Rare Cummins-Powered 1968 Dodge Power Wagon M615 Ambulance With Modern Bits

This very rare 1968 Dodge Power Wagon M615 4×4 ambulance owned by Corren Young of Leesburg, Florida, blends military history with vintage cool. Modern bits sharpen its performance and comfort, while its backstory includes deployment in Vietnam.

Served In Vietnam, Then With The Thai Army

According to Corren, his M615 went straight into service in Vietnam after assembly. Following the war, the rig transferred to the Thai Army. Years later, it sat in a surplus lot among other Power Wagons, Jeeps, and military vehicles awaiting liquidation. Eventually, Vintage Power Wagons procured the ambulance and completed a frame-off restoration in 2002.

Corren says he’s the fourth private owner of the M615, and when the rare ambulance surfaced for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to buy it. His fascination with Power Wagons dates back to childhood hunting trips with his father in Florida. “Many swamp buggies were modified Power Wagons back in the early 1950s,” he explains. Those early memories clearly stuck with him.

Upgraded To Make It More Road Friendly

From day one, Corren intended to rack up miles in his M615, including plenty of highway time. To make the military ambulance more road-friendly, upgrades were mandatory. “As many are aware, the Power Wagons were built for heavy-duty work, not speed. Rather than approach modifications with an à la carte mindset, I purchased a 1989 Dodge W250 Power Ram pickup. It had the tried-and-true Cummins 5.9-liter turbodiesel with an NV4500 five-speed transmission. The Dana 60 and Dana 70 axles were a nice addition as well.” The M615 body was then mounted onto the W250 chassis, with frame modifications made for proper fitment while leaving the ambulance body unmodified.

The 12-valve Cummins remains largely stock, though Corren upgraded the cooling system with an aluminum radiator. Tight packaging required an electric fan and relocation of the battery to a tray mounted underneath the truck on the driver side. And because Florida heat and humidity is no joke, air conditioning quickly became part of the build plan.

NV4500 Five-Speed Transmission, NP205 Transfer Case

Backing the NV4500 five-speed is a stout NP205 transfer case that sends power to the axles. Up front, the axle runs Selectro locking hubs, while the suspension relies on the stock leaf-spring setup from the 1989 Dodge W250 donor truck.

Nine-inch-wide wheels are wrapped with 37×12.50R17LT Nexen Roadian MTX tires.

Tasteful Exterior Mods

Corren put his own stamp on the M615’s exterior with a carefully chosen mix of accessories that fit the rig’s military roots. Up front sits a 12,000-pound-capacity Warn winch and a pair of 6.5-inch LED driving lights, while an aftermarket rack carries two five-gallon jerrycans on the driver-side. The ambulance also sports rear-facing backup lights and a driver-side-mounted Pioneer tool rack loaded with an axe, shovel, and maul. On the passenger side, the factory spare tire carrier holds a spare wheel-and-tire combo.

Since these photos were taken, Corren added another vintage touch: a circa-1940s Federal Electric Model 66L siren mounted to the passenger-side front fender.

Passenger-Friendly Interior Mods

Inside, the M615 blends vintage features with functional upgrades. A pair of Summit Racing-sourced high-back seats and a Grant steering wheel help modernize the cabin, while upgraded gauges keep tabs on speed, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level. There’s also a custom designed and fabricated heavy-duty steering column, and the rig includes a power port for electronics.

Behind the seats sits a storage trunk loaded with trail and roadside essentials, including tools, a tire iron, a jack, and jumper cables.

Corren’s Power Wagon Philosophy

Corren’s 1968 Dodge Power Wagon M615 ambulance is a stunner and he successfully blended modern features into the vintage machine. It’s obvious he approached the build with care, which aligns perfectly with his philosophy of Power Wagon ownership. He says, “I feel like owners of Power Wagons are caretakers, since these trucks have a well-established place in history.”

Photos by Corren Young