Dodge Meadowbrook

Last updated
Dodge Meadowbrook
Albert Arzouhaljian at Forest Hills Cemetery, auto standing by - DPLA - 83970119b3b9413ae5539a4946700f3d.jpg
1950 Dodge Meadowbrook
Overview
Manufacturer Dodge (Chrysler)
Production1949–1954
Assembly Dodge Main Factory, Hamtramck, MI
Body and chassis
Class Full-size
Body style 2-door sedan (1953-54)
4-door sedan
2-door station wagon (1953)
Layout FR layout
Related DeSoto Deluxe
DeSoto Powermaster
DeSoto Firedome
Plymouth Cranbrook
Powertrain
Engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 123.5 in (3,137 mm) (1949-52)
  • 114 in (2,896 mm) (1953 Suburban)
  • 119 in (3,023 mm) (1953-54)
Length203.6 in (5,171 mm) (1949) [3]
205.5 in (5,220 mm) (1954)
Width74 in (1,880 mm) (1949), 73.5 in (1,867 mm) (1954)
Chronology
Successor Dodge Coronet
Dodge Royal

The Dodge Meadowbrook is a full-size car that was produced by Dodge in the United States from 1949 to 1954.

Contents

History

The Dodge Meadowbrook was produced by Dodge and offered as the midline trim level from February 1949 until 1954, above the Wayfarer and beneath the Coronet. The Meadowbrook was largely identical to the Coronet, excepting trim and equipment differences. [4] In 1952 the Wayfarer was cancelled and the Meadowbrook became the lowest-priced Dodge in the United States; export markets (including Canada) continued to receive the Plymouth-based Dodge Kingsway.

1949

In its first year the four-door only Meadowbrook made up 30% of Dodge's sales (about 90,000 units), and came with "Safe-Guard Hydraulic Brakes" which included two cylinders per front brake. Dodge also advertised a new "cradled" ride, which was supposedly softer than all the others makers cars. The single-barrel inline-six produced 103 hp (77 kW). [3]

1950

For 1950, the six-cylinder was baptized the "Get-Away" engine. After the late introduction of the 1949s, the 1950 Dodges appeared a little earlier, on 4 January 1950. [5] The 1950 Meadowbrook has a wide, 42.7 ft (13.0 m) turning circle. [6] [7] Four-door sedan bodywork remained the only option. The main transmission option available was different than that of the same model year Coronet, being a 3-speed Chrysler Fluid Drive transmission as compared to the gyromatic from the 1950 Coronet. [5]

1951

The 1951 Meadowbrook received a thorough change, with all-new front skin. Bumpers were also new, as was the dashboard, and the windshield was enlarged. [8] The engine remained unchanged, as it would until 1954. The 1951 maintained the 3-speed fluid drive transmission, which remained unchanged until 1954.

1952

In 1952, the Meadowbrook made up 32.50% of Dodge's sales (circa 84,000). With Chrysler being entirely focussed on the Korean War effort, the 1952s received almost no changes - modifications being limited to details such as a red reflector dot beneath the taillights and lightly redesigned hubcaps. [8] The 1952s were introduced on 10 November 1951. [9]

1953

The 1953 Dodges arrived on 23 October 1952, and featured a revised bodywork based on the 1952s. The doors (now with pull-handles) opened wider, the rear window was a one-piece, and the taillights were oval units. Naturally the grille and chrome applications were altered. [9] The "Meadowbrook Special" series was added to replace the Wayfarer at the lower end of Dodge's lineup. [10] A two-door model and a station wagon were also added. [11] The two- and four-door sedans were both offered in both Meadowbrook and Special trim levels, but the Special did not suit the buoyant US car market and by April 1953 it had already been discontinued. Instead, sales of the new V8-engined Coronet were very strong. The austere Special, intended for travelling salesmen and the like, received no chrome side trim and plain rubber trim around the windows. The interior was equally bare. [9]

The two-door Suburban wagon, offered for 1953 only, sat on a shorter 114 in (2,900 mm) wheelbase than the sedans. [9]

1954

1954 was the last year of the Meadowbrook, [3] and it had a new Powerflite automatic. [12] Offered as a four-door or two-door sedan (called Club Coupé), it was now also available with the optional new "Red Ram" Hemi V8 engine. [9] Of 241.3 cu in (4.0 L), it produces 140 hp (104 kW) for the Meadowbrook, ten horsepower less than in the more senior Dodges due to a lower compression ratio. Thanks to a modest compression increase, the "230" six increased its power output to 110 hp (82 kW). [13] Buyers still flocked to the more prestigious Coronet and Royal lines, and only 15,444 were built. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Bel Air</span> American full-size automobile

