Bought from the original owner’s son, this “rust-free” 1971 Dodge W100 Power Wagon Short Bed has the biggest engine available under the repainted hood: a 383 V8. The 1970 and 1971 models were almost the same for all intents and purposes, with a new four-slot grille. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Sequim, Washington, and they’re asking $18,990. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
I would repaint this truck back to what I’m assuming was originally “white” rather than this two-tone blue and silver. Not that this isn’t a nice color combo and it’s an interesting one. I like how the silver runs across the hood to the top of the door and down the A-pillars, that’s pretty nice. Still, when I open a door or hood and see a different color, that doesn’t work for me. Me, me, me, it’s all about me. Would you keep the truck this color or bring it back to white?
The 1970 and ’71 Dodge D/W-series pickups would be the last of this design before the radical modernization for the 1972 model year. This is a second-generation truck, and they were made for 1965 through 1971. I love this single headlight on each side look, but I know some folks like four headlights. It’s pool or pond for me… (Caddyshack misquote #347). Here’s what the short bed looks like inside. Very nice, as expected on a rust-free truck. Did this truck have bedrails on it at some point? I see some holes there.
Wearing optional vinyl bucket seats, a very nice option that was originally only available in the Adventurer package, these appear to be in like-new condition. Unless they’ve been reupholstered, that’s amazing after over five decades. I’m assuming they’ve been recovered, given the appearance of this detail photo of the side of the driver’s seat. The rest of the interior appears to be in outstanding condition as well. It’s not perfect, but neither are any of us. I couldn’t find a 1971 W100 Power Wagon brochure, but here’s a 1970 brochure showing these same seats on page 3. This truck has an optional LoadFlite three-speed automatic and a single-lever two-speed transfer case, the only shifter on the floor here.
The white interior, door jambs/sills, and engine bay tell me that this was once a regular ol’ white truck. The biggest engine available at this time (the 426 had gone away for trucks by now) was Dodge’s optional 383-cu.in. OHV V8. This one, as you can see, has headers, an electronic ignition, and what the seller says is a new “Eldo” carb, which I’m assuming means Edelbrock, as the air cleaner is an Edelbrock. I’m not sure if this one has optional power steering or not, but this engine was listed as having 330 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque when new, and I’m guessing it has a bit more with the upgrades. Backed by the automatic transmission and transfer case, sending power to all four wheels as needed, they say it runs fine, everything works as it should, and it has a new battery, a new heater core, and newer tires. Despite the certain soon-to-be grumbling about the seller’s asking price, Hagerty is at $15,700 for a #4 fair-condition truck and $23,800 for a #3 good truck. Any thoughts on this W100 Power Wagon?
Nice truck from what it shows in the photos, and a simple one to work on. Wonder what the gear ratios are set up for..
Looks like a good price.
Curvette, you’d be a shoe-in as a vehicle locator if you decided to do that as a side job! Another good find, and another good write up from our Scotty G.🫵🏻👍🏻
You are way too kind, sir, thanks!
Thanks Nevada! Great write up Scotty, I always enjoy your humor and knowledge on these old crocks.
Please forgive me if this is long. First off, I want to second what Nevadahalfrack said, and it is very well put, Curvette, you are like a Bloodhound when it comes to vintage vehicles, the stuff you find and submit is just awsome and thank you very much for all your time you spend hunting stuff down that we all like. If I’m ever looking for something, I seriously need someone like you to help me find something!!!
Scotty, I always enjoy your write ups. The range of vehicles and equipment and motorcycles and sleds and……. Well…. I think you get the picture. Please keep them coming. I like your research and love it when you can hunt down and include period literature, or make a drop top version or a crew cab version of something, you have a talent there sir.
And speaking of the brochure, I really like how Dodge just has pickups in there without any hub caps. Now thats a truck!!! Who needs wimpy hubcaps on a real truck!!!
Now to this Dodge. This is one of my favorite body styles. It has a great line that you could do a nice two tone paint scheme down the side. But I’m thinking Dodge didn’t do that, the only two tone I saw was just the roof painted a different color, but I could be wrong. ( I usually am).
If this truck was white. I like the white paint and blue interior. I would seriously consider going back to white and just painting the roof dark metallic blue. I think that would tie in nicely with the interior. Did anyone see that you could get a half ton with a vinyl top???? I never knew that, but thanks to Scotty posting the brochure, we now know. The 383 I’m sure must’ve been a great engine in their truck series. This one has a lot going for it
Thanks again Scotty, its a great truck, and I hope it goes to a good new home.
-Dave
Good grief!!! That’s longer than a Howard A post!!!!
You wish,,:)
One day Howard. I’ll have a longer post than You!!! It may not be today, or even tomorrow, but one day!! Lol.
Thanks, Dave! I’ve found that the more info I give, the more likelihood there is that I’ll be wrong, so that may be the wrong approach after so many years of trying to track down things like the exact colors or transmission / transfer case info, etc. Just give the basics and move on. I don’t know if my brain will let me do that, though.
I agree about really liking this era of Dodge pickup, and on the two-tone redo. That interior really looks nice in white and blue. There are endless combinations that could be done to match that nice interior blue color with the original white. (I added regular ol’ wheels, too)
I like that Scotty. See how nice that body line lends itself to a two tone paint scheme?
Thanks Driveinstile!
Cool truck, great comments, and a shout out in the brochure for Dodge trucks from.. Don Knotts wow lol. 👌
Who,,,who is grumbling about the price? You know, I wake up thinking, “I’m not going to complain about the prices or what’s featured, stick or automatic”, then I do. Take this particular truck, newsflash Californys, it’s nothing special, although, I’m not sure where the cutoff on price is for something that truly is special. Don’t get me wrong , great trucks, best ever, but not 5 figures, fancy “MSD” ignition or not. It’s a rough riding, rattley door, gas a hoggin’ pickup from the 70s. Try as one might, you can’t change that, and the only thing special about it, is it’s unobtainium in northern climates, $5 grand tops. Looks like another belt there, so probably has P/S, oh boy.
Good write-up SG. I like this Dodge. I like the blue/silver two-tone, but I agree that some sort of white/blue might look better. Grumbling about prices? Of course, that’s what many of us do; just remember, Hagerty has mountains of data to work with.
I grumble about the prices every time I go to the grocery store Bob lol. Many of us remember a time you could get a half way decent less than10 year old daily driver for 1800 Dollars…… Now, it doesn’t even seem you could get a parts car for that amount. As time goes on, this is unfortunately what happens.
-Dave
In the early 80s I had a 72 Dodge 1 ton long bed with a 440 in it. I sure miss that truck!
Nice truck!! Love these trucks. Lots of style!!
Handsome old girl right here. By the time these made it through their styling cycle Dodge finally had a good looking truck on their hands.