Dodge Cars and Production Numbers, US
by Gerard Wilson
For details on production records and how these numbers were calculated, see the first article in this series, "Plymouth U.S. Production Figures 1946-2001." These tables are not definitive or fully accurate. They are the best I could do with the information which I was able to uncover. I would welcome correspondence with anyone who is interested in this material and can correct any errors or misinformation on my part.
- Gerard Wilson, June 2013
Editor's note: totals are for models or model groupings by generation, so they span individual charts in some cases (so we can have reasonably sized tables). Wheelbases are metric; for English measurements (inches and such), see other series at Allpar.
1946 to 1948: The first postwar Dodges
The postwar cars were largely unchanged from prewar cars, as was the case at all major domestic automakers.
| 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | total |
---|
D25 Deluxe, Special Deluxe | 4,455 | 6,063 | 7,512 | 18,030 |
---|
D24 Deluxe, Custom | 155,669 | 230,537 | 251,874 | 630,08 |
---|
D24 Custom 7 passenger | 886 | 1,313 | 1,434 | 3,633 |
---|
| 160,124 | 237,913 | 260,820 | |
---|
The
D25 Deluxe and Special Deluxe were Plymouth P15 cars with a reduced-to-fit Dodge grille and badges. They were built in the U.S. for sale in Canada and for export. Model year totals are serial numbers, less chassis.
D24 Deluxe and Custom are annual model year totals, less chassis, and adjusted to equate the production total over 1946-1948 to that reported by Chrysler: 649,697 completed cars built in the U.S. and Canada, with 651,054 serial numbers for both countries. Entries are in italics because, there are no annual breakouts allocating standard and extended wheelbase models by countries and by year in the original data.
The seven-passenger sedan was built on a 3.5 meter wheelbase, vs around 3 meters for the other body styles. The allocation used is proportional to the annual D24 production total in each country and the body style totals for 1946-1948, which aggregate Canadian and U.S. production.
1949 to 1954 Dodge cars
Seven-passenger Dodge Coronet sedans (D30, 1949; D34, 1950; D42, 1951) were completely redesigned for 1949-1951 along with the rest of the line. For 1949, it is not included in the body style production totals released by Dodge, but I assume production to be the difference between the Dodge production totals and the serial number totals, U.S. and Canada - 1,150 units, a reasonable number. That total, and reported totals for 1950 and 1951, are apportioned between the U.S. and Canada. The seven-passenger for 1951 was the last built by Dodge.
Short-wheelbase export/Canada Dodges (D31 Deluxe, 1949; D35 Deluxe, 1950; and D39
Kingsway, 1950-1951) were equivalent to the Plymouth P17, P19, and P22, built on the 2.8 meter wheelbase. Totals for 1949 and 1950 are serial number totals, but no information is available for 1951-1952, as production and serial numbers were included with Plymouth.
Other export/Canada Dodges (D32 Deluxe, Special Deluxe, 1949; D36 Deluxe, Special Deluxe, 1950; D40 Crusader, Regent, 1951-1952) were the larger three-meter wheelbase Dodges, equivalent to the Plymouth P18/P20/P23 except for badges and front grille. Totals for 1949-1950 are serial number totals, but no information is available for 1951-1952 as production and serial numbers are included with Plymouth.
D29, D33, D41 Wayfarer, 1949-1952. GM, Ford, and Chrysler had considered compact cars during this period, but only Chrysler took the half-step with the smaller Plymouths and Dodge Wayfarer for 1949-1952. The Wayfarer was available as a three passenger coupe, two door sedan, or roadster, on a 2.9 meter wheelbase: lighter, smaller, and less expensive than the other Dodges. Totals shown are from serial number totals.
Meadowbrook and Coronet (D30, 1949; D34, 1950; D42, 1951-1952) were "larger on the inside, smaller on the outside," along with the rest of the company's products for 1949-1952. The idea was to maximize passenger accomodation, and minimize weight and bulk, with little consideration of aesthetics. They were built on a 3.1 meter wheelbase. Table totals are compiled from U.S. serial numbers, and annual production by body style (which aggregates Canadian and U.S. production). Entries for 1949-1951 are in italics because actual production by body style in each country are proportionate estimates.
D44/D46
Meadowbrook, Coronet club sedan, sedan, 1953 ; D50/D51 Meadowbrook, Coronet,
Royal club sedan,
Sierra wagon, 1954: Dodge was redesigned, downsized and divided into two car lines for 1953-1954. A "
Red Ram" V8 (later dubbed "Hemi") was offered for the first time. The larger three meter wheelbase was used for four door models, except for the Plymouth based export Dodges described below. The D44/D46/D50/D51 totals are U.S. serial numbers. The serial number totals are 9,402 units below the model year total for 1953, while the following year they exceed the model year total by 9,457 units. Sources of both are Chrysler internal information.
| 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | total |
---|
D30 Coronet 7 pass. sedan | 744 | | | | |
---|
D34 Coronet 7 pass. sedan | | 1,285 | | | |
---|
D42 Coronet 7 pass. sedan | | | 1,135 | | 3,164 |
---|
| | | | | |
---|
D31 Deluxe | 568 | | | | |
---|
D35 Deluxe | | 2,084 | | | |
---|
D39 Kingsway | | | n/a | n/a | |
---|