- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Mileage: 47,825 Shown
- Chassis #: M6W3ML16631
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 230 Flathead Inline-6
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Few trucks look as purposeful as a classic Power Wagon, and this 1959 Dodge W300M has the kind of history that suits its rugged appearance. Originally sold to Connecticut Light and Power as a fleet truck, it later served a Connecticut dealership as a snow-plow truck before passing through private ownership and ending up with the current owner in 1997. Located in Guilford, Connecticut, this Power Wagon is offered as a Barn Finds Classified with a clean title and an asking price of $42,500.
Power comes from a 230 cubic-inch flathead inline-six paired with a 4-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. The odometer currently shows 47,825 miles, and the seller states that fewer than 3,000 miles have been added during the current owner’s nearly 30 years of ownership. With deep gearing, this truck is not built for highway speed, reportedly topping out around 45 mph, but it was never intended to be a freeway cruiser.
The seller describes the truck as well cared for over the years, receiving regular oil changes despite limited mileage. Recent and past work reportedly includes a rebuilt carburetor, rebuilt fuel pump, replacement gas tank, new cylinder head, rebuilt master cylinder, axle bearings, axle seals, brake shoes, and STA Superlug 9x16LT bias-ply tires. The brake service is noted as in progress and will be completed before the truck goes to its next owner.
One important detail is that the truck’s body was reportedly removed years ago and installed on a rust-free frame after its original frame had suffered from New England winters. Custom running boards were added at that time, along with a Braden PTO winch, which the seller states works as it should.
This Power Wagon still wears its working-truck personality proudly. It presents well from a short distance, but the seller notes dings, scratches, old repairs, patina, and surface rust consistent with nearly 70 years of use. The bed is believed to date back to its Connecticut Light and Power days and is described as an uncommon 1947-style four-post bed.
The interior is functional rather than fancy. The black vinyl bench seat has a tear on the driver’s side, much of the headliner and interior trim is missing, and the heater has been bypassed. However, the gauges, lights, turn signals, brake lights, emergency flashers, individual wipers, and horn are said to work. The driver’s window has a crack and requires patience to roll down due to a damaged track, while the spotlight is not currently connected.
The seller states that the truck starts easily with a little choke and throttle, idles smoothly, shifts correctly, and that the transfer case moves between high and low range. The PTO winch lever reportedly engages as it should. The Mico-Lok was not tested due to the brake work currently underway.
This 1959 W300M Power Wagon isn’t a polished show truck or museum piece, and that’s part of its appeal to me. It has work history, long-term ownership, a rust-free replacement frame, working PTO winch, honest patina, and the kind of mechanical simplicity that makes these trucks so charming. Whether used around a property, taken to local shows, or preserved as a working piece of Connecticut history, this Power Wagon looks ready for a new caretaker who appreciates what it is. The question is, would you drive this beast of a truck?
These always seemed to have a monster winch on the bumper. Great ground clearance, they rescued so many others off road.
my friends power wagon was owned by the telephone company the winch was used to raise telephone poles
I hope to see this go to a great home (and it should as it’s priced rather on the higher side of Power Wagons offered) so it would be doubtful a buyer stepping to the plate at this value, would most likely never use it as it was intended, as prior to the current owner’s care.
I own an M37 B1 of ’63 vintage with far less miles and in much better condition. I have owned it since 1989, painted o-d green with like new o.d. green canvas seats. Same drivetrain, zero rust, and a much more aggressive stance than the civilian duty models. I am indeed looking to obtain a pickup version/civilian duty unit with the shorter box. They are indeed getting quite hard to source and demand very high dollars when found in superb shape (as seldom found).
Love to see these around and every one preserved, deserves it’s place in History. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. (would it not be great to see it go back to it’s original color of the goldenrod yellow? My ’59 D100 long box was originally this yellow and it was noted to be called “Klondike Gold”)
I take that back, 4 things will survive a nuculer blast, Roaches, Unimogs, Twinkies and vintage Power Wagons. It’s the epitome of toughness, I mean, just look at it. Tough! Now, I’m very concerned that in the future, so many of the things we older folks take for granted, may be totally foreign to them. A Micro lock? ( very handy,btw) What the heck is that? Still, for what it is and for the folks that still recognize what it is, a nice find. Don’t particularly care for the bungee cord battery hold down, easily fixed, and while I’ve never actually ridden on a “lumber wagon”, the ride is often compared to one. I think most will be horrified, if they even get it out the drive.
