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Camo Power: 1957 Dodge Power Wagon

031016 Barn Finds - 1957 Dodge Powerwagon 1

This 1957 Dodge W100 Power Wagon found here on Autotrader Classics is located in Welches, Oregon and it looks like it’s in nice shape, but it will need a little work. This is one tough looking truck. The owner is asking $6,500 and says that he is getting older and doesn’t have the energy to restore it but is hoping that the new owner will.

031016 Barn Finds - 1957 Dodge Powerwagon 3

The body looks good on this truck but the owner says that it’ll need a little rust repair. It comes with a few spare parts and is said to run well. It looks like it would go anywhere, just not at a fast pace.

031016 Barn Finds - 1957 Dodge Powerwagon 6

Most of the truck looks good, such as in this picture of the front. The front end bodywork almost looks like it’s just been restored.

031016 Barn Finds - 1957 Dodge Powerwagon 5

But, there are a few areas that need some welding and hammering. Or, you could just leave it as is if you’re not worried about it being a trailer queen. These trucks were never meant for show duty, they were meant for heavy-duty work, and they were very good at being tough as nails.

031016 Barn Finds - 1957 Dodge Powerwagon 2

The 318 V8 has been rebuilt and is said to run well. Welches, Oregon is in the Mt. Hood area and I can’t imagine a better truck for getting around in the woods there. But, as you can imagine, they also get a bit of precipitation there (87 inches of rain and 269 inches of snow!) and this truck is bound to have some pesky rust lurking under the surface. If you like this truck as much as I do, it would be a labor of love to bring it back to its former glory. It wouldn’t take much work from the look of the photos. Would you restore this Power Wagon or leave it as is?

 

Comments

  1. Avatar grant

    Keep in mind that it’s absolutely pouring out here right now, this truck is wet and not this shiny.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar boxdin

    Lassie would never recognize her master w the camo. Poor Timmy would run.

    Like 1
    • Avatar L.M.K.

      Ha ha……Yes they’d both be traumatized for life……

      Like 1
  3. Avatar bluzemn1

    please help unsubscribe how do I do it ?

    Like 0
  4. Avatar JW

    I like it, do whatever maintenance needed and drive it to Lowe’s, Home Depot and your local cruise night. Nothing fancy so door dings don’t matter.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Dolphin Member

    I like the truck, altho not the paint. It might be the H.D. wheels and tires, but it looks like it could have been a military vehicle back when new. Did the Army use these for grunt work around bases? That lowly 318 would be OK for that but not so good for serious trekking across terrain fully loaded.

    Looks like it would be 4-WD but the seller doesn’t say that….only that it comes with a spare transfer case, which would mean 4-WD.

    Like 0
    • Avatar DrinkinGasoline

      The U.S. Military used Power Wagons in numerous configurations for many, many years (W100, M37,etc). Those are the factory wheels for the W100 for both civilian and military spec. The “C” series used the five lug rims.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Hide Behind

      Looks to me as if it is original wide block 318, and that motor has more grunt than the newer 318.
      Gearing had a lot to do with where these could go, but the suspensions were rugged as well.
      Found very few hills where power was insuffecient, just hit em full bore on bottom, 45-55 mph max in 4×4 and shift to keep in power band.
      Still a few 4brl intakes can and headers around.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Donnie

    the 318 A is a lot stronger then the flat 6 that a lot had

    Like 0
  7. Avatar grenade

    That’s a good one. Bring that up to the north coast and it’s worth more than 6500. I’d buy it, tear it down and strip it to bare metal. Repaint it with a semi matte color and put in a modern Hemi driveline. Seriously, those Power Wagons are banging big money right now. The emblems? If they’re decent they are worth 2-400 for the pair.

    I’m doing a Hemi 4×4 chassis swap on an International pickup right now because I couldn’t find a Power Wagon as clean as this one, without spending 10-16K.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Doug Towsley

    Lots of rain and snow doesnt mean lots of rust, Up until recently we DO NOT use salt, although they do now as a cost cutting measure in a few areas but you wont see it on Mt Hood. Rain and snow in the mid west and east coast means something different.
    Theres no lack of former govt vehicles and industrial applications so could have came from any number of sources. IE: utility district, logging Co, etc. Our water district in Corbett Oregon had an old scout that was used for decades to check and service remote areas. I live near Welches, great little Mt Community and this truck would fit right in. One thing to ALWAYS look at in a possible govt or utility service vehicle is MOST times when ordered they get all the extra heavy duty components. For example I bought an old mail truck that had a ford 9″ rear diff. Checking the tag it had 3 series Detroit Locker. (WooHoo!). I paid $500 for the truck which was worth it just for the rear end (Swapped it out and kept it, eventually sold the mail truck). So, while this truck is a beast, Ill bet if it saw previous service. It could very well have some extra nice parts underneath worth checking if you know what to look for.
    IE: Differential. Oversized brakes, heavy duty drive shaft, HD gear set and trans, Suspension, etc etc..

    Like 0
  9. Avatar stillrunners

    A driver with most original parts ? At $6500 that would be a good Power Wagon buy….

    Like 0
  10. Avatar PilotMike

    “W” denotes 4wd. “D” is 2wd. These either came with a 315, yes 315 V8 or a 6 cylinder.
    The data plate would show which engine this originally came with. Super rare truck.

    Only 131 -6 cylinder and 427 8 cylinder built in 1957.

    Like 0

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