What engine was in 1950 Dodge pickup?
In brief, the 1950 Dodge pickup was powered by a flathead inline-six engine of about 218 cubic inches, delivering roughly 90–95 horsepower. There was no factory V8 option for that particular year.
The 1950 Dodge pickup sits in Dodge’s postwar light-truck lineup, a period when durability and simplicity were the hallmarks of a workhorse chassis. The engine choice reflected that approach: an inline-six with a traditional flathead (side-valve) design, paired with a straightforward carbureted fuel system and a manual transmission. Below are the core specifications and context that defined this powerplant.
Engine family and specifications
The following items summarize the primary technical specs of the 1950 Dodge pickup engine.
- Engine type: Flathead inline-six
- Displacement: 217.8 cubic inches (approximately 3.57 liters)
- Power output: about 92 horsepower
- Torque: around 170 lb-ft
- Valvetrain: side-valve (flathead) design
- Carburetion: single carburetor
- Compression ratio: typical low-compression setup for the era (roughly in the 6.5:1 to 7.0:1 range)
Contextual note: Dodge did not offer a V8 option for its pickups in the 1950 model year. The V8 introductions for Dodge trucks came in the early 1950s with broader Chrysler era developments, but not for the 1950 pickup line.
Design and performance context
The flathead inline-six was chosen for its durability, ease of maintenance, and favorable low-end torque—traits valuable for a work-oriented light truck. While horsepower figures by modern standards seem modest, the engine was well-suited to hauling payloads and navigating postwar roads, and it kept maintenance straightforward for owners and mechanics of the era.
Additional context and implications
For enthusiasts and restorers, the 1950 Dodge pickup engine is emblematic of Dodge’s approach to trucks at the time: a robust, simple powerplant designed to keep vehicles reliable under load. While later Dodge trucks would move toward V8 options and more modern overhead-valve designs, the 1950 inline-six flathead remains a classic example of the postwar Dodge workhorse ethos.
Summary
The 1950 Dodge pickup relied on a flathead inline-six engine of approximately 217.8 cubic inches, producing around 92 horsepower and about 170 lb-ft of torque. It represents Dodge’s durable, straightforward engineering of the era, with no V8 option available for that model year.