Will we ever see the likes of a vehicle like this again? Not likely, the world is a very different place, but we owe a lot of gratitude to the Power Wagon and the great folks of Warren Mich. that cranked out over 255,000 Power Wagons( ’42-’45) and another 96,000 ’46-’68. Many were blown to smithereens, and many never came back and led peaceful lives in whatever country they were left behind. Salute to the Dodge Power Wagon on this here upcoming 4th of July. Amen.
Howard, A “Micro -Lock ” was the parking brake from hell or an ingenious anti-theft device. It works on your hydraulic braking system. You flip the lever ” OFF” and the vehicle rolls . You flip the lever “ON”, and tap your service / foot brake twice. The device locks your brakes as if you’ve got your foot on the brakes all the way to the floor. When applied, it would actually stall the engine. If you tried really hard with the drive train, you’d do some damage there. The best anti-theft device would be a Saab 900 with a Micro-lock.
They are Mico Brake Locks, no R in there, worked on many back in the day but never trusted them.
It’s interesting to see the differences between this one and the ’67 from yesterday. Where that had a padded dash on the passenger side only and the bed bulkhead and presumably tailgate from the later style Dodge Utiline bed, this ’59 has a “flookerang” on the horn button (and absolutely zero other aspects of the Forward Look!)
Thanks for the great write up Josh.
I’m representing this gnarly piece of history for the owner, an older guy (older than me .. LOL) who’s having a harder and harder time driving it.
Patina’d but very solid, strong running truck.
I have well over 300 photos and a cold start video, idling-walk around vid and a short driving video – just around the lot .. but, I was still able to get it into 4th gear.. LOL
I’ll be keeping an eye on comments, so any questions, please feel free to ask, or hit the contact button above. The price is negotiable.
Thanks!
These are beyond cool but I’ll bet it was a peach to plow snow with.
Again Howard has hit the high spots on this great beast!!!! Micro-Lock, for those of you that have NOT heard of one, It is a parking brake for hydraulic brakes. Push the brake peddle down tight and flip the lever. It holds the brake fluid in the wheel cylinders, and the brakes applied.. In the late 50’s and early 60’s all of our volunteer dept fire trucks had them.. That hole, with the 4 bolt holes around it, in the rear cross member indicates that this truck had a pintle hitch on it at one time.. Probably pulled a pole trailer for CT Light & Power.. The old style where the pole was the tounge? This can be adapted to a Square receiver for a regular trailer hitch. With some TLC this truck will make someone a great workhorse and conversation starter at shows and Cruise In’s..
Hi Brocky, thanks and to Abledriver on what a Micro-Lock was. Us old timers tend to think everyone would know that, but I can just imagine what might go through a younger persons mind. I drove dump trucks( precariously) with juice brakes, and many had a brake lock, and similar to a parking brake, frees up both feet for PTO operations. I had scary rides with dump trucks with juice brakes.
Yes Howard, medium to heavy duty trucks with juice brakes can be veeerrry scary at times!!!!! Your hemorrhoids got very good at grabbing the seat cushion.. I would rather have, and work on, air brakes anytime..
Very decent looking Power Wagon it’s been converted to 12 volt and the box bottom is not original but looks to be a pretty honest old truck!!
Brocky, Howard … I’ve always maintained 5tons w juice brakes, maybe the most dangerous trucks on the road. Hate em, plus no CDL req’d 💁♂️
One wonders how all those creases and dents got hammered into the rear pumpkin ?
Brocky may be quite right about the pulled pole being the tongue to back up to….. and a few misses on exactly how far to back up to it, produced the resounding thud of the lodgepole finding the rear axle.
I will make comment on the comfortable cruising speed these old gurlz seem best to purr at, as that old 230 or 235 cubic inch engine (Canadian trucks got the larger) had a propensity for ‘overspeed condition’ and throw a rod, slide a bearing on the crank someplace it wasn’t to be, and create a knocking sound leading to a new rebuild.
In top gear, preferably with a tailwind on a cool day, running down a dirt road, I never push past 50 mph while in 2 wheel drive mode. And bobtailing, not pulling a trailer or ‘lodgepole’
ooops, just noticed the image I was commenting on is ACTUALLY the front punkin…..not the rear as I first thought I identified.
I should learn to not comment with 2 hours of sleep and no coffee yet