If you didn't already want one of these, you will now. We always have, and now that we've actually driven one, we always will. Even if you didn't know what a M35A2, 2 1/2-ton truck was, chances are good that you've seen a military 6x6 before. They were built by a number of American automakers, including Kaiser, from the '50s through the '70s. Yep, the same Kaiser that brought you the M715 and other military vehicles manufactured this bad-ass giant Jeep from the mid-'60s through the early '70s.
Built as cargo/troop haulers for all branches of the military, the 2 1/2-ton M35A2 "deuce and a half" is basically a medium-duty truck designed to be driven on- and off-road by operators without a commercial driver's license (CDL). If you want to drive one, you could sign up with your local recruiter and join the armed forces, or you could do like we did and order a refurbished surplus truck from Boyce Equipment in Ogden, Utah. Designed to work on any continent in any climate, from -65 to well over 100 degrees, pound for pound no other American truck comes close to the brute strength versus price of a surplus 2 1/2-ton M35A2. Boyce set us up with this $8,500 "deuce" it had in stock that was just screaming for a Jp flogging.
For a practical thinker, a truck like this would make a great addition to any farm, ranch, or construction company that was looking for a cheap way to add some muscle to its motor pool. For the impractical types like ourselves, we think the M35A2 would be a fun and imposing commuter car for L.A. traffic. These trucks were built and designed to run forever. Replacement parts are as easy as a call to military surplus stores like Boyce Equipment. Basically, if you think you might want one and you have the room to park it, you need one of these trucks.
At the heart of our M35A2...
At the heart of our M35A2 was this 7.8L (478-cubic inch) I-6 multi-fuel Continental turbodiesel engine rated at 180hp and 305lb-ft of torque. The engine alone weighs almost 1,600 pounds, has a bore and stroke of 4.56 x 4.87 inches, a 22:1 compression ratio, and holds 511/42 gallons of oil. It featured twin oil and fuel filters, an engine-driven air compressor, and it didn't have any problem firing up at 20-degrees Fahrenheit. It also redlined at 2,600 rpm. So while it wasn't exactly a powerhouse, we bet it would run forever on anything from kerosene, to diesel, and even JP-8 jet fuel.
On the road the M35A2 is a...
On the road the M35A2 is a screamer. No, it's not fast. It's loud! Plan on wearing earplugs when driving or riding anywhere. We did manage to hit 60 mph in Fifth gear (GPS verified) while going downhill, but realistically, these are 50-55 mph trucks on flat ground. Expect to hit Third gear and 35-45mph in the hills.
To say the interior is sparse...
To say the interior is sparse is an understatement. Riding shotgun means you're sitting on a padded slab next to the exhaust. At least the driver gets a basic suspension seat. If you put three guys in the cab (like we did), you won't have enough room to shift into Fourth gear. Thanks to Boyce's optional fiberglass hardtop and 24-volt heater under the dash, we were never cold.