Dodge WC question

Jan Mostek · #1 01-06-13, 00:41

Hello Bill,
I am glad that you found the pictures interesting. The commander for which the vehicle was made was col. Svoboda, later general, before Russian invasion to Czechoslovakia in 1968 he became a president of Czechoslovakia. During the war he was a highest commander of Czechoslovak units in Russia, units which were a part of Red Army. So all the stuff they used was either Russian or Lend Lease from Russians(for example they used British-made helmets). It is very unlikely that the basis for the modification was Czechoslovak-made staff car like Tatra or Skoda. I am also 100% sure that it was not modified by Gernans. If the captured German bodywork was used (which seems to me to be the most likely because the modification looks quite sophisticated to be made by Russians) I have no idea which one. Most of the makes I am familiar with have different shapes of doors or are remarkably smaller for a Dodge chassis.
Best regards,
Jan.

Jeff Gordon · #2 01-06-13, 14:26

Hi Jan I have a quick question.
The photos are very pixulated so it is a bit hard to tell but does the profile of the door match the profile of the cowl?
Back in the day a good motor body builder would be able to fabricate a new body quicker rather than mucking around with trying to make something else fit.
Just a thought!

Eduard Sorokin · #3 01-06-13, 18:59

Hello, men !

What can You tell about this vehicle ?

I am sure, the vehicle on images in Jan's post is the same.

gordon · #4 01-06-13, 19:27

Mid to late WC T214 series. Nothing rearward of the windscreen is Dodge.

Even the bits that look similar, like the running boards and rear fenders, aren't Dodge factory

Hanno Spoelstra · #5 01-06-13, 21:22

Jan, Eduard,

Thanks for bringing up this interesting conversion which I have never seen before.

I would hazard a guess that the Soviets converted a number of Dodge weapon carriers into staff cars for high ranking officers. As suggested, a coach built job of an wooden frame clad in sheet metal, topped of with a canvas convertible top. That was the way these things were built back then, the construction method is nothing exotic.

Here's hoping more information comes to light one day.

Hanno

Jan Mostek · #6 01-06-13, 23:10

To Eduar Sorokin, re. Dodge above.
Hi Eduard, look at the body shape, it is different, so I am almost sure it is not the same although it might be from the same "body builder".

Jan Mostek · #7 02-06-13, 01:05

To Jeff Gordon.

yes, I agree that the body is simple enough to be made "in the field" by handy bodybuilder or mechanic from wooden lathes and sheet metal.
Concerning the photo quality, unfortunately I am not able to give you much better detail than the enclosed one. It seems the rear body does not fit 100%, which would mean the rear body was realy taken over from something, but where? Note also the visible bolt head on the front door column, it seems to be on the location where is the connecting bolt also on original Dodge.
Cheers over the ocean, Jan.