These military vehicles of the mid-century display remarkable phenomenology in their ruggedness and functionality, with innovative engineering in the field. Probably the two leading models are the 1945 CJ-2A Jeep and the 1946-1952 Dodge Power Wagon, which gained iconic status by underpinning this evolution of design and capability for both military and civilian use.
The 1945 CJ-2A Jeep, a much-modified version of the wartime MB, was launched with more comfort and better performance. With a retail price of $1,090, this model featured “Willys” cast into the hood sides and the windshield frame. It also sported improved shock absorbers and springs in addition to more comfortable seats. The revised transmission and transfer case gear ratios allowed for low-speed hauling and highway speeds up to 60 mph. Conveyance The CJ-2A came factory-equipped with a more substantial clutch, better cooling, a tailgate, a side-mounted spare tire, larger 7-inch headlights, an external fuel cap, a more rigid frame, and an automatic windshield wiper on the driver’s side.
Meanwhile, the Dodge Power Wagon was one of the most legendary workhorses in the 1940s and 1950s. Arguably the strongest truck in its class, the Power Wagon came with GVW ratings of 7,600 or 8,700 pounds. Providing it with that degree of weight-carrying capability were extra-cost 1,600-pound-capacity front springs, plus 3,000-pound-capacity rear springs, along with larger tires. The standard eight-ply tires were 7.50×16, but 9.00×16s could be had for an additional fee.
Demonstrating the versatility of the Power Wagon was important to the executives and dealers alike. The 1946 sales manual listed no less than 75 types of businesses that could make use of the truck, including everything from airports to well drillers. Arguably the most famous example was that described in Job-Rater magazine relating to a typical two-man pole-setting crew of New York State Telephone Company. Equipped especially for the task, their Power Wagon was fitted with a boom-and-winch arrangement driven by the truck’s engine, an auger driven by a six-horsepower auxiliary, and they drilled a 5.5-foot deep posthole, 12 inches in diameter, in a matter of minutes.
To help sensationalize the Power Wagon’s capability even further, Dodge’s advertising department created a color and sound film entitled “Wheels Across South America,” produced by explorer Armand Denis. Sponsored by 4,000 Dodge dealers, the film described a 1949 expedition of three Dodge four-door sedans, a one-ton panel truck, and the Power Wagon-each fitted with radio phones to communicate through the jungles.
Despite the 23-year run in the market, however, the Power Wagon remained largely consistent, with only several improvements. In 1951, the style of the pickup box was altered to include ribbed sides, lending added strength and aesthetics to its appeal. The centrally mounted gauges used by Dodge’s B-series light trucks were adopted. By 1961, items from the deluxe cab option became the standard.
For the 230 engine in the Power Wagon, the horsepower steadily increased throughout the 1950s, reaching a rating of 113 by 1957. A new 251 cubic inch engine took over from the 230 in 1961. With a rating of 125 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 216 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm, this was an all-new, longer block engine even though it was still an L-head design.
Other improvements included a 1957 gross vehicle weight maximum of 9,500 pounds, thanks in part to the adoption of 9.00×16 10-ply tires, which became standard. The four-speed transmission got synchronizers in late 1956, and the key starting arrived in 1957. Power steering and brakes went on the options list, and 12-volt electrics came along during the 1950s. The corporate switch to the alternator in 1961 found its way into the Power Wagon, and lock-out front hubs were made available in 1962.
These vehicles, the 1945 CJ-2A Jeep and the 1946-1952 Dodge Power Wagon stand as testaments to military engineering ingenuity and adaptability that left lasting legacies of tough, versatile transportation options, their influence continuing to inspire modern vehicle design even today.