The Chevrolet Bel Air is a full-size car produced by Chevrolet for the 1950–1981 model years. Initially, only the two-door hardtops in the Chevrolet model range were designated with the Bel Air name from 1950 to 1952. With the 1953 model year, the Bel Air name was changed from a designation for a unique body shape to a premium level of trim applied across a number of body styles. The Bel Air continued with various other trim level designations, and it had gone from a mid-level trim car to a budget fleet sedan when U.S. production ceased in 1975. Production continued in Canada, for its home market only, through the 1981 model year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler New Yorker</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler New Yorker is an automobile model produced by Chrysler from 1940 until 1996, serving for several decades as either the brand's flagship model or as a junior sedan to the Chrysler Imperial, the latter during the years in which the Imperial name was used within the Chrysler lineup rather than as a standalone brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Diplomat</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Diplomat is an American mid-size car that was produced by Dodge from 1977 to 1989. At launch, it shared a common design with the Chrysler LeBaron and for much of its later production run was the counterpart of the more upscale Chrysler Fifth Avenue and lower priced Plymouth Gran Fury. It was also sold in Mexico between 1981 and 1982 as the Dodge Dart, and in Colombia as the Dodge Coronet. The Diplomat was initially offered in a coupe and a sedan; in 1978, station wagons were added as replacements for the discontinued full-sized C-body wagons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Coronet</span> American car model sold 1949–1959, 1965–1976

The Dodge Coronet is an automobile that was marketed by Dodge in seven generations, and shared nameplates with the same bodyshell with varying levels of equipment installed. Introduced as a full-size car in 1949, it was the division's highest trim line and moved to the lowest level starting in 1955 through 1959. The name was reintroduced on intermediate-sized models from the 1965 until 1976 model years. Muscle car versions were available starting in 1965 with the 383 and 426 wedge cu in Chrysler RB engine, followed in 1966 by the powerful 426 cu in Chrysler Hemi. Other performance models included the "Superbee", and featured, the 383 cu in Magnum, among other engine options. The nameplate "coronet" is a type of crown worn by royalty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Belvedere</span> Motor vehicle

The Plymouth Belvedere is a series of American automobile models made by Plymouth from 1954 until 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Saratoga</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler Saratoga is an automobile built by Chrysler. The nameplate was used from 1939 to 1952 and from 1957 to 1960 in the U.S. market, in Canada through 1965, and in Europe from 1989 to 1995. In the beginning, it was introduced as a sport luxury model, using the Straight Eight engine from the Chrysler New Yorker which was more formal, and the Imperial which had graduated to special order limousine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Windsor</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler Windsor is a full-size car which was built by Chrysler from 1939 through to the 1960s. The final Chrysler Windsor sold in the United States was produced in 1961, but production in Canada continued until 1966. The Canadian 1961 to 1966 Windsor model was for all intents and purposes the equivalent of the Chrysler Newport in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Savoy</span> Motor vehicle

The Plymouth Savoy is an automobile model produced from the 1954 through 1964 model years by Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Mayfair</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Mayfair was an automobile built by Chrysler Corporation of Canada Ltd. This vehicle was produced solely for the Canadian market from 1953 to 1959. Its American equivalent was the Plymouth Belvedere. It was based on the Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Newport</span> Motor vehicle

The Newport was a name used by Chrysler for both a hardtop body designation and also for its lowest priced model between 1961 and 1981. Chrysler first used the Newport name on a 1940 show car, of which five vehicles were produced. From 1950 to 1956, the Newport name was then used to designate any Chrysler model with a hardtop body style. In 1961, Chrysler introduced the Newport as a new, low-priced model, offering large, comfortable two- and four-door Chrysler models that were modestly priced compared with the Chrysler 300, the Chrysler New Yorker and the Imperial. For 1961, the Newport was priced below the Chrysler Windsor in the Windsor's final year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Custom 880</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Custom 880 is an automobile that was marketed by Dodge from 1962 through the end of the 1965 model year. It was positioned as Dodge's product offer in the mid-price full-size market segment and to help fill the void in Chrysler's lineup left by the discontinuation of DeSoto in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1955 Dodge</span> Motor vehicle

