Power Wagon: 1951 Dodge M43 Ambulance

When you come head-to-head with a behemoth M43 on a one-lane suspension bridge in the middle of nowhere, one must reflect on the proverb ‘might is right’.

This was the case when we ran into Lucky Hilmanofski and this ultra-cool, Korean War era overland ambulance in the Northern Sierra Nevada. He hit the gas and we hit reverse. Fortunately, I’ve known Lucky for years (yes, that’s really his name) and he was just messing with us, as a dedicated jarhead will do.

Introduced in 1951, the M43 was the ambulance variant of the M37 Power Wagon, which in turn was a redesign of the battle-proven World War II era Dodge WC Series.

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Gearing up to take on communists on the Korean Peninsula, six prototypes were produced in mid-1950 for testing and the first of these snub-nosed workhorses rolled off the assembly line in December. With live front and rear axles, a 230ci in-line six-cylinder engine, New Process four-speed transmission, and a PTO winch, they were tough as a pitbull and mean as a hungry hyena.

In short, the M43 Power Wagon was a purpose-built war machine. This fine specimen is one of 11,000 that went into service in 1951.

Back story

When Lucky, a former US Marine paratrooper and motor-pool mechanic, and his wife Cindy decided to retire, sell the farm and move to Baja, Mexico, they knew they would need a rugged and reliable vehicle to explore the region’s backcountry.

Having purchased his first Dodge at age 21, a 1975 W100 four-wheel drive, Lucky became a lifelong Ram guy and knew their ‘overlander’ would need to be a Power Wagon of some type. When he came across this bone-stock ’51 ambulance, save the Air Force Blue paint job, it was a match made in the trenches.

While ‘bone stock’ and its ultra-clean condition were selling points, this also meant there was a 78hp six-banger under the hood, which wouldn’t do. And then there were the 70-year-old axles, well-worn transmission, and a cargo box configured to transport injured soldiers rather than a place to call home. Being handy with a wrench and welder, and with a hankering to tear motors and gearboxes down, the aforementioned issues were non-issues.

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The plan of attack was to source his preferred mill, an early ’70s Dodge 318 V8, and give it a thorough rebuild from the oil pan up. This included tossing the carb in lieu of Holly Sniper fuel injection, converting the original 24V electrical system to 12V, and adding a 120amp alternator.

Keeping the system cool is a Champion aluminium radiator assisted by a trio of Derale electric fans, and twin Optima Yellow Top deep-cycle batteries energise the entourage to life. Drivetrain selection would be a New Venture 4500 five-speed manual transmission with a granny-low first gear (5.4:1) backed by a New Process 200 transfer case.

The original Chrysler 9.625-inch axles were suited for the Power Wagon’s substantial mass (3243kg kerb weight), but were rebuilt with 5.83:1 ring and pinion gears, new bearings, and Branik Motorsports chromoly rear shafts. Old-school 14-inch drum brakes cap each corner, while American Specialty Superlug tyres and 16x6.5 OE steel wheels keep it rolling down the trail.

Walk-around

If old military rigs exude character, the M43 hits the mark in spades. Up top is the original driver-controlled spotlight, the spare tyre is mounted on the driver’s door, and black-out lights complement a pair of hefty OE head lamps on the bumper. The original red flashing light had been removed from the top of the cab … but who wants that kind of attention in a combat zone?

What you won’t find is an abundance of plastic trim, chrome accents, Silly Putty-soft body panels, or aerodynamic sculpting. A close look at the grille guard reveals handcrafted workmanship replete with splatter beads from the welder – remember, they were cranking these things out for war rather than a beauty pageant.

In short, the M43 Power Wagon was built to fight back. Pound on one of its rugged steel fenders and you’ll draw back a bruised hand. Did I say, no chrome? I digress. Ram’s mascot, a chrome-plated bighorn, is perched proudly on the hood ready to lead the next charge.

Glancing down the side, we find storage bins tucked in behind solid steel doors, and out back are standard-issue MaxTrax, a Hi-Lift jack and shovel. Complementing the stock steel bumpers are auxiliary back-up lights, D-ring recovery points, and the original drop-down rear step. Up front is a set of KC Daylighters and a Warn VR 12-S recovery winch wrapped in synthetic rope. Extra supplies, water and fuel can be stored up top on the roof rack, which doubles as an elevated party deck for afternoon margaritas.

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Swinging open the heavy steel door and sliding behind the wheel, some might consider the amenities rather austere, but closer inspection reveals a great deal of forethought in its design. A piano hinge at the roofline allows the split-pane windshield to swing open for a blast of fresh air on hot Baja days.

Augmenting this is an aftermarket AC system from Vintage Air and dual 12V fans. Clunky but functional OE toggles control interior and exterior lights, and a full array of Stewart Warner gauges keep the driver apprised of system vitals.

On the dash, a host of original metal plaques provide data on vehicle specs and payload, and how to operate the four-wheel drive systems. The factory through-floor pedals were upgraded with swing-style hydraulic versions, and an assortment of shifters manage four-wheel drive. As for the windows … no power actuators to fail here, just manual fix ’em anywhere crank jobs.

Interior

Lucky is the kind of guy who can sleep in a fox hole and wake up with a smile on his face, but Cindy prefers a few more creature comforts. We are not talking about a wine bar, granite counters and a full-size shower, but it would need to be a functional abode with all the basics.

The ambulance bunks were traded for a queen-size Murphy bed, allowing for walk-through convenience or hauling one of their Rokon motorcycles. Above and to starboard is a large storage locker for sundries, a mess kit, utility area and Coleman dual-fuel stove. Beneath the bed we find tools, recovery equipment and personal effects.

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The rear ‘sofa’ (a plywood bench) doubles as a cover for the latrine, a canister-style porta-potty. There is also a Weber barbecue, portable table for outside dining, and 56.8L of reserve water. As a former ambulance, the back was prewired for medical equipment, which allowed for easy installation of a 2000W inverter, ARB fridge-freezer, power strips and other accessories.

At the end of the day, this voluminous living space beats the heck out of setting up a ground tent or digging a fox hole. What else could a pair of hearty campers need?

Wrap-up

We caught up with the travelling duo as they were wrapping up a three-month recce exploring the ghost towns and silver mines of Northern Nevada.

When asked the why he chose an M43? Lucky said: “I just like ’em! It looks cool and is different … a really patriotic vehicle. It is surprisingly comfortable to ride in, you can sleep in it, and even live in it. This has been our home for several months at a time.”

He continued: “The Power Wagon will go just about anywhere except really deep sand, and I can fix almost anything that goes wrong with basic hand tools I carry with me.”

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When asked if Lucky was his real name he said: “I was born 7 pounds 11 ounces, and 21 inches long. Those are lucky numbers for blackjack and craps players, so my dad named me Lucky.”

So, what is next on the horizon for a 70-year-old ambulance and a couple of ex-pat retirees? The M43 will be getting an ARB awning, solar panels up top, and a full-width rear rack. As we said our goodbyes, Lucky and Cindy were pointing the wheels south down the spine of the Sierras, back to Baja to search for an all-dirt route along the southern peninsula to their home on the East Cape.