Dodge 50 Series
| Dodge 50 Series | |
|---|---|
 1980 Dodge 50 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Europe Renault Trucks |
| Also called | Renault 50 series |
| Production | 1979–1993 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | |
| Related | Dodge B series |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.0 LPerkinsPhaserI4(diesel) 2.2 LJ7TI4 (petrol) 3.9 LPerkins 4.236 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Dodge Spacevan[1] Dodge Walk-Thru |
| Successor | Renault B series[2] |
TheDodge 50 Series,later known as theRenault 50 Series,were light commercial vehicles produced in theUKbyChrysler Europeand laterRenault Véhicules Industrielsbetween 1979 and 1993 as a replacement for the earlierDodge Walk-Thrustepvanand smallerDodge Spacevancab-overvan.The Dodge 50 series utilized the same cab as the AmericanDodge B seriesvans, however in a modified state catered for European regulations. The chassis however was British-designed and had no parts shared with the American van, being significantly bigger.[3]
The 50 series included a wide range of chassis and body configurations, including two distinctly different cab designs, and spanned the 3,500–7,500 kg (7,700–16,500 lb) revenue weight range. Various engines were offered, including thePerkinsPhaser and4.236.[4]
TheRB44,afour-wheel-driveversion based loosely on the Dodge van, was built by Reynolds Boughton (now known asBoughton Engineering) in the early 1990s.
Versions
[edit]Bodybuilding companies converted many into various configurations from tipper trucks to buses. Many were built as "chassis cabs" to have box bodies fitted; these were widely used by utility companies in the UK. They often came fitted with compressors and generators. Gradually this kind of vehicle fell out of favour, partly due to reliability issues relating to combining plant equipment with the vehicle drivetrain. The vehicle is otherwise toughly built. The utility companies today favour smaller vans with towed generators. The four-wheel-drive version saw some use with theBritish armysince it was one of very few British-built trucks of the class, and it could carry considerably more cargo and equipment than even the largestLand Rovermodels.
Chrysler received financial assistance from theBritish Governmentwhich was desperate to support the ailingBritish motor industry.However, having inherited various struggling car and commercial vehicle marques (and factories) from theRootes Group,notably the commercial marquesCommerandKarrier,in addition to various French concerns, Chrysler Europe struggled to return a profit. In 1978, Chrysler pulled out of their European operations altogether, selling them toPeugeot.The cars and small vans were subsequently sold under theTalbotbrand.
Peugeot takeover
[edit]Peugeot had little interest in larger commercial vehicles and the factory for the heavier models was run in partnership with Renault Véhicules Industriels, who sought a UK production site for engines for their existing Renault-branded models. They continued to manufacture the 50 Series, along with the small Dodge (formerlyCommer) Spacevan, and the largeDodge 100 / Commando 2 Seriesof 7,500–23,000 kg (16,500–50,700 lb) trucks. The transition to Renault branding was gradual, with some vehicles bearing both a Dodge name and a Renault diamond badge.
Renault 50
[edit]By 1987, the 50 Series had been updated and was badged as the Renault 50 Series; the UK incarnation of the Dodge marque ceased to be used for new vehicles. (Chrysler maintained an entirely separateDodgebrand in the U.S., and in 2006 began re-introducing Dodge car models from the USA into the UK market.) Renault continued to manufacture the 50 Series until 1993, but it was never a great sales success, even being forced to compete with other Renault products, in the form of theMastervan, which Renault favoured in its export markets.
In 1994, Renault — keen to clear the factory for large-scale engine production — sold the production tooling to a Chinese manufacturer.[5]
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]
- Rootes-Chrysler resource site - page about Spacevan and others
- Specialised Dodge 50 website with manuals, image gallery, forum, and more.
- Reynolds Boughton RB44 details
- Boughton Engineering official site
- A Dodge/Renault 50 used in Malta
References
[edit]- ^"Dodge Spacevan / Telecom Van (Fargo F-series, Dodge K-series, Commer PA and PB vans)".Allpar.
Fortunately, those who needed chassis cabs could get a new Dodge 50, well into the 1980s, -even if they wanted it to be electrically powered.
- ^"RTI expands its Midliners..."Commercial Motor.22 February 1990.Retrieved13 July2022.
At the end of the year, RTI will start bringing in selected versions of the Renault B range, which features the Master cab. The B range will not, immediately replace the 50 Series; but instead will be sold in parallel, with the B Series gradually taking over in the retail market sector.
- ^"Dodge 50 / Renault 50 trucks and vans of the UK".Retrieved8 September2021.
- ^"Index for 4.236 Perkins Engine Fuel system".Dodge50.co.uk.
- ^"Turnkey Transfer of Renault Dodge 50 Series Production Line".China Ventures Ltd. Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2020.Retrieved26 July2020.
