The Dodge family of light trucks had been a vital component in WWII, but changes in the battlefield and automotive technology had put them behind the current and projected technology curve. Chrysler began work on a replacement for the WWII W-series trucks in July of 1944, by most published reports, with a rig called the T233. The rear had steering pivots like the front , so it could have been made into a four-wheel steer, but both the prototypes had the rear wheels locked into the straight-ahead position. It isn’t known which axle universals were used, but Rzeppas are a safe bet.

Chrysler XM410E1, 8x8, 1960 .This series of experimental truck prototypes were produced in the late 1950s by Chrysler as part of the replacement program for the Deuce & half trucks. The entire body structure of these vehicles was made of riveted Aluminum panels on a steel frame. Even the wheel rims were aluminum and shared the same large 5 lug boit pattern as the Power Wagons and M-37s.

When the Army put out bids for a replacement for new highly mobile military wheeled vehicles (HMMWV, or “Humvees”), Chrysler was one of the bidders. Starting in the 1940s , Chrysler President K.T. Keller had devoted enormous resources to defense and other government projects. This set the stage for Chrysler’s mid-1980s HMMWV “Humvee” proposal. Despite the company’s experience in military work and past all-terrain work, the new prototype was not competitive; too much had been lost with the experienced engineers who had retired or been re-assigned. The project was passed at the end of the day (General Dynamics) . (In 1982 Chrysler announced the sale of Chrysler Defense, its profitable defense subsidiary, to General Dynamics .)