What the 1972 to 1980 Dodge pickups lacked in styling was made up by the paint schemes of the Macho Power Wagons. These trucks are easy to spot for their “macho” good looks. If you consider yourself to be pretty macho, then maybe this is the truck for you. Found here on eBay in Modesto, California, this one looks to be a decent project.
With the rough exterior, it was surprising to see how nice this interior looks. This, of course, is an angle from the lesser used side of the interior and isn’t the clearest picture. This means that the interior may look much different in person. Nonetheless, it still appears to be a good starting point.
Rust repair isn’t for the faint of heart and this Macho Power Wagon has its fair share. Thankfully, it looks like sheet metal is available for these trucks. I’m a big fan of these standout paint schemes and thankfully the graphics are available for these trucks as well. The aftermarket wheels should definitely go in favor of a set of original style wagon wheels.
For those interested in having a little more power, this truck sports a 440 big block. That would certainly provide a little more oomph than the original powertrain. Lots of detail is given about previous ownership in the listing, which might be a great selling point for some. With a Buy It Now price of $7,000, are you macho enough to take on a project like this?
Just saw this truck, and all I could think of was Simon & Simon as their theme
song pops into my head. Like the truck.
Would put it back on the road after making some needed repairs. Haven’t
seen one of these in my town since I’ve
lived here so this truck would be the first
one of its kind here in Florida. Oh Rick,
AJ, where are you?
Loved that show!
I have to say, I like rick’s truck better. The big POWER WAGON lettering, grille guard and long bed are what puts it over the top…
Macho like Chuck Bronson macho.
I’ve owned a 78 and a 79. I’ll NEVER buy another one. Always something with both of them. Never again.
Yeah Steve, I know a little somethin’ about that. My BIL bought a ’79 Dodge
stepside 4X4 with a 318 4-speed in it.
In the 6 or so months he had it, the truck
was in the shop 28 times! Lucky for him
his bank went to bat for him by telling the
dealer to refund his money or said bank
would NEVER finance another Chrysler
product again. Too bad that bank isn’t
here in Florida! A lot of folks got screwed
when the Hyundais and Kias had build
quality issues as bad as what we’re
speaking of here. I can only imagine
how many folks got screwed by Chrysler
as Florida had no consumer protection
for new car buyers back then. That’s
exactly why Americans ditched their
domestic made cars and traded them
for Toyotas instead.
Nice to read about a bank that stood behind a customer in a very big way.
My FIL bought a new 79 Power Wagon for work and to plow his driveway, I ended up with it as a present because it wouldn’t pass inspection in his town but I lived in the country in the 90’s so it finished it’s life there until 2000. If I remember right it had a 360 with a auto trans and living in the country in northern Illinois you could get a 2″ snow but with the wind you had a 4′ drift in your driveway, that truck was so rusty the rear springs started to pop up thru the bed but it started every winter day I needed it even with a wind chill of 30 below. I’m no Dodge truck fan but it plowed my 1/2 mile circle drive just fine when the body was rusted as bad as a Toyota after 5 years in my area.
Do all flippers have a degree in creative writing? The eBay description is an absolutely amazing story to explain why the Washington title on his truck that will never smog in California is from 3 owners ago.
I smogged it before I sold it.
I smogged it before I sold it. Ended up selling for $5500. As far as being a “flipper” is concerned. After buying the truck, hauling it home, hotels, gasoline, food, the new Optima Battery, MSD Coil, and Pertronix ignitor kit; I pretty much broke even…so as a flipper I suck.
Only sold it to finish my other project…and to insure I fulfilled the promise to the 2nd owner.
I own one of the later year Power Rams (pretty much same truck). Love it too death. Currently trying to find a Macho Power Wagon rollbar for it and no one has one
Macho, boy that is an arbitrary term, personally I always felt offended they even used the name Power Wagon on these, yuck! The true Power Wagon ended production in the 60s this is nothing but a misplaced title!
I think this generation Dodge truck has plenty of style, with plenty of utility to go along with. It may not please everyone, who likes to see various changes in appearance every year, or every other year. But that’s not the point, is it? It’s about pleasing truck buyers, who are looking for a work truck, to work with. Does that mean that it shouldn’t be comfortable? Of course not! Comfort is important, safety is important.
In 1979 I was 19 and thought the Macho designation on T/A’s and Power Wagons was goofy. Still do. Guess I wasn’t muy macho enough.
I had a beautiful red ’75 Adventure Sport short bed Dodge 4X4 with brushed aluminum trim where the graphics are on this truck!
The seller’s knowledge of smog laws is interesting, as others have mentioned.
I see no bonus value to the factory finishes and graphics on this Power Wagon, as the whole front clip will need to be painted to match them! Zero added $$ on the purchase price just because of everything running behind the cowl and into the bed. I do like the interior, mighty cozy, and the lever in the middle of the floor. These trucks were stylish IMHO and I see a few around the farmland where I live that are driven daily even though they are full of rust.
Had a 77 Macho…440 4wd auto sunroof rollbar…I tweaked out the motor with aluminum high rise…full race cam…1150 Holley…headers and glass packs…thing run like a scolded dog…just could keep tranny and transfer case in it…pushin 700hp
Hey Guys, sorry to ruin everyones fun “Slamming” the Power Wagon….BUT I have a ‘1978″ Power Wagon ..short box..stepside..4×4..360….auto….mild cam..headers…dual Smittys…perfect buckets..w/buddy seat…custom tonneau cover…org.AM/Fm/8 Track [still works great]…I have owned for 40yrs….appraised at $26k….blk. w/gold stripping [like the War Loc]…I love it..did a body restor in 2000….Love it !!
@Barzini: Sometimes a smaller, intown
bank has more pull in a situation like
this. Such was the case here. The truck
was financed through People’s Bank in
Bloomington, Ill. And since this is farm
country, many local farmers did business
with them. Seems this bank had a lot of
pull back then and the local car dealers
knew it. They went out of their way to
make sure each customer’s problems
with a vehicle were addressed quickly
so as not to arrouse the ire of the bank,
who would then blackball that particular
dealer when it came to writing loans for
their make of vehicle. At least that’s what
happened with my BIL’s truck. The banker who wrote the note on that truck
went down to the Dodge dealership and
demanded a full refund of the bank’s
money that was used to buy that POS
in the first place. Don’t recall what my
BIL got next, but it certainly wasn’t a
Chrysler product!