Dodge Town Wagon
Dodge Town Panel
1965 Dodge Power Wagon W-100 Town Panel
Overview
ManufacturerDodge
Production1954–1966 (U.S.)
1954–1971 (Argentina)
AssemblyWarren Truck Assembly (Warren, Michigan)
Body and chassis
ClassVan (Town Panel)
SUV (Town Wagon)
Body style2-door van
2-door SUV
LayoutFR layout
RelatedDodge C series
Chronology
PredecessorDodge B series delivery van
SuccessorDodge 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.

Town Panel

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]

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

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