The Chrysler Expanded Mobility Truck

by Guest Columnist the Mysterious Carmine F.
(t3176@flash.net)
Chrysler Corporation's major defense business began in earnest during World War II. Its best-known military goods were tanks, but Chrysler also built generators, air-raid sirens, gyro-compasses, and of course, Dodge Power Wagons. One fact downplayed today is Chrysler's major involvement (by way of engineering talent) with the Manhattan Project.

Sometime during the Seventies, the U.S. Army decided to replace the World War II era Jeep (TM). Naturally, Chrysler designed a proposal. It was called the EMT, which stood for Expanded Mobility Truck. At the same time, the truck/van/SUV craze was just get ting started. The Dodge Ramcharger was a hot seller, and Chrysler thought it could help itself by selling a civilian, commercial version of the EMT for the growing "off-road" market. It is this civilian version of the EMT proposal shown here.

Unfortunately, neither the military nor commercial EMT ever happened. Supposedly the military EMT did quite well in testing. In fact it was in many ways superior to rival AM General's "Humvee." One story has it that you could shoot the EMT's air-cooled di esel at point blank range with a .45 without stopping it. The lack of front overhang also made it a great climber. However, government contracts sometimes are awarded for seemingly mysterious reasons, and AM General won the Jeep (TM) replacement contract.

Theoretically, some doubted Chrysler's long term ability to build the EMT. Chrysler also already had the XM1 tank project, and AM General was near bankruptcy. Perhaps the decision was made to save jobs there.

Officially, Chrysler lost the contract because the EMT lacked an independent rear suspension, even though it had not proved a problem in testing.

With the military EMT dead, so was the civilian version, and the corporation was soon to lose its defense division altogether.

For decades, Chrysler's defense business had been profitable. However, no matter how well the defense division did, it was not enough to compensate for the huge losses taken by the automotive side in the late Seventies. One of the conditions for the Feder al loan guarantee rescue of the early Eighties was that Chrysler raise as much cash as possible by selling anything not directly related to auto making. Consequently, the defense division was sold to General Dynamics around 1982.

The plans for the EMT remain as an opportunity missed.

Had it been built, the EMT would have been unique in the Chrysler line-up. Only the taillights and tailgate were shared with a production vehicle, the Ramcharger. No doubt that the military EMT would have inspired a variety of body styles, 4-door, wagon, truck, etc. Who knows, the EMT could have made Chrysler an early leader in the sport utility vehicle market.

See the mechanics and specifications of the EMT in detail.

Article owned and copyright by Carmine F., 1998.
EMT images and data pulled from an undated, photo-copied Chrysler Corporation proposal brochure.