Old trucks are infinitely cool; old four-wheel-drive trucks, even more so. The thing is, they don’t pop up all that often, and while there’s no denying the appeal of a rear-wheel-drive short-bed pickup with a small block up front, we also dig the high-riding models like this 1960 Dodge Power Wagon. The seller claims it is one of just 262 196o Power Wagons with the 116″ wheelbase and despite looking fairly tired in pictures, it seems like a good basis for a project that will need some key parts tracked down before it’s a driver. Find the Dodge here on eBay where bidding is at $6,500 with no reserve.
The Power Wagon is a name that has withstood the test of time, and has thankfully never been used to describe a warmed-over two-wheel-drive model. You think of popular Mopar models like the Charger and how the name was used on increasingly underpowered vehicles, and it almost seems like it’s inevitable that a brute like the Power Wagon would end up in the same category. Thankfully, the model name has been held sacred to some extent, and only applied to the brashest full-size pickup truck in Dodge’s lineup. Of course, given its origins as a military rig, you can imagine the uproar if a puny 2WD got the moniker.
The bench seat is missing, along with the tailgate and the radiator. The good news is with the seat gone, we can see this Power Wagon remains quite solid inside with no major damage to the floors noted. The truck is equipped with a non-running 318, four-speed manual, and 4:10 Spicer gears with lock-out hubs. The interior looks largely un-messed with, aside from the obvious deletion of the bench seat. The door panels appear salvageable, and the dash doesn’t appear to have ever been modified, with the cluster retaining original gauges. You’ll have to hunt down an OEM shift knob, however.
As you can see in the photo above, the seller does have the air cleaner for the truck; that said, it’s not going to help it magically start to run again. A 318 is pretty hard to kill, so I’d wager as long as it’s not stuck beyond reasonable means of revival, this engine will fire again with some love. The missing radiator likely means the truck was parked and another truck had a need for a good radiator, so off it went. The seller says there is some rust on this West Virginia specimen but that it’s pretty solid, all things considered. Hopefully, that inspires someone to restore this 4WD sweetheart.
Looks like it has a Ford bed on it.
I was in Lewisburg about a week ago.
There’s a really cool collector car dealer
just out of town called Greenbrier Classic Cars.
They also host a local Cars & Coffee event.
Yup Ford bed ,59ish
I don’t know why I even bother, clearly my views are gaining the attention of the staff, but no way. You couldn’t convince me for a second this POS is worth $6500 and there are no bids. In the real world, $6500 wouldn’t buy a nice one, in the REAL world that is, where ever THAT went,,,
I try to be optimistic about all vehicles like this- and I really like this generation of Dodge pickups- But- incorrect bed, no tailgate, non-running, no radiator, no seat..no title… Its frustrating to see $6500 associated with it
One too many zeros on the end of that price. 318’s are good but a non-running engine is still a not functional power plant. Need to put an eye balls on it for a fair evaluation to buy. GLWTS.
Having just parted with my 40 plus year collection of PowerWagons including two 1960’s,I would like to make a couple of comments. First off the box is a Dodge Sweptline box. It was new for 1959 but only offered on the D series trucks.1960 it was available on both D and W series and it was also the last year that Dodge used that box. The following year they sold the dies to Studebaker and they ( Studebaker) used it until they got out of the pick-up market. Also, the tailgate on the one listed here is in the back of the box(it will need to be repaired) so that’s one less thing to have to acquire. As for the price, while it might seem high to some people, I ask, where will you find another one? This truck has a lot going for it. Someone was willing to spend quite a bit extra when they purchased this truck because almost everything was an option such as the arm rests ,sun visors the 318, the power steering, the Sweptline box. Whoever owned this truck seems to have taken care of it. If my Iowa and Wisconsin trucks had looked this god to start with it would have saved me years of searching for parts. And for those who have never seen one up close or have and would like to see more of them, you should plan a trip to Fairfield Ia. for the annual PowerWagon rally in june. It’s a great place to see PowerWagons of all types ,meet some great people and have the best pork chops you,ve ever had. For more info on that go to Vintage PowerWagons for the details.
Thank you for a proper correction regarding this PowerWagon, I really wish people would pay more attention to details before Rambling.
“NO SOUP FOR THEM!!”
Gunnar, that is definitely a Ford bed on that Dodge. They are very similar but there are minor differences. The wheel opening is different and the rear of the bed sides is different. Search the net for pics of Fords and Dodges and look closely.
That is a gorgeous truck and because I’m officially old I remember seeing these Dodge pick-ups on Lassie when I was a kid
Russ, you are correct about the box. After your post I went on the computer (21″ screen) and found out that my lyin’ eyes are gonna make me eat some crow. I originally saw the listing on my phone and didn’t look as close as I should have. Good luck finding a sweptline box for this, although it might not have had one originally. It’s still a pretty solid truck to start with. And as for the price, you can ask any amount you want, but it’s only worth what someone is willing to pay. In between those two is the dance called negotiations. I have met plenty of people in my past that find that as much a part of a factor in the sale as the price. I would also like to remark that you must be quite a Dodge fan because not many others would have known the difference. I’ve also had many compare the International boxes which are also quite similar.
If the beds are that close on the Fords and Dodges of that vintage who gives a rats ass on minor differences? It has been on that truck a long time and it should stay on it. I would have a good tinman fab up some removable fender flares to match the front fenders and bolt them on to “even up” the front to rear fenders a solid truck and imho worthy of a full rebuild. I have a 70 Dodge 1/2 ton and a lot 70 International 1/2 ton but know little about that vintage truck but would add it to mine in a heart beat at that price if I had the cash.
If you look closely at the cab it’s not bad at all compared to most others of that year, so restoring it wouldn’t be difficult. Any time I see a pickup truck with a wrong bed it just looks wrong so I would definitely loose that bed and replace it with a correct one. You actually don’t know if the truck originally had a wide bed or a step side style bed, so it cold be put back either way and still be all Dodge. I believe Dodge used the same style narrow bed for many years so those would be easier to find. The price does seem a little high to me but it’s a rare truck so I hope someone gets it who will appreciate it.