The 1955 Dodge car lineup, consisting of the entry-level Coronet, Royal, and ornate Custom Royal, was a major departure for the company. Driven almost out of business in 1953 and 1954, the Chrysler Corporation was revived with a $250 million loan from Prudential and new models designed by Virgil Exner. The Dodge lineup was positioned as the mainstream line in Chrysler's hierarchy, between DeSoto and Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Royal</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Royal is an automobile produced by Dodge in the United States from the 1954 through 1959 model years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Ford</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford line of cars was again refreshed for 1952, although remaining similar to the all-new 1949 Fords. This time, curved one-piece windshield glass joined a new "Mileage Maker" straight-6 engine with 101 hp. The 226 CID (3.7 L) L-head straight-6 was replaced by an overhead valve 215 CID (3.5 L) Mileage Maker with 101 hp (75 kW), while the old 239 CID (3.9 L) Flathead V8 remained with 110 hp (82 kW). This design would continue through the 1954 model year, with an updated design offered in 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Monterey</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercury Monterey is a series of full-size cars that were manufactured and marketed by the Mercury division of Ford from 1950 to 1974. Deriving its name from Monterey Bay, the initial Mercury Monterey served as the top-of-the-line two-door sedan model for 1950 and 1951 to compete with the hardtop models of Oldsmobile and Buick. It came with a vinyl roof covering, upgraded upholstery, and other features. The hardtop was introduced for 1952. During its production, the Monterey would be offered in multiple body styles, ranging from coupes, convertibles, sedans, hardtops, and station wagons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Royal (Australia)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler Royal is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1957 to 1963. After investing in tooling to stamp body panels for the 1954 P25 series Plymouth locally, and with Chrysler headquarters in Detroit unwilling to assist in the costs of retooling for the new US models, Chrysler Australia made the decision to develop their own range, using as much of the existing tooling as possible, whilst also realising that the new car had to appear as different as possible. The doors and basic structure of the P25 sedan was retained, and with input from Australian and American Chrysler designers, the 1955 US Plymouth front sheetmetal was adapted to the P25 body and the rear quarter panels redesigned. They also added a wraparound rear windscreen, which caused development problems with Pilkington Glass, the Australian suppliers, who struggled to get the correct curved shape.

The Dodge 440 is a mid-size car that was marketed by Dodge from 1962 to 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Valiant (VC)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler VC Valiant is an automobile that was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1966 to 1967. It was released in March 1966, replacing the Chrysler AP6 Valiant. The VC was the fifth Chrysler Valiant model to be produced in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Custom</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Custom is a full-size car which was produced by Dodge in the United States from 1946 to early 1949, and was also called the DeLuxe in a more basic trim package. Dodge was very fluid with model nameplates and during the 1930s updated them yearly based on marketing objectives, while the actual vehicle was largely unchanged for what became known as the "Senior Dodge's" that were available with shorter "Junior Dodges" that were essentially badge engineered Plymouth models during this time period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Wayfarer</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Wayfarer is an automobile produced by Dodge from February 1949 until 1952. It was discontinued without a replacement in the United States, although the Kingsway series remained available in export markets. The Wayfarer was the first true roadster built by the Big Three since the 1930s. However, the roadster concept was soon altered to the plusher Sportabout as higher comfort levels were demanded by the post-war auto buyers. 9325 roadsters and Sportabouts were built, out of a total of 217,623 Wayfarers of all bodystyles.

References

  1. "Directory Index: Dodge/1952_Dodge/1952_Dodge_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  2. Willson, Quentin (1995). The Ultimate Classic Car Book . DK Publishing, Inc. ISBN   0-7894-0159-2.
  3. 1 2 3 Flory Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN   978-0-7864-3229-5.
  4. Lee, John (1990). Standard Catalog of Chrysler, 1924-1990. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, Inc. p. 266. ISBN   0-87341-142-0.
  5. 1 2 Lee, p. 267
  6. "1991 BMW 850i Automatic". Automobile-catalog.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  7. "1950 Dodge (U.S.) Meadowbrook 4-Door Sedan performance data, specs & photo". Automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  8. 1 2 Lee, p. 268
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lee, p. 269
  10. Lee, p. 263
  11. John Gunnell, Standard Catalogue of American Cars 1946-1975, revised 4th Edition, 2002, page 332
  12. "Directory Index: Dodge/1954_Dodge/1954_Dodge_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  13. Lee, p. 270