.O (Power Take-Off)
power winch mounted on the front bumper.
- Heater for cab.
There are two versions of the heater. One burned fuel from the
gas tank to create heat. A later version ran off of heat from
the coolant system to heat the interior of the cab.
- Radio system. While
the Canadian military had the M152 for
a dedicated radio truck, some M37's had radio systems setup
in them. In the back bed of the truck, several radios were installed
when needed. A power plug in the bed of the truck which is connected
to the truck batteries, powered these radios.
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M37 is one of the most widely restored series of trucks out
there. There are also more M37 being driven around the world
today than any other restored military vehicle. There are several
hundred of them running on North American roads every day, either
on their way to a military show or just going to the corner
store for some milk. Many of these trucks are just sitting around
in the back of farmers fields, or a back yard, waiting to be
stumbled upon by someone willing to bring it back to life. Parts
for the M37 are quite plentiful at the moment due to the popularity
of the truck. Many companies offer NOS (new old stock) or reproduction
parts for them. With a little time and luck, there is almost
nothing you can't find to help you in getting one back up on
the road.
***More
detailed information about this vehicle and others on the site
will be added in time***
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