Dodge Town Panel and Town Wagon

Last updated
Dodge Town Wagon
Dodge Town Panel
1965 Dodge Power Wagon W-100 Town Panel (35108020066).jpg
1965 Dodge Power Wagon W-100 Town Panel
Overview
Manufacturer Dodge
Production1954–1966 (U.S.)
1954–1971 (Argentina)
Assembly Warren Truck Assembly (Warren, Michigan)
Body and chassis
Class Van (Town Panel)
SUV (Town Wagon)
Body style 2-door van
2-door SUV
Layout FR layout
Related Dodge C series
Chronology
Predecessor Dodge B series delivery van
Successor Dodge Ramcharger (passenger)
Dodge A100 (van)
Dodge Durango

The Dodge Town Panel and Dodge Town Wagon are respectively a panel truck and a carryall, manufactured between 1954 and 1966 in the U.S. and between 1954 and 1971 in Argentina by Dodge. [1] The Town Panel and Town Wagon trucks were based upon the design of the Dodge C series pickup trucks with round fenders and wraparound windshields. Even after the Dodge D series "Sweptline" pickup trucks with square fenders and flat windshields were released, the Town Wagons retained the 1958 sheet metal design of the C series pickups and heavy-duty trucks. They were produced until 1966, when the Dodge A100 commercial and passenger vans eliminated the need for the pickup chassis version. [2] A passenger sport utility version of the Dodge D series truck was not again developed until the third-generation D series–based Dodge Ramcharger, a competitor to the Chevrolet Blazer.

Contents

Town Panel

U.S. Dodge Town Panel truck Dodge Town Panel.jpg
U.S. Dodge Town Panel truck

The Town Panel truck was introduced in 1954 along with the other Dodge C series trucks. [3] [4] [5] [6] At the 1954 Chicago Auto Show, a golden Town Panel truck in a "jewel box setting" was used to celebrate the 50th (golden) anniversary of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association. [7] The new Dodge Town Panel styling was heavily promoted. [8] It proved to be popular with local delivery companies, such as Montgomery Ward. [1] The Town Panel had no windows or seats behind the driver and was a commercial-use vehicle. It was designed to protect loads from weather and pilferage. [1] Dodge had previously built panel-delivery trucks on their B series and older truck chassis prior to the Town Panel, but did not specifically market them separately.

Town Wagon

The Town Wagon was introduced in 1956. [1] It was a passenger version of the Town Panel with rear passenger windows. [1] It had two bench seats and upholstery for a passenger vehicle. [1] It was competitor with the Chevrolet Suburban, a station wagon body built upon a truck chassis. The Town Wagon, along with truck-chassis wagon competitors from Chevrolet, Jeep, and International, were precursors to the SUV. [2] As American cars were built lower to the ground to run on newer highways and interstates, sportsmen needed higher-riding vehicles to go onto more primitive roads. [9] Dodge would not market another 5-door SUV until 1998 with the Dodge Durango.

Town Wagon Power Wagon

The Town Wagon in factory four-wheel-drive configuration was called the Town Wagon Power Wagon. [10] It was offered starting in 1957. [2] The Dodge C series vehicles were given the W-100 designation for their now-available half-ton four-wheel-drive versions. [10] It had a higher stance and larger fender flares. [11] It gained a "Power Wagon" fender badge, along with its W series "Sweptline" pickup variants, linking it to the Dodge Power Wagon WC300 "Military Type." [12]

Related Research Articles

Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis North America, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SUV</span> Type of automobile

A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickup truck</span> Light-duty truck with an enclosed cab and an open cargo area

A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof. In Australia and New Zealand, both pickups and coupé utilities are called utes, short for utility vehicle. In South Africa, people of all language groups use the term bakkie; a diminutive of Afrikaans: bak, meaning bowl or container.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van</span> Covered transportation vehicle

A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some variation in the scope of the word across the different English-speaking countries. The smallest vans, microvans, are used for transporting either goods or people in tiny quantities. Mini MPVs, compact MPVs, and MPVs are all small vans usually used for transporting people in small quantities. Larger vans with passenger seats are used for institutional purposes, such as transporting students. Larger vans with only front seats are often used for business purposes, to carry goods and equipment. Specially equipped vans are used by television stations as mobile studios. Postal services and courier companies use large step vans to deliver packages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet C/K</span> American truck series

The Chevrolet C/K is a series of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1960 to 2002 model years. Marketed by both the Chevrolet and GMC divisions, the C/K series encompassed a wide range of vehicles. While most commonly associated with pickup trucks, the model line also included chassis-cab trucks and medium-duty trucks and served as the basis for GM full-size SUVs. Through its entire production, the model line competed directly against the Ford F-Series and the Dodge D series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford E-Series</span> Line of vans by American automaker

The Ford E-Series is a range of full-size vans manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced for 1961 as the replacement of the Ford F-Series panel van, four generations of the model line have been produced. Marketed for both cargo and passenger transport configurations, the E-Series has been designed with multiple design variations for both retail and commercial sale, including vans, and commercial-grade cutaway van chassis and stripped chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Suburban</span> Series of American full-size automobiles by General Motors

The Chevrolet Suburban is a series of automobiles built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. In production since the 1935 model year, the model line is currently in its twelfth generation; it is the longest-used automobile nameplate in the world. Beginning life as one of the first metal-bodied station wagons, the Suburban is the progenitor of modern full-size SUVs, combining a station wagon body with the chassis and powertrain of a pickup truck. Alongside its Advance Design, Task Force, and C/K predecessors, the Silverado pickup trucks share chassis and mechanical commonality with the Suburban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Excursion</span> American heavy-duty SUV

The Ford Excursion is a heavy-duty SUV that was sold by Ford from 2000 to 2005. The third SUV derived from the Ford F-Series, the model line was the longest and heaviest SUV ever to enter mass production at the time. Slotted above the Expedition in the Ford model line, the Excursion was sold nearly exclusively in the American market; limited numbers of the model line were produced for export.

