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Posted by Clint Dixon [64.22.202.50] on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 14:37:30 :
In Reply to: Is my truck a Power Wagon? posted by Scott Williams [75.185.207.169] on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 21:49:31 :
What it all boils down to is that the term "power wagon" (or 'Power-Wagon' as seen in the vintage Dodge literature on the truck)was simply a marketing aide. A unique way to get the idea of the truck to stay in the minds of the potential customers (A very good one in fact).
I don't know if you would consider it the same as a trademark or a brand name like Kleenex or Big Mac, but it has definately become known as a model name similar to Chevy Apache, Ford Ranger, etc.
The term Power-Wagon did not exist until the truck was in production. The first name considered for the truck was "Farm Utility", then "General Purpose", before Power-Wagon was settled upon.
Since the term was not finalized until into production, and after production of the military Dodge 1/2 and 3/4-ton, it was not grandfathered to the previous military trucks. Sales to the government of military trucks were pretty much guaranteed, so Dodge had no need to apply a marketing name to them anyway. So, the M37 never became known as the "Power-Wagon" either.
Today, we use the term more generically to include all Dodge all-wheel-drive trucks. I is better than some alternatives like: army truck, jeep, flatfender. ;^)
Junior
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