Dodge Dayz at Findlay
Some fabulous M37s — and more — were out in force at the 2024 Findlay Military Show.
Marking its 37th year, the Findlay Military Show has long been known for the large number of vehicles and vendors always in attendance. However, three years ago, the show introduced an annual “theme vehicle” that has become very popular with vehicle owners and other attendees. Things kicked off in 2022 with the “MUTT March”, and continued in 2023 with the “Mule Muster.” For 2024, the show was happy to celebrate the durable Dodge with “Dodge Dayz”.
Dodge has a long history of producing vehicles used by the military, going back to 1916 when General John Pershing and the U.S. Army conducted the Pancho Villa campaign in the U.S.-Mexico border area. As America found the need to mechanize, things picked up again in 1940 with the VC series, and expanded greatly in the war years with 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, and 1 1/2-ton WC series trucks.
By the early 1950s, the Army needed to replace its wartime motorpool stock. It looked to Dodge to once again fill its 3/4-ton requirements with the M37, M43 ambulance, and M56 service vehicles, which served through the Vietnam years. Again in the 1970s, during the CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle) days, Dodge contributed with the M880 series of general-purpose vehicles designed for highway or cross-country operations. Although really a civilian vehicle with a few standard M Series military accessories, 12 different models filled the range.
As for show the turnout, it should be no surprise that M37s were the most numerous of the Dodge produced vehicles on hand. Most were early-’50s vintage, but there was at least one of the later M37B1 series trucks, plus a nice M43 ambulance along with not one, but two, seldom seen M56B1 work-bodied maintenance vehicles. A handful of wartime Dodges were also driving around the fairgrounds all weekend.
There were a number of new things happening at this year’s show. Of the three themed shows, this was the first to present theme awards. This year’s winners were (in order from first): Ralph Bennett, 1963 M56B1 engineer vehicle; Nathan David Parker, 1942 Dodge WC51; and John Cheney II, XM711 wrecker. Other new attractions this year included an indoor display area and military vehicle judging. A decent number of vehicle owners opted for the covered display, and 10 vehicles were entered for judging, resulting in seven gold awards, two silvers, and one bronze.
There always seem to be a few unusual vehicles at the Findlay Show that are special in their own way. They may not be prize winners, but they could be historically important vehicles, or just unique. Under the “unique”, or even “never seen before” heading would be the 1967 Kaiser Jeep produced Audio-Visual Aid Truck project that presented itself in the sales area. I was told that either a camera or projector could be deployed, and that fewer than 50 units were produced for official use. A quick internet search presented a couple other examples, so they are out there, but certainly not common.
Once again, the Findlay Show lived up to its reputation as a great show, with the theme aspect working to infuse new vehicles into the mix. The 38th show will take place next year, as it always does, on Armed Forces Day, so the only remaining question is: What will the next theme be?
Dig those Doadges? Hre are a few more arrticles for your reading enjoyment
