A Dodge WC-51 produced in the World War II era and imported into Russia during the Lend-Lease period is now up for grabs in Tomsk for ₽7.5 million – just a little above $100,000 and barely below the price of a new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 70th Anniversary Turbo Diesel.
The car has been kept as an indoor exhibit in the Brothers Baryshnikov Retro Museum with 10,000 km (6,200 miles) on the odo and no major flaws. Dodge produced the WC-51 series from 1941 until 1945, and this specific example rolled off the assembly line in 1942, meaning it will celebrate its 80th birthday next year. Despite its role as a museum piece, it is officially registered and street-legal in Russia.
WC stands for ‘Weapon Carrier’. The Red Army used WC-series trucks as artillery tractors. reconnaissance vehicles, communication cars, and in other similar roles. The 51 was the lightweight entry-level model of the series and came equipped with a folding soft top. It had a girder frame and two benches installed along the truck bed.
A 3.8-liter T-215 six-cylinder engine under the hood drove all four wheels with 92 metric horsepower (91 hp / 68 kW) through a four-speed manual transmission. The Soviet Army nicknamed the truck Three Quarters thanks to its load capacity of 0.75 metric tons (1,650 lbs). After the war was over, most of the vehicles made it back into the USA.