| Dodge Town Wagon Dodge Town Panel | |
| Manufacturer: | Dodge |
| Production: | 1954–1966 (U.S.) 1954–1971 (Argentina) |
| Assembly: | Warren Truck Assembly (Warren, Michigan) |
| Class: | Van (Town Panel) SUV (Town Wagon) |
| Related: | Dodge C series Dodge LCF series |
| Body Style: | 2-door van 2-door SUV |
| Engine: | 2301NaN1 I6 3151NaN1 V8 3181NaN1 V8 3311NaN1 V8 |
| Wheelbase: | 1080NaN0 1160NaN0 |
| Successor: | Dodge Ramcharger (Town Wagon) Dodge A100 (Town Panel) |
| Layout: | FR layout |
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.
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.
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.
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. 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]