Mattel continues to show
its affinity for Dodge and Chrysler concept vehicles with the release of the Dodge
Power Wagon.
This Dodge concept truck bears a slight resemblance to its 1946 namesake. But while
the original Power Wagon was rugged and simple, the concept is a luxury vehicle that also
can perform in the workhorse role. The 7.2-liter direct-injection I-6 turbocharged
diesel engine generates an impressive 780 pounds-feet of torque. The interior features
European ash wood lining the truck box and cab floor behind the cognac and granite-colored
distressed leather seats, as well as stainless steel shift levers and door handles.
The vehicle rides on 35-inch tires and stands at six feet five inches in height, a full three
inches taller than the largest Dodge Ram.
The Hot Wheels model captures the overall flavor of the concept vehicle. The die-cast
body contains all the proper details, although the surface relief could be greater in the hood
side vents. It is painted a prototypically correct silver metallic, and tamped with
"Power Wagon" markings on the primary doors. The door lines are present for the primary
doors, but absent for the rear half-doors. The chassis/bumpers section is plastic and
contains good detail on the underbody. It is molded in gray to simulate the raw steel
bumpers on the real truck, albeit unconvincingly. The trademark crosshair grill also is
part of this component. The interior/torneau cover piece is black plastic. There is
interior detail, but it is nearly obscured by the smoke tinted plastic cab glass, which features
no open windows to look through. The Hot Wheels logo is molded into the rear of the torneau
cover, alleviating the need for the signature tampo. Unfortunately, the separate headlights
appear to be part of the black plastic part instead of the tinted glass part. Manufactured
in Malaysia, the truck rides on saw-blade construction type tires.
After seeing advance pictures on the web, my expectations were higher for this model.
While the overall look is good, there are many disappointments. To start, there is way too
much float on the wheels, causing the truck to rock and rattle when in motion. It would have
been nice to either have clear windows, an open window or a light-colored interior so the detail
could be seen. And, will we ever see another model with an operating torneau cover, or is
that a relic of the past along with Spectraflame paint and redline tires? The Dodge Power
Wagon looks okay, as long as it's standing still and you don't look too closely.
This Dodge concept truck bears a slight resemblance to its 1946 namesake. But while
the original Power Wagon was rugged and simple, the concept is a luxury vehicle that also
can perform in the workhorse role. The 7.2-liter direct-injection I-6 turbocharged
diesel engine generates an impressive 780 pounds-feet of torque. The interior features
European ash wood lining the truck box and cab floor behind the cognac and granite-colored
distressed leather seats, as well as stainless steel shift levers and door handles.
The vehicle rides on 35-inch tires and stands at six feet five inches in height, a full three
inches taller than the largest Dodge Ram.
The Hot Wheels model captures the overall flavor of the concept vehicle. The die-cast
body contains all the proper details, although the surface relief could be greater in the hood
side vents. It is painted a prototypically correct silver metallic, and tamped with
"Power Wagon" markings on the primary doors. The door lines are present for the primary
doors, but absent for the rear half-doors. The chassis/bumpers section is plastic and
contains good detail on the underbody. It is molded in gray to simulate the raw steel
bumpers on the real truck, albeit unconvincingly. The trademark crosshair grill also is
part of this component. The interior/torneau cover piece is black plastic. There is
interior detail, but it is nearly obscured by the smoke tinted plastic cab glass, which features
no open windows to look through. The Hot Wheels logo is molded into the rear of the torneau
cover, alleviating the need for the signature tampo. Unfortunately, the separate headlights
appear to be part of the black plastic part instead of the tinted glass part. Manufactured
in Malaysia, the truck rides on saw-blade construction type tires.
After seeing advance pictures on the web, my expectations were higher for this model.
While the overall look is good, there are many disappointments. To start, there is way too
much float on the wheels, causing the truck to rock and rattle when in motion. It would have
been nice to either have clear windows, an open window or a light-colored interior so the detail
could be seen. And, will we ever see another model with an operating torneau cover, or is
that a relic of the past along with Spectraflame paint and redline tires? The Dodge Power
Wagon looks okay, as long as it's standing still and you don't look too closely.
