Napco Four Wheel Drive Vehicles

In a partnership with Sherman Products Inc., NAPCO also produced a Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Assist kit for Ford 600 and 800 series tractors in the mid-1950s.

Of the Big Three USA automakers, only Dodge responded quickly to the demand, introducing the first civilian production 4x4 truck with their military-type WW2 proven medium-duty Power Wagon in 1946.

As early as 1947, NAPCO began manufacturing an aftermarket 4x4 Conversion Kit they named Powr-Pak, that could be bolted onto any truck chassis equipped with Hotchkiss drive.

[5] The transfer case was a Spicer unit with optional Dual-Range Hi-Lo, but the rest of the Powr-pak kit (85%) consisted of readily available Chevrolet parts (wheels, drum brake assembly, front axle, leaf springs, shock absorbers, driveshafts and universal joints).

In addition to manufacturing, the company began tracking availability of blue prints, vendors, and prices of all the equipment requested by its worldwide customers.

GM redesigned their truck line mid-year in 1955, and soon offered the Powr-Pak as a factory-installed option; this reduced the purchase price and increased the number of sales by the dealerships.

GM redesigned their truck line again in 1960, this time with an Independent Front Suspension (IFS) that wasn't compatible with the existing Powr-Pak kits.

Eventually, NAPCO sold the rights to their 4x4 business to Dana, a manufacturer of transfer cases and Spicer brand driveline components.