Dodge C series
The C series is a line of pickup trucks sold by Dodge from 1954 until 1960. It replaced the Dodge B series of trucks and was eventually supplanted by the Dodge D series, introduced in 1961. Unlike the B series, which were closely related to Dodge's prewar trucks, the C series was a complete redesign. Dodge continued the "pilot house" tradition of high-visibility cabs with a wrap-around windshield introduced in 1955. A two-speed "PowerFlite" automatic transmission was newly available that year. The Dodge Town Panel and Town Wagon also used the new design.
| Dodge C series | |
|---|---|
1957 C-100 Sweptside | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation |
| Production | 1954-1960 |
| Assembly | Warren, Michigan, United States Los Angeles, California, United States (until 1955) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size pickup truck |
| Body style | 2-door pickup truck |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 230 cu in (3.8 L) I6 315 cu in (5.2 L) V8 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 331 cu in (5.4 L) V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed automatic 2-speed PowerFlite automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 108 in (2,743 mm) 116 in (2,946 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Dodge B series |
| Successor | Dodge D series |
Chrysler called the Hemi-powered Dodge trucks "Power Giant" in 1957, and introduced power steering and brakes, a three-speed automatic, and a 12-volt electrical system. From 1957 to 1959, Dodge offered the Sweptside pickup, a rival to the Chevrolet Cameo Carrier, but it never became a bestseller. A flat-sided (and thus wider) "Sweptline" cargo box came in 1959. The company also adopted the standard pickup truck numbering scheme, also used by Ford and GM at that time. Thus, the ½ ton Dodge was now called the D100. The traditional separate-fender body "Utiline" version remained available, with a GVWR of up to 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) on 1-ton models.
After an agreement between Dodge and Studebaker, the C-Series' pickup bed also saw use in the Studebaker Champ pickup truck range.