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

The Dodge Power Wagon is a four-wheel drive medium duty truck that was produced in various model series from 1945 to 1980 by Dodge. The Power Wagon name was revived for the 2005 model year as a four-wheel drive version of the Dodge Ram 2500. As a nameplate, "Power Wagon" continues as a special package of the four-wheel drive version of 3/4 ton Ram Trucks 2500 model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body-on-frame</span> Automobile construction method using a separate body on a structural frame

Body-on-frame, also known as ladder frame construction, is a common motor vehicle construction method, whereby a separate body or coach is mounted on a strong and relatively rigid vehicle frame or chassis that carries the powertrain and to which the wheels and their suspension, brakes, and steering are mounted. While this was the original method of building automobiles, body-on-frame construction is now used mainly for pickup trucks, large SUVs, and heavy trucks.

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

The C series is a line of pickup trucks sold by Dodge from 1954 until 1960. It replaced the Dodge B series of trucks and was eventually supplanted by the Dodge D series, introduced in 1961. Unlike the B series, which were closely related to Dodge's prewar trucks, the C series was a complete redesign. Dodge continued the "pilot house" tradition of high-visibility cabs with a wrap-around windshield introduced in 1955. A two-speed "PowerFlite" automatic transmission was newly available that year. The Dodge Town Panel and Town Wagon also used the new design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panel van</span> Cargo vehicle based on passenger car chassis

A panel van, also known as a blind van, car-derived van or sedan delivery, is a small cargo vehicle with a passenger car chassis, typically with a single front bench seat and no side windows behind the B-pillar. Panel vans are smaller than panel trucks or cargo vans, both of which use body-on-frame truck chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Nomad</span> Motor vehicle

Chevrolet Nomad is a nameplate used by Chevrolet in North America from the 1950s to the 1970s, applied largely to station wagons. Three different Nomads were produced as a distinct model line, with Chevrolet subsequently using the name as a trim package.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Travelall</span> Motor vehicle platform

The International Harvester Travelall is a model line of vehicles that were manufactured by International Harvester from 1953 to 1975. One of the first competitors of the Chevrolet Suburban, the Travelall was a truck-based station wagon, serving as a forerunner of modern people carriers and full-size sport utility vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle</span> Motor vehicle

The Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle (CUCV) is a vehicle program instituted to provide the United States military with light utility vehicles based on civilian trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Task Force</span> American truck series

The Chevrolet Task Force is a light and medium-duty truck series by Chevrolet, their first major redesign since 1947. Its GMC counterpart was the Blue Chip series. It was billed as being more stylish compared to the earlier Advance Design Series while still maintaining its rugged durability. First available on March 25, 1955, these trucks were sold with various minor changes over the years until 1959, when the C/K Series trucks replaced the Task Force models for 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet van</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Van or Chevy Van is a range of vans that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1964 to 1996 model years. Introduced as the successor for the rear-engine Corvair Corvan/Greenbrier, the model line also replaced the panel van configuration of the Chevrolet Suburban. The vehicle was sold both in passenger van and cargo van configurations as well as a cutaway van chassis that served as the basis for a variety of custom applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (first generation)</span> First generation of the Ford F-Series pickup trucks

The first generation of the Ford F-Series is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1948 to the 1952 model years. The introduction of the F-Series marked the divergence of Ford car and truck design, developing a chassis intended specifically for truck use. Alongside pickup trucks, the model line included also panel vans, bare and cowled chassis, and marked the entry of Ford into the medium and heavy-duty truck segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet C/K (second generation)</span> American truck series

The second generation of the C/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors. Marketed by both the Chevrolet and GMC divisions from the 1967 to 1972 model years, this generation was given the "Action Line" moniker by General Motors. As with its predecessor, the second generation C/K included full-size pickup trucks, chassis cab trucks, and medium-duty commercial trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet C/K (third generation)</span> American truck series

The third generation of theC/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1973 to 1991 model years. Serving as the replacement for the "Action Line" C/K trucks, GM designated the generation under "Rounded Line" moniker. Again offered as a two-door pickup truck and chassis cab, the Rounded Line trucks marked the introduction of a four-door cab configuration.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bunn, Don. Dodge Trucks. United States: Motorbooks International, 1996.
  2. 1 2 3 DeLorenzo, Matt. Dodge 100 Years. United States: Motorbooks, 2014.
  3. Power Wagon. United States: n.p., 1953. Chicago, Illinois, The Power Wagon Publishing Company (Volumes 90-93)
  4. Western Trucking and Motor Transportation. United States: Motor Transportation, Incorporated, 1954.
  5. Commercial Car Journal. United States: Chilton Company., 1953.
  6. Dun's Review and Modern Industry. United States: Dun & Bradstreet Publications Corporation, 1954.
  7. Trucking News. United States: n.p., 1954.
  8. The Saturday Evening Post. United States: G. Graham, March 1954. Volume 226 Issue 5
  9. White, Slaton L. 100 Years of Motorized Sportsmen. Field and Stream Oct 1995 Vol. 100, No. 6
  10. 1 2 Ackerson, Robert C.. Standard Catalog of 4 X 4's: A Comprehensive Guide to Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Including Trucks, Vans and Sports Sedans and Sport Utility Vehicles, 1945-1993. United States: Krause Publications, 1993.
  11. Town Wagon / Town Panels through the years
  12. Dodge Builds Tough Trucks, 1963 Dodge Truck Sales Promotion Department, Detroit, Michigan

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Dodge Town Panel / Town Wagon at Wikimedia Commons