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Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:08 am
by w30bob
Hi Guys,
Just found this gem on Ebay.....I never new there was an M37 variant called the M56 R2 Crash Truck. Those Air Force guys had the coolest toys!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/R2-CRASH ... 2ec28c639a
regards,
bob
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 12:10 pm
by k8icu
Why haven't you bid on it yet Bob?
I am missing three things that keep me from bidding on it. A: Money, B: Time, and C: Storage. It is nice and I hope someone picks it up and restores it!
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:34 pm
by w30bob
K8.....I hear ya. I second those reasons......but I am eyeing up the M Carter has for sale.
regards,
bob
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 4:23 pm
by m37brat
I'm the guy that bought it and the restoration is on it's way. We will try to bring it back to it's original glory. We've had it just about one week and have about 75% of the paint off and down to the primer.
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 5:37 pm
by m-37Bruce
m37brat wrote:I'm the guy that bought it and the restoration is on it's way. We will try to bring it back to it's original glory. We've had it just about one week and have about 75% of the paint off and down to the primer.
Did you land the M-56 or Carter's m-37? Either one is a good thing......
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:24 am
by T. Highway
M37brat,
I guess we need to see pictures of what you bought and the progress since you bought it. We like pictures.
Bert
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:41 pm
by m37brat
m-37Bruce wrote:m37brat wrote:I'm the guy that bought it and the restoration is on it's way. We will try to bring it back to it's original glory. We've had it just about one week and have about 75% of the paint off and down to the primer.
Did you land the M-56 or Carter's m-37? Either one is a good thing......
I scored the R2. I will post pictures ASAP. I don't seem to be able to upload hem from my iPad.
It's going to be a hoot doing this truck. Everything but the generator has been ripped out of the back. It doesn't look very likely we will find the parts o we are going to have to try to fab them the best we can.
Jim
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 4:25 am
by m37jarhead
m37brat wrote:I'm the guy that bought it and the restoration is on it's way. We will try to bring it back to it's original glory. We've had it just about one week and have about 75% of the paint off and down to the primer.
WOW!!! Cool crash truck. I noticed lots of neat and unusual stuff on it. Looks like a gas fired heater on the left front fender.
Mil. spec. front windshield defroster. Elec. motor in the back.... used to drive a water pump? Is there also some kind of
generator in the back? What was the original color when in military service. Looks like white.... don't see any strata blue.
Lots of unfamiliar gadgets under the hood. What the heck are those?
Let us know and post some pic's on your progress.
JB
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:27 pm
by 52 M-42
m37brat wrote:m-37Bruce wrote:m37brat wrote:
Everything but the generator has been ripped out of the back. It doesn't look very likely we will find the parts o we are going to have to try to fab them the best we can.
Jim
You might just be quite surprised at what you find for sale, trade or just free for that truck. It may take awhile, but it is absolutely astounding what you can find out there. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen over time.
Be sure to also look at steel soldiers.com and G503.com. There are other sites as well. It will all come together.
52 M-42
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:48 am
by Tuko
heres a different version this is listed as a M56 also:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3433018803.html

Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:16 pm
by Rick C
M56 was the designation for the cab/chassis supplied by Dodge. They were sent to private companies to have the crash/fire bodies added. This was from the M37 production Book that was published a while back.
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:26 pm
by WarrenD
That makes sense as there is a M56 Contact Maintenance truck, also.
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:15 pm
by pwrwagonfire
From what I've read around here...this one here only a handful were made...
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:43 pm
by m37brat
This is an MB-2. They were made in 1955 on the M56 chassis and they made 130 for the navy. The M56's were sent to a company named Gichner Iron Works. They had a 169 gallon water tank and 11 gallons of foam. Another cool variant.
Re: Check it out....M56 R2 Crash Truck (M37)
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:21 am
by T. Highway
I sure hope that we aren't going to be tested on this stuff later on because I will never be able to remember all of the variations.
Bert