Dodge Town Wagon Dodge Town Panel | |
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![]() 1965 Dodge Power Wagon W-100 Town Panel | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Dodge |
Production | 1954–1966 (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.
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.
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.
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]
Media related to
Dodge Town Panel / Town Wagon at Wikimedia Commons