Dodge WC series

Dodge WC series: which version to buy

Between the three Dodge WC series versions in this catalogue, the buying question is not “which badge” — all three are named 3.6 MT or 3.8 MT and all three are Gasoline, Inline 6, Manual 4, AWD, SUV cabriolet.

Between the three Dodge WC series versions in this catalogue, the buying question is not “which badge” — all three are named 3.6 MT or 3.8 MT and all three are Gasoline, Inline 6, Manual 4, AWD, SUV cabriolet. The numbers that actually split them are displacement (3567 vs 3772 cc), power (78 vs 92 hp), torque (222 vs 244 Nm), and, among the two identical 3.8 MT names of 2 generation, top speed (87 vs 83). Kerb weight, tank, and 0–100 are not measured on 1 generation; they are measured on both 2 generation 3.8 MT rows and are the same.

Dodge WC series versions compared (generations)

1 generation (1941–1942) has one version: 3.6 MT. Body: SUV cabriolet. Engine: 3567 cc Gasoline, 6 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor. Output: 78 hp (57 kW); rpm for power is not measured. Torque: 222 Nm; rpm for torque is not measured. Compression 6.5; bore and stroke 82.6 × 111.1. Gearbox Manual, 4 gears, AWD. Top speed not measured. Fuel consumption (city, highway, mixed) not measured. Tank not measured. Kerb and gross weight not measured. Ground clearance not measured. Wheels not measured. Suspension: Dependent, leaf spring front and rear. Brakes: Drum front and rear.

2 generation (1942–1945) has two versions, both named 3.8 MT, both 92 hp. Body: SUV cabriolet. Engine on both: 3772 cc Gasoline, 6, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor. Output on both: 92 hp (68 kW) at 3200 rpm; 244 Nm at 1200 rpm. Compression 6.7; bore and stroke 82.6 × 117.5. Manual 4, AWD. Tank 115. Kerb 2560, gross 3360. The only catalogue split between these two 3.8 MT rows is maximum speed: 87 versus 83. 0–100, mpg-style consumption, CO2, eco class, ground clearance, and wheel size are not measured on either.

Production years overlap in 1942: 1 generation runs 1941–1942, 2 generation 1942–1945. A 1941 Dodge WC series in this data can only be 3.6 MT. From 1943 onward only 3.8 MT exists here.

Engine specs: 3.6 MT vs 3.8 MT

Power per litre: 3.6 MT is 78 / 3.567 ≈ 21.9 hp per litre. Either 3.8 MT is 92 / 3.772 ≈ 24.4 hp per litre — about 2.5 hp more per litre, not only a larger engine. Torque per litre: 222 / 3.567 ≈ 62.2 Nm/L on 3.6 MT; 244 / 3.772 ≈ 64.7 Nm/L on 3.8 MT.

Displacement step: 3772 − 3567 = 205 cc (about 5.7% more). Stroke is the part that grew: 117.5 − 111.1 = 6.4 mm longer stroke; bore stays 82.6 on all three. Compression: 6.7 − 6.5 = 0.2. Power step: 92 − 78 = 14 hp (about 18% more). kW: 68 − 57 = 11 kW. Torque: 244 − 222 = 22 Nm (about 10% more).

What did not change and therefore cannot be a reason to pick one over another: fuel type Gasoline, 6 Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, Manual 4, AWD, SUV cabriolet, Dependent, leaf spring at both ends, Drum brakes at both ends.

Performance and mpg: what is measured

0–100 is not measured on 3.6 MT, not measured on 3.8 MT (87), and not measured on 3.8 MT (83). You cannot rank acceleration from this catalogue.

Top speed: not measured on 3.6 MT. On 2 generation, 3.8 MT at 87 versus 3.8 MT at 83 is a 4 difference (about 4.8% if 83 is the base). Same 92 hp, same 244 Nm, same 2560 kerb, same 115 tank — the speed gap is the only performance number that separates those two names.

City, highway, and mixed consumption: not measured on all three. CO2 not measured. Eco class not measured. There is no mpg ranking here; a “which uses less fuel” answer is not in the data.

Power rpm: not measured on 3.6 MT; 3200 on both 3.8 MT. Torque rpm: not measured on 3.6 MT; 1200 on both 3.8 MT. The 2 generation engine is specified at those two points; 1 generation is not.

Dimensions, weight, tank

Kerb weight: not measured on 3.6 MT; 2560 on both 3.8 MT. Gross: not measured on 3.6 MT; 3360 on both 3.8 MT. Payload on 2 generation, from those two figures: 3360 − 2560 = 800.

Weight per horsepower on either 3.8 MT: 2560 / 92 ≈ 27.8 kg per hp (kerb); 3360 / 92 ≈ 36.5 kg per hp (gross). The same ratio cannot be computed for 3.6 MT because mass is not measured — do not treat 1 generation as “lighter” or “heavier.”

Tank: not measured on 3.6 MT; 115 on both 3.8 MT. Ground clearance not measured on all three. Wheel sizes not measured on all three. You cannot choose a WC series version in this set by tyre size or ride height.

Which Dodge WC series version to choose

Choose 1 generation 3.6 MT (1941–1942) if the year is the point. It is the only 1941 row. It is the smaller engine: 3567 cc, 78 hp, 222 Nm, compression 6.5, stroke 111.1. You accept that top speed, 0–100, consumption, tank, and both masses are not measured. You do not get the 14 hp / 22 Nm / 205 cc step of 2 generation. Manual 4 and AWD are the same as later, so drivetrain type is not a reason to skip it.

Choose 2 generation 3.8 MT if you want the measured power and mass package. Both 3.8 MT rows give 92 hp at 3200 rpm, 244 Nm at 1200 rpm, 3772 cc, compression 6.7, stroke 117.5, tank 115, kerb 2560, gross 3360. Versus 3.6 MT that is +14 hp, +11 kW, +22 Nm, +205 cc, +0.2 compression, +6.4 mm stroke, and the first figures this catalogue actually records for tank and weight.

Between the two 3.8 MT names, use top speed, not power. Both are 92 hp. The faster catalogue row is 3.8 MT with maximum speed 87; the other 3.8 MT is 83. Nothing else in the table differs: same displacement, same torque, same gearbox, same AWD, same 115 tank, same 2560 / 3360. If 87 versus 83 matters to you, take the 87 row. If it does not, the two 2 generation 3.8 MT versions are interchangeable on every other measured field.

What extra output “buys” in arithmetic, without prices (prices are not in this data). From 3.6 MT to either 3.8 MT: about 18% more hp, about 10% more Nm, about 6% more cubic centimetres, and about 2.5 hp per litre more specific output. You also gain a stated 115 tank and an 800 payload derived from 3360 − 2560. You do not gain a different cylinder count, a different layout, boost, a different gearbox, or a different drive: those stay 6, Inline, No, Manual 4, AWD.

Reliability / problems. This dataset has no failure rates, serial-number decoding, or sale listings. Serial numbers, Craigslist, UK, and Australia availability are search phrases, not measured fields here. The comparison that is supported is: 3.6 MT for 1941–1942 with 78 hp and 3567 cc; 3.8 MT (87) or 3.8 MT (83) for 1942–1945 with 92 hp, 3772 cc, 2560 / 3360, and tank 115 — pick 87 if the only split between those two names is the one you care about.