The Dodge Power Wagon was the world’s first true off-road pickup
- The Dodge Power Wagon was the world’s first true off-road pickup truck
- It was launched in the mid-1940s
- It was a trailblazer that helped shape the automotive landscape
Published on Mar 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Mar 27, 2025 at 12:32 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The Dodge Power Wagon was the world’s first true off-road pickup truck – and it helped to shape America’s automotive landscape forever.
Founded in the early 1900s by brothers Horace and John Dodge, the Dodge automotive company started creating its first vehicles in 1914.
The company – which is owned by Stellantis – is probably best known for its muscle cars, such as the Charger, the Challenger, and the Daytona.
But before all of those it launched the Power Wagon – a rough and ready pickup that was a bit of a trailblazer.
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The Dodge Power Wagon was introduced back in the 1940s
These days, if you’re in the market for a pickup truck that can handle some off-roading, you’ll be pretty spoiled for choice.
You can stick with a tried and tested classic like the Ford F-150 – formerly the best-selling vehicle in the whole of the US – or try out something new like the all-electric Rivian R1T.
But back in the 1940s, options were far fewer – so when the Dodge Power Wagon was introduced in 1945 it was a complete game-changer.
The pickup was derived from the sort of military vehicles that had been used during the World War II and was the first 4×4 pickup truck to be mass produced by a major manufacturer as a civilian vehicle.
The Dodge Power Wagon was ready for action, featuring a 3.8 liter flathead inline 6 engine that could produce just shy of 100 horsepower.
Unlike other trucks available at the time, the Power Wagon was more than capable of tackling rough, tough, and rugged terrain.
The truck was a significant predecessor to the pickups we see today
The Dodge Power Wagon was built to withstand just about anything you could throw at it – from dirt tracks, to mountain trails and everything in between.
The original version came with a four-speed manual transmission and part-time four-wheel drive; it also featured solid axels, leaf spring suspension, and a high ground clearance, which made it the perfect companion for farmers, ranchers and anyone in need of a truck that didn’t shy away from a challenge.
From 1945 to 1980, Dodge produced numerous variants and versions of its Power Wagon before production drew to a close.
The Dodge Power Wagon is cited as a major influence on just about every off-road pickup truck you see today.
And, in 2005, the nameplate was revived for a version of the Dodge Ram 2500.
In honor of its history, the Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon was a special off-road version of the Ram 2500 and came with a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 engine.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
