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
Dodge LCF series
Powertrain
Engine 230 cu in (3.8 L) I6
315 cu in (5.2 L) V8
318 cu in (5.2 L) V8
331 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase 108 in (2,743 mm)
116 in (2,946 mm)
Chronology
Successor Dodge Ramcharger (Town Wagon)
Dodge A100 (Town Panel)

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 LCF 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 a Dodge pick-up truck was not again developed until the Dodge D series–based Dodge Ramcharger, a competitor to the Chevrolet K5 Blazer.

Contents

Town Panel

1963 Dodge D100 Town Panel, rear view 1963 Dodge D100 Town Panel, rear left, 08-06-2023.jpg
1963 Dodge D100 Town Panel, rear view

The Town Panel truck was introduced in 1954 as a panel truck variant of the Dodge C series pick-up truck. [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

1957 Dodge Town Wagon 1957 Dodge Town Wagon (14887554155).jpg
1957 Dodge 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, and this was a market where the Town Wagon proved relatively popular. [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 the W series "Sweptline" pickup trucks, 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 or medium 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">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> American van series manufactured by Ford

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 SUVs built by Chevrolet since the 1935 model year. The longest-used automobile nameplate in the world, the Chevrolet Suburban is currently in its twelfth generation, introduced for 2021. Beginning life as one of the first metal-bodied station wagons, the Suburban is the progenitor of the modern full-size SUV, combining a wagon-style body with the chassis and powertrain of a pickup truck. Alongside its Advance Design, Task Force, and C/K predecessors, the Chevrolet Silverado currently shares chassis and mechanical commonality with the Suburban and other trucks.

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

The Ford Excursion is a heavy-duty SUV marketed by Ford Motor Company from 2000 through 2005. At its introduction, the Excursion was the longest and heaviest SUV ever to enter mass production. The third Ford SUV was derived from the F-Series pickup trucks, and the model line used a heavier-duty chassis and frame than the Expedition; both vehicles competed against the Chevrolet Suburban.

<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 is a traditional 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. Whereas 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 delivery van, 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

The International Travelall is a model line of vehicles that were manufactured by International Harvester from 1953 to 1975. A station wagon derived from a truck chassis, the Travelall was a forerunner of modern people carriers and full-size sport utility vehicles. Competing against the Chevrolet Suburban for its entire production, the model line was the first vehicle in the segment to offer four passenger doors.

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

The Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle, later the Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV), is a vehicle program instituted to provide the United States military with light utility vehicles based on a civilian truck chassis.

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

The Chevrolet Task Force is a light-duty and medium-duty (3600) truck series by Chevrolet introduced in 1955, its first major redesign since 1947. Known as the Blue Chip in the parallel GMC it had more modern design than the preceding Advance Design without sacrificing ruggedness or durability.

<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 Motor Company 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 Ford's entry 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.

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

The fourth generation of the C/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors. Marketed by the Chevrolet and GMC brands from the 1988 to the 2002 model years, this is the final generation of the C/K model line. In a branding change, GMC adopted the GMC Sierra nameplate for all its full-size pickup trucks, leaving the C/K nomenclature exclusive to Chevrolet.

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. (October 1995). "100 Years of Motorized Sportsmen". Field and Stream. 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

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