<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 24, 1997                          /s/ Dr. Eckhard Cordes
                                                -------------------------
                                                Dr. Eckhard Cordes




                                      73
<PAGE>   2
                                                                   EXHIBIT 25.1

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 21, 1997                                   /s/ John E. Doddridge
                                                         ______________________
                                                         John E. Doddridge






                                      74
<PAGE>   3
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 24, 1997                                    /s/ William E. Hoglund
                                                          ______________________
                                                          William E. Hoglund






                                      75
<PAGE>   4
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 24, 1997                                        /s/ Gary G. Jacobs
                                                              __________________
                                                              Gary G. Jacobs





                                      76
<PAGE>   5
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 24, 1997                                      /s/ Dr. Kurt J. Lauk
                                                            ____________________
                                                            Dr. Kurt J. Lauk





                                      77
<PAGE>   6
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 22, 1997                                       /s/ Joseph F. Welch
                                                             ___________________
                                                             Joseph F. Welch





                                      78
<PAGE>   7
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints J. Randall Lawrence and John F. Farmer, and each of them, his attorney
to do any and all acts which said attorney may deem necessary or advisable to
enable Detroit Diesel Corporation (the "Company") to comply with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in
connection with the filing under the Act of the Company's annual report for the
year ended December 31, 1996, including, but not limited to, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on the behalf of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities in which the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate,
an annual report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and generally to do
and perform all things necessary to be done in the premises as fully and
effectually in all respects as the undersigned could do if personally present.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby executes this power of attorney
as of the date set forth below.




Dated:  March 23, 1997                              /s/ R. Jamison Williams, Jr.
                                                    ____________________________
                                                    R. Jamison Williams, Jr.





                                      79