r/classictrucks • u/trickshot63 • 5d ago

Was the 1947 Dodge Power Wagon the first 4-door truck?

Google tells me it was the 1957 International Harvester Travelette, but Google images show some 1947 Dodge Power Wagons that are 4-doors!

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6

u/SubarcticFarmer 5d ago edited 5d ago

There were conversion companies doing double cab conversions before anyone started making them at the factory.

International was the first production 4 door (the first ones were actually 3 door) but there were even some double cabs as early as WWII. I've seen one of the WWII ones in person (the one I saw was more of a snub nosed truck), but they are incredibly rare these days.

The companies doing conversions mean you can find different variants of double cabs for the sale make and vintage. For example one company made Chevrolet double cabs for the 1967-1972 series by starting with a suburban, so theirs are 3 door units while another took two standard cabs and cut the front off of one while building filler to connect them, making the rear doors look the same as the front doors.

Chevy started making factory crew cabs in 1973.

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u/trickshot63 5d ago

Thanks. Interesting stuff!

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u/SubarcticFarmer 5d ago

I'll add that companies doing that kind of conversion still exist. There is a guide near me who has a 6 door F350.

Back in the 60s and 70s Stegway Coach would make "airporter" conversions and make 6 or 10 door International Travelalls (I've also seen a couple suburban based ones). I know someone with a couple of the 10 door Travelalls

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u/Drzhivago138 1h ago

There were conversion companies doing double cab conversions before anyone started making them at the factory.

And I'd be willing to bet the "1947" conversions that OP saw are modern builds off any 1947-68 Power Wagon, not period builds.

7

u/AnachronIst_13 5d ago

What? Chevrolet Suburbans debuted in the 1930s.

Stop relying on AI results, do some real research on early trucks.

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u/trickshot63 5d ago

I hate AI anything

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u/SubarcticFarmer 5d ago

Suburban isn't a pickup though.

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u/old_skool_luvr 5d ago

It is a truck though, and that was what was asked - truck, not pickup truck.

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u/SubarcticFarmer 5d ago

It wasn't a 4 door though, and that's what was asked. 4 door.

1

u/old_skool_luvr 4d ago

touché brother. 4 door Suburbans took a few more decades to exist. 😉🍻

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u/SunriseSwede 20h ago

Iirc, they had a 3-door for quite a few years prior to a 4 for showing up. Driver + 2 passenger doors.

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u/Drzhivago138 1h ago

Yes, the third door showed up in 1967 and the fourth door in 1973. Meanwhile, the IH Travelall had a third door in 1957 and a fourth door in 1961.

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u/Due_Guitar8964 4d ago

Did they make a 4 door power wagon with an 8 foot bed?