Dodge WC51 is an American army off-road vehicle

The Dodge WC51 is a typical representative of the military transport of the Second World War in America. The machine has excellent cross-country ability, high reliability and design. More well-known is another name for this car - "Dodge Three Quarters". This name was given to the jeep due to the carrying capacity of three quarters of a ton (750 kg).

The basis of the car is a fore-and-frame frame, tapering in front. The car is open, equipped with bucket seats. The headlights and radiator are protected by metal strips. The windscreen is thrown onto the hood, which in turn opens to the right and left along the longitudinal axis. The fuel consumption for this car is very significant (about 35-40 liters per 100 km). Let's consider in more detail the characteristics that the cars of the WC series have.

A bit of history

The jeep acquired its final equipment in 1942. The car was completed with several types of motors, but the 92-strong T-215 engine proved to be optimal. In the USSR during the Second World War, more than 25 thousand "Doji" of this series were imported.

There are several versions of the origin of the abbreviation WC. Some believe that this is a shortened translation of the expression "weapons carrier". This is not entirely true, since the early modifications were called VC. It is believed that the first letter refers to the model year, and the second - to the carrying capacity. The American car had several variations: a standard version, an ambulance, a repair shop on wheels, and others.

Exterior

Light elements of military jeep are protected by reliable gratings. The original configuration of the army model does not provide for the presence of direction indicators. The bumper has an original bend, the upper part is equipped with a hole for a manual starter. By the way, it's quite easy to start a powerful motor with a crank handle.

The Dodge WC51 has excellent stability due to its low center of gravity. Wheels with a wide profile are placed under wide wings. They are equipped with detachable discs, which simplifies the replacement of rubber. "Zapaska" is in place of the driver's door, which causes some inconvenience when landing, but it saves usable space. Doors as such do not have this car. The step with the spare wheel has a slight bend.

Equipment

On the driver's side is the fuel filler neck. In the rear part there is a toolkit: pickaxe, shovel, ax. The towbar of the car has a self-locking hook, which is very convenient to use. In order to remove it, just press the lever from the bottom. The bumpers, which must be removed when transporting the gun, reduce the angle of rotation.

Near the left parking light there is a connector for electricity supply to the trailing device. On the starboard side, the absence of a door strikes even more. It is doubtful that an open cabin is a dignity, especially when driving in a decent frost. On the threshold there are cans for water and gasoline. To them is fastened a pair of buckets from the tarpaulin (with the help of straps).

In the cabin

The seats in the Dodge are bucket-shaped, stiff, with good lateral support, which is important when driving on corners for a passenger. There are no doors, the hold handle too. The dashboard is convenient and informative. The labels contain information about when to switch gears, their scheme, how to drain water from the cooling system. All inscriptions in English.

The following equipment is available from the devices:

• Manometer;
• ammeter;
• speedometer;
• Indicators of fuel level and water temperature.

The speed marking is displayed in miles, and the gradation of temperature indicators is in degrees Fahrenheit. All instruments are located low and centered. In the cabin there are switches of light, ignition, lighting, even the ventilation drive for the intake of external air. The front glass opens 90 degrees upwards or completely falls on the hood.

Technical indicators

The army car is equipped with a power unit with six cylinders, which has a volume of 3.8 liters and a capacity of 92 liters. from. The motor reaches a maximum at an indicator of one and a half thousand, and the extreme value does not exceed 3,200 revolutions. Such characteristics allow carrying three quarters of a ton of cargo plus pulling a gun on the trailer. It is worth noting that the engine "Dodge" - it's almost identical part, installed later on the domestic GAZ-51.

The running gear of the SUV is equipped with two-way lever shock absorbers for the front suspension. The wheels are fastened with five nuts to the hubs, and the outer rim edge - to the disc with the help of ten fasteners. The frame runners are connected by four main and additional cross-members of the stamped type. A bumper or winch sub-frame is attached at the front with the help of adapters. In the rear part there are two B-shaped bumpers, the spars above the bridges are bent upwards.

Characteristics

Below are the main technical specifications of the auto Dodge WC51:

• Carrying capacity 750 kg;
• Weight - 2 315 kg;
• Base - 2,5 m;
• Length / width / height - 4,23 / 2,12 / 1,87 m;
• The front wheel gauge is 1.6 m;
• The same figure for the rear wheels is 1.65 m;
• Road clearance - 27.3 cm;
• Type of power unit - petrol six-cylinder engine (four strokes, volume of 3.8 liters, capacity of 92 "horses");
• Revolutions per minute (max) - 3200;
• The maximum speed is 88 km / h;
• Fuel consumption per 100 km - 29 liters on the road.

The hood of the Dodge WC51 is mostly flat with a bend. However, in the sanitary and passenger modifications it is curved, because the front end is used from the truck cabin of the WF32 series. The body of the car is made of solid metal, rectangular shape. Side are compartments for ammunition and tools, which are available when discarding seats.

Features

On the body of the jeep in question can be installed three arc-shaped fasteners for mounting the awning. The hardness of the coating is provided by an average canvas belt. The upper part of the seatback is fixed to the front edge of the front edge by means of a chain at an angle of 45 degrees. The floor has five stiffeners and is suitable for mounting a rack designed for a small-caliber gun or machine gun.

The tailgate is foldable and locked by a pair of chains. The body sides consist of three elements connected by welding. The front parts are stamped, equipped with a hook for securing the tarpaulin. The SUV is painted in an olive protective color with a special matte paint. In addition, the edge of the left bumper or part of the tailgate could be covered with white.

A canvas awning is divided into three parts. From the front, a roof is attracted to it by means of a rope attachment. The second part is fastened to the frame of the windshield with buttons. The back of the awning is attached to the body hooks. A rectangular valve is provided in the middle of the structure.

Test Drive

The American car is started by means of an electric starter. The engine functions smoothly, smoothly and quietly, given its power. Near the parking brake is the lever for activating the front axle. Since synchronizers on the gearbox are missing, you will need to apply a double squeeze. By the way, the necessary mode to include is not so simple. Having a certain skill, it is possible to disperse this car fairly quickly, if you start from the second gear, given that there is no descending speed on the device.

On the road, driving an SUV is easy. He well enters the turns and keeps a straight line. A relatively small wheelbase makes it possible to turn around in small areas. Brakes with a hydraulic drive are reliable and perfectly stop the heavy car. Test drive Dodge WC 51 surprised and pleased car enthusiasts. There are two serious drawbacks. Firstly, the wind even in warm weather prevents, not to mention the frost. Secondly, the steering is heavy. Affects the width of the wheels and the weight of the machine.

Conclusion

American military vehicle Dodge WC51 is a classic representative of the US auto industry during the Second World War. It has objective advantages, expressed in power, good handling and load capacity, as well as a well thought out body structure.

Along with this, the SUV in question has some shortcomings. For example, an open cabin is not a very practical element in the cold season. In addition, heavy-duty steering, and the reserve of a full tank of gasoline is enough for 300 kilometers, with a flow of about 30 liters per hundred.